Post traumatic church syndrome

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[Differentstrokes]

So I recently read his short article about something called post traumatic church syndrome, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithforward/2014/03/its-called-post-traumatic-church-syndrome-and-yes-its-real/ , and it kind of threw me for a loop. For years before, during, and after leaving the church I suffered nightmares, sleep walking, constant stomach issues, nausea, etc. I went to lots of doctors and no one could figure what was causing my physical symptoms... I went to a therapist for a while and did some pretty intensive therapy and got better, but now I wonder if my symptoms could have been ptcs. I've heard of others diagnosed  it's post traumatic stress disorder but never really thought much about it.... I still have extreme fear of church and Christian music makes me feel anxious, but I have a desire to go back to a church of some kind... idk, just putting this out there!

[Janet Easson Martin]

Absolutely, Differentstrokes!  I've been thinking very recently how our symptoms after leaving seem to mimic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  We experienced debilitating triggers regarding church or religious matters!  We so closely associated certain "things", that sometimes it seemed easiest to avoid them.  

I think unless we process those things in a healthy way, they can remain and cause UNDUE fear, guilt, anxiety, and even psychological paralysis.  I believe they can falsely drive us away from Our Father rather than to him. The Essential Affirmations (on this site) recalled often can significantly help to heal some of those debilitating thoughts.

I think that's exactly why Paul was so furious with the false teachers that preyed on believers.  He feared they would associate all their oppression and control with the real Jesus.  They were portraying a different Jesus, and a different Christianity.  He so desperately wanted them to know there was a falsehood there, so their faith in Him would not be shipwrecked.

I know the PTSD has been discussed on here before by others, but now I'm seeing it a little more clearly.  

This is why "Shipwreck" in the faith of hundreds and probably thousands has resulted from the false teaching of GCx!!