Neurodivergence and Religious Trauma
Many people are starting to understand that religious trauma can have a profound impact on mental health, identity, and self-worth. But what happens when someone is also neurodivergent (e.g. ADHD, autism spectrum). The intersection of neurodivergence and religious trauma is rarely discussed, yet it plays a critical role in how individuals experience and heal from spiritual abuse or high-demand religious environments. It is also an intersection that I have seen in many clients coming to therapy—many unknowing how religious trauma could have impacted how they view their own neurodivergent symptoms.
What Is Neurodivergence?
Neurodivergence refers to brain differences that affect how individuals think, process, and interact with the world. ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), autism, dyslexia, and other cognitive variations fall under this umbrella. These are not deficits or disorders to "fix," but different ways of experiencing life.
Why Neurodivergent Individuals May Be More Vulnerable to Religious Trauma
Religious spaces, especially high-control or high-demand religious groups, often rely heavily on conformity, strict social rules, and rigid behavioral expectations. For neurodivergent people, these expectations can feel impossible to meet.
Difficulty with focus and attention: Someone with ADHD could struggle with long sermons, repetitive prayers, or required scripture study. They may be shamed or labeled as lazy or rebellious.
Sensory sensitivities: Individuals with sensory processing differences may feel overwhelmed by loud music, crowded services, or physical touch rituals.
Social communication differences: Autistic individuals, for example, might not pick up on unspoken social rules or group dynamics, leading to social exclusion or punishment.
Rigid or black-and-white thinking: Some neurodivergent people may internalize strict religious doctrines in extreme, literal ways, which can intensify feelings of guilt and shame.
When these challenges are misunderstood or pathologized within religious communities, individuals may feel like they are fundamentally flawed or unworthy. Over time, this can lead to religious trauma—a deep emotional wound involving spiritual abuse, chronic guilt, identity confusion, and loss of community.
How Religious Trauma Manifests in Neurodivergent People
Neurodivergent individuals might experience religious trauma in unique ways, including:
Heightened anxiety and hypervigilance, always feeling they are "failing" spiritual expectations
Perfectionism or scrupulosity (obsessive moral or religious checking)
Deep internalized shame about being "different" or "broken"
Chronic burnout from trying to mask or meet impossible standards
These symptoms can sometimes overlap or be misdiagnosed as purely ADHD-related struggles, masking the underlying trauma.
Religious Trauma as a Neurodivergent Person
If any of these intersections apply to you, you probably need a safe, affirming space that honors both your neurodivergence and the impact of religious harm. Some supportive approaches may include:
Therapy with a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming therapist: Someone who understands both religious trauma and neurodivergence can help you untangle the layers of shame and rebuild self-trust.
Psychoeducation: Learning about both neurodivergence and religious trauma can empower individuals to understand why certain experiences felt so painful.
Reclaiming autonomy: Exploring personal values and beliefs outside of rigid doctrines can support identity development.
Community support: Finding neurodivergent-affirming, religious trauma-informed spaces can reduce isolation and foster connection.
It is important to remember that you are not broken or unworthy. Your brain is not the problem. High-control religious environments often fail to accommodate or even acknowledge neurodivergent needs, and that is not your fault.
You deserve compassionate support as you reconnect with your body, mind, and spirit on your own terms.
