Spirituality and Trauma

PTSD runs in my family, My grandfather had it from World War One. My father had it from World War Two. I  got it from being kidnapped and raped in San Francisco in 1968. My daughter had it. My son has  it. My son-in-law has it. My sister has it. 


My grandfather, father, and daughter  never got diagnosed. I was diagnosed in 1986. My son Karl did not know about his PTSD until a few years ago.

They used to associate PTSD  with Vietnam,  but now they understand it is more complicated than that. Any kind of trauma can cause PTSD. A few bounce back but most don't.

While people sometimes get better with traditional therapy, for me healing only came from spirituality. Here is an article about it.

Spirituality is a personal experience with many definitions. Spirituality might be defined as "an inner belief system providing an individual with meaning and purpose in life, a sense of the sacredness of life, and a vision for the betterment of the world." Other definitions emphasize "a connection to that which transcends the self." The connection might be to God, a higher power, a universal energy, the sacred, or to nature. Researchers in the field of spirituality have suggested three useful dimensions for thinking about one's spirituality:

Beliefs
Spiritual practices
Spiritual experiences
Evidence suggests that trauma can produce both positive and negative effects on the spiritual experiences and perceptions of individuals. For example, depression and loneliness can lead to feelings of abandonment and loss of faith in God. These effects may change as time passes and a person moves further away from the acute phase of trauma recovery.

On the positive side, some individuals experience increased appreciation of life, greater perceived closeness to God, increased sense of purpose in life, and enhanced spiritual well-being--even following devastating events such as disasters and rape. For others, trauma can be associated with loss of faith, diminished participation in religious or spiritual activities, changes in belief, feelings of being abandoned or punished by God, and loss of meaning and purpose for living.

Aspects of spirituality are associated with positive outcomes, even when trauma survivors develop psychiatric difficulties such as PTSD or depression. Research also indicates that healthy spirituality is often associated with lower levels of symptoms and clinical problems in some trauma populations. For example, anger, rage, and a desire for revenge following trauma may be tempered by forgiveness, spiritual beliefs, or spiritual practices.

Suggestions have been made about the pathways by which spirituality might affect the recovery trajectory for survivors of traumatic events. Spirituality may improve post-trauma outcomes through: (1) reduction of behavioral risks through healthy religious lifestyles (e.g., less drinking or smoking), (2) expanded social support through involvement in spiritual communities, (3) enhancement of coping skills and helpful ways of understanding trauma that result in meaning-making, and (4) physiological mechanisms such as activation of the "relaxation response" through prayer or meditation.

Feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression related to grief and loss may be lessened by the social support of a spiritual community. Being part of a spiritual community places survivors among caring individuals who may provide encouragement and emotional support, as well as possible instrumental support in the form of physical or even financial assistance in times of trouble.

Spiritual beliefs may influence the trauma survivor's ability to make meaning out of the trauma experience. In turn, the meaning drawn can have a significant impact on the survivor's symptoms and functioning. Several studies have indicated that negative thoughts or attributions about God, such as "God has abandoned me," and "God is punishing me," or, being angry at God are associated with a number of poor clinical outcomes.

Recovery of meaning in life may be achieved through changed ways of thinking, involvement in meaningful activities, or through rituals experienced as part of religious or spiritual involvement. Some researchers have suggested that traumatic events frequently challenge one's core beliefs about safety, self worth, and the meaning of life.

For individuals whose core values are spiritually grounded, traumatic events may give rise to questions about the fundamental nature of the relationship between the creator and humankind. Survivors may question their belief in a loving, all-powerful God when the innocent are subjected to traumatic victimization. In this way, traumatic experiences may become a starting point for discussion of the many ways in which survivors define what it is to have "faith."
Grief and loss can be significant issues that survivors must cope with in the aftermath of trauma. In US society, spirituality is frequently utilized to cope with traumatic death and loss.

Researchers note  that 90% of survivors reported turning to "prayer, religion, or spiritual feelings" as a coping mechanism). In general, research suggests there is a positive association between spirituality and grief recovery for survivors of traumatic loss. Researchers suggest that for many spirituality provides a frame through which survivors can "make sense" of the loss. Additionally survivors may benefit from supportive relationships often provided by spiritual communities.