I am an Ex-Mormon (Pt. 1)

In this personal episode, host Brooks Ruff opens up about her journey into the Mormon church, providing essential backstory for understanding her eventual faith transition. This candid exploration sets the foundation for Part 2, where she'll share her experiences within the church and the factors that led to her departure from the LDS faith.

Understanding Faith Transitions and Religious Trauma

Brooks' willingness to share her Mormon faith journey addresses a topic that affects thousands of individuals navigating similar spiritual transitions. Faith crisis and religious departure can create profound psychological and emotional challenges that often require dedicated healing work. For many former Latter-day Saints, the process of leaving involves not just changing beliefs, but reconstructing their entire identity and worldview.

The ex-Mormon community has grown significantly in recent years, with many individuals seeking support for the unique challenges that come with leaving a high-commitment religious organization. Research shows that those experiencing religious trauma may face symptoms similar to other forms of complex trauma, including anxiety, depression, identity confusion, and difficulty trusting their own judgment.

Understanding why someone joins a faith community is often key to understanding their eventual departure and healing journey.

Mental health professionals increasingly recognize that faith transitions require specialized understanding and support. The process often involves grieving the loss of community, belief system, and sometimes family relationships. For many, it also means confronting difficult questions about personal autonomy, critical thinking, and spiritual authenticity that were previously discouraged or suppressed.

The Healing Journey After Religious Transition

From a holistic healing perspective, recovering from religious trauma involves addressing the mind, body, and spirit. Therapeutic approaches that focus on existential psychology can be particularly helpful for those rebuilding their worldview after leaving a restrictive religious environment. This type of work helps individuals rediscover their authentic values, develop healthy skepticism, and create meaning independent of their former belief system.

Many former Latter-day Saints find that their healing journey includes processing feelings of betrayal, shame, and loss while simultaneously celebrating newfound freedom and authenticity. Energy healing modalities like those Brooks practices—including Reiki and Emotion Code—can be particularly valuable for releasing trapped emotions and trauma stored in the body from years of religious conditioning.