Trauma and Spiritual Beliefs

by Laura Russell Ph.D.

 

 

“Hope” by G. F. Watts (British, 1817-1904) This painting has for over a century evoked the balancing act between despair and faith that people must walk through after a traumatic or painful life event.

Painful Life Events

Painful and traumatic life events can be compared to a fierce electrical storm with lots of lightening and thunder. Storms are universal, and can be very destructive. They are strong forces of nature. Out of our control. Not our fault. Lightning, tornados, hurricanes do real damage to people’s lives. And they do not occur for any reason related to people. No matter how hard weather scientists have tried, storms remain essentially unpredictable.

  So it is with all other painful life events:

     Airplane Crash 
Earthquake 
Death of a loved one 
Accidents 
Gang violence 
School failure 
Cancer 
Handicapped Child 
Witnessing a crime 
Explosions 
Business failure 
Divorce 
Political Torture 
Child Abuse 
Accidents 
Marital problems 
Personal injury 
Natural Disaster 
Financial reverses 
Loss of job 
Death of a friend 
Crime 
Illness 
Fire 
Abuse 

Spiritual Questions

The sudden and overwhelming nature of a violent trauma creates many spiritual questions for the survivor.

• What do I believe in now?

• Where was God?

• How do I reconcile my religious beliefs with what has happened?

• How do I face the reality of my fragile life?

• How can I trust God again now that I know bad things can happen to me?

• I cannot forgive my perpetrator

• I am lacking in my faith.

• What does my religion say about evil and cruelty in the world?

• How does God view suffering in the world?

• What is the meaning of what happened ?

• I don’t feel safe anywhere.

• My life no longer feels predictable

• I am angry with God, is He angry at me?

• I feel like God abandoned me.

• I feel betrayed by God.

• What is my relationship to God now?

• I feel ashamed; God wouldn’t want me anymore.

• I feel dirty; so, I cannot go to church.

• I feel distanced from the community now that this happened.

• What is my relationship to my religion now?

• How can I be a part of the community after all that happened to me?

• No one will ever understand.

• Am I at fault?

• I feel so powerlessness.

• What do I believe in now?

• How do I make sense out of what happened?

• I no longer understand the meaning of life.

• Where is there value in my suffering?

• My perpetrator was never punished, what now? 

• I don’t feel like I belong anywhere anymore.

• Goodness doesn’t protect anyone.

• How can I believe in a loving, all-powerful God after what happened?

• How do I resolve my feelings of guilt with my religious faith?

• I still feel God abandoned me.

• It is difficult to think of God as a loving Father after what my own father did to me.

Helpful Suggestions

Here are some ideas to help you console a survivor of a traumatic event:  

• Give them hope that they can still have a full and satisfying life. 

• Show them they are not to blame. 

• Respect their unique healing process. 

• Use patience in answering spiritual questions. 

• Understand that traumatic reactions are real. 

• Learn about the three sets of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

• Realize that healing takes time. 

• Reassure them it is not their fault. 

• Avoid judging them for their feelings or symptoms. 

• Prepare yourself to hear disconcerting events and feelings. 

• Try to avoid distancing yourself from the survivor. 

• Do share your struggles with painful life events if that is comfortable for you. 

• Be open to discussing the survivor’s questions about God and life. Do not perpetuate any blaming the victim. 

• Comfort people with this idea: painful life events are just that-life events. 

• Encourage people to grow and master their traumas. 

• Refer out when the situation is beyond your knowledge base. 

• Show people they can learn about their situation and become empowered. 

• Believe in people’s capacity to grow and heal. Help people come to terms with their lack of control over life events. 

• Show people they do have choices over what they do about their painful life events. 

• Let people know they can face their painful life events, and grow. 

• Encourage people to give their awful events some positive meaning. 
  

       Laura Russell, Ph.D.