Hi Chelcie. Â I actually just registered today so I could reply to you. Â I went through exactly what you described, but had absolutely no one to turn to when I walked away from Christianity for the last time. Â That all happened to me 25+ years ago. Â At the time, I was a bit older than you are.
Based on my experience, I don’t think going back to church will help you feel better. Â It might make you feel worse. Â I tried that, actually, and people treated me horribly after I came back. Â How dare I question anything?
I lost the people who claimed to be “friends” and, for the most part, my family shunned me. Â It was tough to feel so alone, but I had to be true to myself. Â After I got healthy, I realized they never were really my friends, anyway. Â Family still keeps me at arm’s length, but that sting dissipated, too.
The churches I was involved with all used guilt and shame to control people. Â When I finally decided that I wasn’t going to be guilted or shamed, I had control of the situation. Â I had nothing to feel guilty about and did nothing to be ashamed of. Â I was simply being true to who I am. Â Perhaps ironically, that is the truth that set me free. Â The process did take a few years, though.
By suggestion is, be true to who you are, and be very kind to yourself while you work through this.