Maintaining relationships with friends and family after leaving a high-control religion isn’t always the easiest path. For some folks, it might not even be the right choice. But for those who want to stay in contact with their families of origin after drastically changing their beliefs, there are ways to mitigate the harm that’s done along the way.

Leaving high-control religion often means learning to navigate life without a rulebook for the first time. How do you build confidence in your own judgment and find peace with complexity?

Obviously you don’t need the Bible or specific religious rules in order to make ethical decisions. But when that’s all you’ve ever known, how do you build a new ethical framework?

Have you ever been invited to “catch up” over coffee only to find yourself on the receiving end of evangelism? What do you do when the church wants you back, but you’re happy where you are?

When you spend your life being misled, it can feel overwhelming to learn to find reliable sources of information. Here’s a quick guide on how to fact check, evaluate sources, and start trusting your intuition again.

Leaving high control religion often leaves folks wondering, “Now what?” How do you know you’re doing the “right” things without rules telling you what to do? Can you learn to embrace the unknown?

Purity culture survivors often discover a world of diverse relationship styles and identities after leaving restrictive teachings. Don’t forget that you have the freedom to explore and define relationships on your own terms.

For purity culture survivors, developing a personal sexual ethic can be challenging. How do you shed restrictive teachings to embrace your authentic desires and explore new relationships?

Life after divorce for purity culture survivors might hold unique challenges, but it also comes with unique opportunities for self-discovery, growth, and exploration.

Purity Culture promised a happily ever after if you just followed the rules. For many purity culture survivors, the rules only led to suppression, shame, and confusion about sex. Here’s why purity culture didn’t work.

It can sometimes be difficult to balance the serious, radical nature of the Pride movement with the celebration and fun of parades and parties.

For many queer folks who grew up in strict religious communities, learning to embrace their full self is a journey. Curiosity and exploration are your friends as you move towards authenticity.

What does self-care look like in today’s stressful world? Is it really just bubble baths and shopping? Here are some practical tips for more sustainable self-care.

Pursuing pleasure is often frowned upon in strict religious communities. What would life look like if you learned to embrace curiosity and made pleasure a habit?

What counts as trauma? Are only certain experiences considered traumatic? How do you accept that something was traumatic for you if it doesn’t “look like” trauma?

When you’ve grown up believing there was “one right way,” it can be difficult to learn a more balanced and nuanced way of viewing the world. Practicing dialectic thinking can help.

Deciding what to do for Easter, if anything, can be a complicated question for former Christians. Finding new traditions can be an important part of healing for some folks.

Rediscovering yourself after leaving high-control religion can be a process. Try taking yourself on a date to get to know yourself again, and remember it’s okay to take it slow and change your mind along the way!

For many people who grew up going to church religiously, the decision to go less often or stop going completely can feel strange and guilt-inducing. So how do we embrace the idea of ditching church for Sunday brunch and allow ourselves the freedom to enjoy ourselves?

Doubting the beliefs you’ve grown up with is common. For many people, asking tough questions about what they’ve been taught is a normal part of growing up. But for those who have grown up in highly controlled environments, asking tough questions can be scary and confusing.