"I was a Jehovah's Witness for 26 years": what is religious trauma and what does Stephen King have to do with it

Many people find support, community, and meaning in religious organizations. But sometimes what seems like a spiritual path turns into control, fear, and pain.

This article contains the personal story of Pavel Orekhov, who spent 26 years among Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as an explanation from psychologist Anna Khomiv about why religious trauma occurs, how to recognize it, and how to help yourself.

The story of Pavel Orekhov

How did it all start? What was your childhood like?

— My story with Jehovah's Witnesses, in fact, began from the moment I was born. At that time, my parents were already parishioners of this community and took their faith very seriously. I was born in 1996, and they began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses back in 1993. After I was born, my mother and my older sister were baptized, and a little later, in 1997, my father was too.

So from a very young age I knew nothing but this religion. My childhood was radically different from other children's. I didn't have birthday celebrations, New Year's or other traditional holidays. Instead, there were regular community gatherings – for everyone, young and old. All of this was presented as "serving God", as "true Christianity", because they consider themselves to be true Christians.

I attended absolutely all the meetings — my mother said that as soon as I was born, literally a week later she was taking me to meetings with her. The same applied to ministry — for them it is not just about attending church, but active preaching: going from house to house, telling people about faith, handing out brochures.

So from childhood I understood very well how it was done. As soon as I started talking and walking, I was already in the ministry with my mother, starting conversations with people, handing them brochures, and going from apartment to apartment and private home.

All my friends were also from this organization. I had virtually no friends "from the outside", outside this community.