(RNS) — Trauma is a lot like having a shard of glass in your hand, explains clinical psychologist Hillary McBride.
After time, it’s often invisible to the eye. The wound is obscured, the initial injury only noticeable by the ways we adapt to avoid pain — holding a utensil differently, typing with one fewer finger.
Some traumas can be linked a single incident — or single sliver of glass — but in the case of spiritual trauma, it’s like having a handful of glass pieces, says McBride, and almost no memory of how they got there.
“Everyone around is saying, ‘It’s good, it’s right,’” said McBride. “’It’s supposed to hurt.’”
While spiritual trauma has always existed, it’s a field that’s long been understudied, argues McBride, who has become known for her writing on embodiment, including her 2021 book “The Wisdom of Your Body.” It can be difficult to observe, in part because it can be the result of harmful messaging and interactions over time that are framed as good, even salvific. But, McBride writes, no matter how much we cover up our injuries, our bodies know the truth.
McBride’s latest book, “Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing,” is a field guide of sorts. Out from Brazos Press on April 15, it uses research, anecdotes and interviews with other experts to help readers better under …