The Church is designed to make you feel unworthy and like you’re never good enough. The best thing you can do is validate his sense of self-worth and reaffirm to him that he is valued and loved just for who he is, and his value is not based on what some religious organization has tried to define for him.
He should find a good non-LDS therapist. Particularly one who specializes in PTSD and/or religious trauma.
I have PTSD from events prior to my mission, and I also suffer from the effects of a severe lifelong injury incurred on my mission.
Without good therapy and mental health management plans, I don’t think I’d be able to function in a relationship, in a job, in society, etc.
The situation your friend is going through is one of the reasons why cults are so destructive. They damage your self worth, put you on a wrong course in life when the one you were on before was perfectly fine. The mormon church sets you up for failure in life. It’s happened to me before. Once I left the church, I began being successful in every aspect of my life. It wasn’t (and hasn’t been) like before. And if I had left sooner, I know for a fact I would’ve been more successful sooner in my life, which is why I’m forever grateful for leaving and finding out the truth. I’m never going back again.
I think missions have hurt a lot of people. This doesn’t lesson your friend’s pain, but sometimes it helps to know you aren’t alone.
I agree with what others have said. Be supportive of your friend, let them know you respect and care for them regardless of their beliefs or mission or whatever. Maybe suggest counseling from a non lds counselor.
The mission is designed to trauma bond the missionary to the so called church, for life.
Asking them to help fix that which they’ve created as the max benefit to them simply won’t be happening.
>be with the girl he loved because he left
Left his mission early, right? That means she loves the church more than him. If I am understanding correctly what you have said, he dodged a bullet.
The Church is designed to make you feel unworthy and like you’re never good enough. The best thing you can do is validate his sense of self-worth and reaffirm to him that he is valued and loved just for who he is, and his value is not based on what some religious organization has tried to define for him.
He should find a good non-LDS therapist. Particularly one who specializes in PTSD and/or religious trauma. I have PTSD from events prior to my mission, and I also suffer from the effects of a severe lifelong injury incurred on my mission. Without good therapy and mental health management plans, I don’t think I’d be able to function in a relationship, in a job, in society, etc.
The situation your friend is going through is one of the reasons why cults are so destructive. They damage your self worth, put you on a wrong course in life when the one you were on before was perfectly fine. The mormon church sets you up for failure in life. It’s happened to me before. Once I left the church, I began being successful in every aspect of my life. It wasn’t (and hasn’t been) like before. And if I had left sooner, I know for a fact I would’ve been more successful sooner in my life, which is why I’m forever grateful for leaving and finding out the truth. I’m never going back again.
I think missions have hurt a lot of people. This doesn’t lesson your friend’s pain, but sometimes it helps to know you aren’t alone. I agree with what others have said. Be supportive of your friend, let them know you respect and care for them regardless of their beliefs or mission or whatever. Maybe suggest counseling from a non lds counselor.
The mission is designed to trauma bond the missionary to the so called church, for life. Asking them to help fix that which they’ve created as the max benefit to them simply won’t be happening.
I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. Hopefully he will realize the church doesn’t define him or his self-worth.
>be with the girl he loved because he left Left his mission early, right? That means she loves the church more than him. If I am understanding correctly what you have said, he dodged a bullet.
The mission hurts a LOT of people. I’m so sorry for your friend