Self-Care
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Chapter 7: Research Findings on Healing from Trauma
Chapters One through Five included in depth discussions on the research of church trauma and how it is affecting the worth, the faith, the truth, and the ambition of so many within the Mormon Church. Chapter Six contained an analysis and discussion on how a path of healing might be sought and achieved. Chapter Seven will include how the research was obtained and organized. The hypothesis presented in Chapter One will be examined, along with the research findings. Conclusions will be drawn as to where the Church is now and where it seems to be heading. Ideas for future research will be offered. A complete bibliography of all the chapters…
- Acceptance, Anger, Depression, Effects of Trauma on the Family, Fear, Healing, Mental Illness, Self-Care, Shame
Chapter 6: Accepting the Reality of Trauma and Researched-Based Treatments
In chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, we explored the harmful causes and effects of church trauma. Now we will discuss how to heal and find meaningful beauty and rebirth post trauma. Accepting the Reality of Trauma With so much pain to deal with in regards to church trauma, it often feels very overwhelming and discouraging as victims try to begin piecing their lives together again. It can seem nearly impossible to make sense of it all. Yet, if there is one essential truth that must be grasped in overcoming trauma, it is that in order to heal, one must feel. With that, research shows that there has to…
- Abuser Loyalty, Acceptance, Anger, Church doctrine, Church Exodus, Codependency, Cultural Behavior, Danna Hartline's articles, Depression, Discrimination, Dissociation, Dissonance, Effects of Trauma on the Family, Fear, Fellowship, LDS Women, Leadership, Mental Illness, Modesty, Mormon Culture, Organizational Behavior, Patriarchal Structure, Post Traumatic Church Syndrome, Self-Care, Self-trust, Sex, Shame, Suicide, Trauma vs. Offense, Unrighteous Dominion, Unsafe policies
Chapter 5: Four More Consequences of Church Trauma
Chapter 4 discussed four common effects of Church Trauma: cognitive dissonance, church exodus, dissociation, and abuser loyalty. This chapter addresses four more consequences of Church Trauma: loss of identity, mental disorder, family dysfunction, and shame. Loss of Identity Trauma messes with concept of self. After one is traumatized by the Church, victims often have no idea who they are anymore. The Mormon Church is not just a religion; it’s a lifestyle. Hence traumatization can cause a complete upheaval to a person’s construction of reality, including the self, other people, life, and the future. Few can appreciate the sheer terror religious trauma can create (Tarico, 2015). Many considerations must be examined—“Should…
- Danna Hartline's articles, Healing, Mental Illness, Post Traumatic Church Syndrome, Self-Care, Shame, Suicide, Unrighteous Dominion
Chapter 1: Understanding and Managing Church Trauma—Finding Help and Healing for Mormons
Following is my master’s thesis on church trauma. I will post it in sections. This article will include all of my thesis’s chapter one but because chapter two is so long and comprehensive, it will be published in smaller parts (the whole thesis is 112 pages). For easier reading and clarity, I will label each section a new chapter. Because it is a thesis, it is quite formal in nature, which I hope will be appreciated. I will plan on posting a new section weekly. May you enjoy and find value in this series. Chapter One Introduction Church trauma is a largely uncharted area of investigation that is just beginning…
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My 2020 Birthday Mantra
For my birthday, it’s become a tradition to write three statements of “I am…” as a way of noting growth and progress over the year. I’ve been doing this instead of New Year’s resolutions. The first year I did this (two years ago), my mantra was “I am worthy; I am good enough; I am unshamed” and by so doing, I noted more growth within a year’s time than ever before in my life. I was able to step out of a harmful environment which challenged me to seriously look at myself and by so doing, I really started to claim ownership of my life. I was astounded by the…
- Danna Hartline's articles, Depression, Effects of Trauma on the Family, Empathy, Healing, Love, Mental Illness, Self-Care, Shame, Suicide, Trust the Lord
Mormonism Is Good; Mormonism Is Bad
I was talking to a friend from South Sudan a few days ago about the Church. She was baptized in 2014 but stopped attending in 2017. She said something interesting to me: “I see why you left the Church and I see the problems you present. They are real and valid. You have outgrown it and you are wise to have moved on. You have healed since you’ve left. But Danna, the Church is also good. It helps people like me in a way most religions don’t. If I need help, they come; they want to come. They want to be good. It raises very good people. Look at you.…
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My 2019 Mantra
Last year instead of writing New Year resolutions (which I have never been a fan of), I made three statements of “I am” on my birthday: I am worthy; I am enough; I am unashamed. They became my mantra for the year. I didn’t fully comprehend what I was doing last year by identifying these three truths. Yet consequently, as I internalized them, I experienced more growth and change within a year’s time than I have probably ever had. The impact they have had on me has been overwhelmingly powerful. Imagine my surpirse when I came across the words above by Joel Osteen because they have indeed been my experience this past…
- Abuser Loyalty, Acceptance, Codependency, Courage to Speak Up, Danna Hartline's articles, Healing, Self-Care
My Manifesto
Can we sit down and talk for just a moment? What I’m about to say may not rest well with you and it may not be your answer—and I certainly don’t think it’s the only way—but I need to be true to what my inner core is saying to me. The truth is, I’ve been thinking pretty deeply lately. I am at a crossroad in deciding what I want to do and where I want to go from here. You see, I started my work in church trauma because I desired to help traumatized members stay in the Church, if at all possible. I also wanted to help the Church…
- Acceptance, Danna Hartline's articles, Effects of Trauma on the Family, Mental Illness, Post Traumatic Church Syndrome, Self-Care, Trust the Lord
Church Trauma Is BAD–But It’s Not ALL BAD!
I was sitting in Relief Society (a women’s meeting in the Mormon Church) almost a year ago listening to a discussion on fellowship. It was all very encouraging and good. And yet, I could not fully buy into what I was hearing as they spoke of their overwhelming success. I wanted to—and I did to a point because I am aware of good that is happening in the Church. But in the same breath, I knew it was a little off to think that all is well in Zion and that everyone was as happy and thriving as well as seemed to be claimed. I mean, what about me? Did anyone…
- Anger, Ashley Kaye's articles, Courage to Speak Up, Effects of Trauma on the Family, Empathy, Examples of Courage, Healing, Self-Care, Self-trust, Trauma vs. Offense
WHY AM I SO TRIGGERED LATELY?
For the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on the importance of recognizing triggers within ourselves and others. As many have been following the ProtectLDSChildren.org movement, there have been many productive, eye-opening discussions as well as many destructive, angry triggering discussions. As a spiritual life coach-guide and healer, I am always trying to leave an open heart space as well as responding diplomatically to people (including self love, with my own journey). I admit, I have been emotionally triggered with some of the comments and discussions lately. On a couple occasions, I would openly discuss my frustrations with my husband. He said to me, “Why are you so angry?”…
