Was raised in an AofG church until around 12 when my parents abruptly switched to the Catholic church. Altar calls, Jesus camp every summer, youth ministry, speaking in tongues etc. I’ve spent countless hours in therapy unpacking the religious trauma, not only from being raised in it, but from the familial backlash when I walked away from religion entirely.
These places are cesspools of hypocrisy, hatred, and abuse. Despite all the work and healing I’ve done around it, I’m still quietly triggered by this brand of Christianity in particular and any brand of evangelism in general. I distrust anyone who identifies as a member, it’s an immediate repulsion for me.
I work with some folks who are deep into these types of churches and it takes all my grit to maintain composure when they say shit that I instantly recognize as on brand. It disturbs me that countless children are exposed to the ignorance, brainwashing, and blind hatred that are integral to these groups.
My diagnosis is simply dismissed. Neither of my parents, now in their 60s and 70s, believe it. They think I’m making it up for attention. I’m 43…I’ve kind of just given up at this point. I could show them my chart and it would make zero difference. Don’t get me wrong, I love them and all that, there’s just large parts of who I am that they blatantly refuse to accept. I can’t be queer, I can’t have adhd, etc. It saddens me a bit sometimes.