“When you abuse someone physically, you hurt their body; when you abuse someone spiritually, you destroy their soul”
I read this article with interest because I suffer from IBS. Let me tell you something: IBS is real. Perhaps it’s over-diagnosed and slapped onto anyone with digestive issues, but as long as I follow the doctor’s advice, I’m fine. No medication — I just avoid raw fruits and vegetables (pure torture), and spicy or fried foods (not so difficult).
Mrs. Zippora Schwartz
As a victim of spiritual abuse, I wanted to thank you for raising awareness about this unfortunate yet common phenomenon. Since it is all done “in the name of Hashem,” spiritual abuse is way harder to recognize than other forms of abuse. Victims are led to believe that Hashem is punitive, out to get them, and as a result they never feel spiritually satisfied.
When you abuse someone physically, you hurt their body; when you abuse someone spiritually, you destroy their soul. The sad reality of this type of abuse is that our relationship with Hashem is severed, and we lose our biggest tool with which to cope with challenges. The good news is that with the right help, we can reclaim that which is rightfully ours.
What helped me heal from my religious trauma was learning to separate the abuser from Yiddishkeit. Realizing that “the G-d I was raised with is not Hashem,” I opened room in my heart to look for true spiritual connection. Recognizing that the fear, OCD, and coercion I was raised with were stemming from unhealthiness and had nothing to do with Yiddishkeit helped me discover the loving Hashem that I know today.
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