Episode 17: Spiritual Abuse, Codependency, and the Power of Healing: Part 2 with Christina Conrad

Examine Your Hedman

Your hosts, Tara Hedman and Diane Thompson welcome Christina Conrad to today’s episode for the second part of an insightful conversation. Christina shares more of her story of spiritual trauma, the power differential that contributes to abuse, and the healing that came after. She shares about discovering an authentic spirituality after a heart-wrenching faith deconstruction. She shares the details of her hope after freeing herself from the history of codependency and pain.

Life really can suck less, so examine your head, man!

Key Takeaways:

[1:33] Christina became super close to her pastor.

[1:56] Christina talks about a new friendship.

[3:15] Christina talks about not knowing to listen to her intuition or how to set physical boundaries.

[4:12] Christina talks about her view of homosexuality growing up in church and how she sees it different now.

[10:44] Christina shares how she didn’t feel supported, seen, or heard.

[13:35] Christina talks more about her relationship with the pastor and how he called her his “spiritual daughter.”

[22:07] Christina struggles with confusion about her feelings towards the pastor.

[25:46] Christina confronts the pastor and is honest about her feelings.

[30:51] Christina couldn’t act as if everything was ok.

[33:32] Christina realized she needed help and decided to start seeing a therapist.

[37:01] Tara talks about the consequences of the purity culture.

[38:10] Christina talks about the benefits of therapy for her.

[39:37] Christina and Tara talk about love addiction.

[41:51] What did Christina find in group counseling that was helpful to her?

[45:43] What does it mean for Christina today to know what she needs?

[49:06] Christina talks about feeling distant from God and why.

[50:33] How does Christina see faith now?

[52:50] Christina tells how she met her husband and went through a major identity shift.

[54:37] Christina is still figuring out what she believes in.

[55:59] What does a “healthy” life look like to Christina?

[59:35] What were the things Christina found in her healing journey that were not helpful to her?

[1:00:42] Does Christina think her therapists pushed her away from church?

[1:04:30] How did becoming a mother shift Chistina’s perspective?

Mentioned in this episode:

Hedman Wellness

Examine Your Hedman Podcast

Visit Examine Your Hedman

Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love, Pia Mellody

Facing Codependency: What It Is, Where It Comes from, How It Sabotages Our Lives, Pia Mellody

This podcast is not a substitute for a therapeutic relationship with a mental health professional