Editing Religious trauma syndrome (section)

=== PTSD ===
Like all iterations of trauma, the development of RTS is informed by [[Post-traumatic stress disorder|PTSD]], defined in [[DSM-5|DSM V]] as a [[mental disorder]] that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as [[sexual assault]], [[war]]fare, [[traffic collision]]s, [[child abuse]], or other threats on a person's life. These events can be personally experienced, observed, or imagined. The important element is the perception of life-threatening danger. In the case of RTS, a person can be traumatized by images of burning [[lake of fire|hellfire]]; [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] groups are noted for using terrifying stories to [[indoctrinate]] children.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gerencser|first=Bruce|date=2017-05-12|title=Scaring Children and Teenagers Into Getting Saved|url=https://brucegerencser.net/2017/05/scaring-children-and-teenagers-into-getting-saved/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=July 2023}}

The experience of leaving one's faith can be an event that takes place quickly or over a period of time. Because of the overall intensity and major impact of the event, it can be compared with other events that cause PTSD. Key symptoms of PTSD are re-experiencing ([[Flashback (psychology)|flashbacks]], nightmares), avoidance (staying away from places, things, and thoughts that are reminders), arousal and reactivity, and cognition and [[mood disorder|mood disturbances]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NIMH » Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder|url=https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd|access-date=2020-10-26|website=www.nimh.nih.gov}}</ref> These symptoms are also true for many experiencing religious trauma.