This resonates with me a lot. In fact, I was just talking in therapy about hiding pain and dissociating from it in order to pretend I'm fine. It's difficult to ask for help for things like migraines after religious trauma. We're still learning <3
Once again you've captured an important aspect of life in the cult of The Way International, one I experienced in a similar way. It wasn't until after escaping Way HQ and getting my hair cut by a "Way outsider" woman did I do anything about a spot on my forehead that I was still waiting for God to heal after many years. The woman suggested I see a dermatologist. I did. Turned out I had basel cell carcinoma that had spread underneath the surface of my skin. I had surgery, thank goodness. One line of the scar extends across the top of my eyebrow and the other part of the scar goes from there up to my hairline. I paid a heavy cost for staying in denial about what my body needed, hoping for healing that in The Way I would've been told I "wasn't strong enough to believe to get."
I mention this incident in the Afterword of my memoir, Undertow: My Escape from the Funamentalism and Cult Control of The Way International.
Thank you for your bravery in writing these blog posts. They are very valuable in showing outsiders the damage caused by extreme beliefs and cult control.
This resonates with me a lot. In fact, I was just talking in therapy about hiding pain and dissociating from it in order to pretend I'm fine. It's difficult to ask for help for things like migraines after religious trauma. We're still learning <3
Thanks for the comment, Cait. It helps to know others struggle with this too!
Once again you've captured an important aspect of life in the cult of The Way International, one I experienced in a similar way. It wasn't until after escaping Way HQ and getting my hair cut by a "Way outsider" woman did I do anything about a spot on my forehead that I was still waiting for God to heal after many years. The woman suggested I see a dermatologist. I did. Turned out I had basel cell carcinoma that had spread underneath the surface of my skin. I had surgery, thank goodness. One line of the scar extends across the top of my eyebrow and the other part of the scar goes from there up to my hairline. I paid a heavy cost for staying in denial about what my body needed, hoping for healing that in The Way I would've been told I "wasn't strong enough to believe to get."
I mention this incident in the Afterword of my memoir, Undertow: My Escape from the Funamentalism and Cult Control of The Way International.
Thank you for your bravery in writing these blog posts. They are very valuable in showing outsiders the damage caused by extreme beliefs and cult control.
Thanks for sharing, Charlene. I'm sorry you experienced the consequences of denial too, but I'm glad it turned out okay.