THE NEW AGE MENTAL ILLNESS

A psychiatric disorder of global proportions (excerpt)

??

By Julie Nonveiller Cairnes

New Age teachings often blame and shame the victim. The attached article is all about completely turning that dynamic around. And digs deeper to explore the sinister occult origins of many of those teachings.

??????

‘NEW AGE’ MYTHS

Following is an excerpt from my article which outlines a number of New Age maxims taught by ‘spiritual teachers’ to unquestioning eager followers, that I’ve identified as dangerous pop psychology. When examined more deeply they’re actually found empty of sustenance, and detrimental to real healing. I’m sure there are many more than these, so it’s just a starting point:

??????????

‘THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN HEAL IS TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HARMED YOU’

This call for compulsory forgiveness is completely toxic and holds zero fundamental understanding or knowledge of any real psychological healing process.

Many well-meaning faith leaders will tell someone recovering from severe trauma they should forgive the people who’ve brought about traumatic situations in their life, and that God expects this of them.

The person may see this as a very lofty goal, which may be simply unattainable at the time, as they may be re-assessing all their spiritual beliefs. Their faith can be deeply shaken and challenged by the loss and wounds of serious trauma, and they are rebuilding their spiritual relationship with God during an often long and painful healing process.

Others will find their faith carries them through this time. But forgiveness comes in its own time, you cannot push the river.

And not all faith leaders are well-meaning.

Many who preach forgiveness are themselves perpetrators.

The truth within this startling revelation cannot be underestimated in its veracity. Their contradiction in action and intention is a crime against humanity that most often goes undetected.

??????

Some points to remember about urging premature forgiveness:

? The anger naturally arising after being hurt or abused shouldn’t be ignored and treated like some kind of illness or virus, with the integration of heavy emotions preferable to insistence at compulsory forgiveness

? Urging people to let go of their anger before they’re ready is a fairly ignorant request to suppress feelings, which again can be detrimental

? When the abuse is still ongoing or recent, it’s inadvisable to push someone to forgive, as the pain is too raw and present to enable any genuine shift at such a time. In fact, the focus needs to be on their safety and sanctuary from the abuser, and not on forgiveness, whilst still at risk from the abuser

? Challenging the abuser can be more valuable than forgiveness. However, the apology may realistically never arrive, even when confrontation has occurred

? Again, who is asking whom to forgive? We need to ask, in each case, if it’s even appropriate

? In fact, the act of counselling forgiveness to an individual or group/s of people who may have sustained severe trauma is highly questionable and quite ignorant.

??????

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing, it cannot be denied.

But to counsel forgiveness to those who’ve been through (or are still going through) severe trauma, abuse, or badly injured, needs to be seriously thought through as an appropriate recommendation. It denies the individual nature, natural time-frame and healing process of the person being advised.

Denying the reality of the pain and advising the person to forgive prematurely is adding insult and illness to injury — with more layers of shame for those genuinely not yet ready to forgive.

????????

https://medium.com/@juliecairnes/the-new-age-mental-illness-77f941c2f7f