Introduction
The modern-day plague of Human Trafficking enslaves millions of men and women, leaving survivors with shattered lives and broken spirits. As followers of Christ, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world marred by sin. At CMHI, we consider the intersection of Christian faith and mental health in the context of human trafficking a crucial topic to be taken seriously by those who desire to live in the image of God himself.
Understanding the Darkness: Unveiling the Realities of Human Trafficking
Understanding the mirthless realities of human trafficking is essential. Human trafficking can be defined as the business of stealing a person’s freedom for profit. From being deceived, swindled, and physically forced into sex, victims of sex trafficking undergo ineffable terror. Victims are kidnapped, threatened, and pressured into a life of sexual exploitation, and private labor. Held captive, while working under intolerable conditions, they have no voice, no control, and no power. Many shy away from the subject of human trafficking because of the discomfort, sensitivity, and lack of awareness, but we, as children of Christ, must confront the issue with God’s love and light.
The Brokenness Within: Mental Health Consequences of Trafficking
Going through the unimaginable experience of human trafficking can leave victims with a plethora of unwanted complications. They are left trying to pick up the pieces of the life once deprived of them. Both internally and externally, human trafficking victims carry deep, wounded, trauma scars that may take years to heal. The psychological damage encountered during their abduction may seem as if it’ll never go away. From post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety to depression and relational challenges, the ones who lived through this affliction struggle with a multitude of mental health obstacles. The impact of trafficking is profound, and survivors grapple with reclaiming their identity, dignity, and self-awareness.
PTSD After Human Trafficking
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is described as a disorder people develop when they have experienced or witnessed a scary, shocking, terrifying, or dangerous event. Victims who have survived human trafficking may wrestle with severe cases of PTSD. Because of the turmoil induced into their minds, victims may have specific triggers that cause horrific flashbacks, thoughts, or nightmares. Dealing with PTSD can be life-changing and hard to come to terms with. However, interconnecting PTSD with spirituality and equipping yourself with the understanding of knowledge and wisdom of faith in God can help serve as a guiding light through the journey of healing.
Anxiety and Depression
Victims who deal with PTSD can also suffer from depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety look different for everyone. Some can suppress symptoms and control them; others cannot. Being locked away, and hidden from family, friends, and the outside world can contribute to the depression and anxiety that victims of human trafficking develop. Living in negative environments where one is forced into sexual slavery and abuse while both fearing and fighting for their life also plays a significant role in the progression of these disorders.
Christian Mental Health Initiative has a host of resources to help those in need of mental health recovery. For instance, The Crisis Helpline can aid in turning a stressful moment where one may be dealing with an anxiety episode into a cool and calm moment. Other resources include the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, where individuals work towards the goal of prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and depression, and the Bible App, where one can utilize the app’s community, daily devotionals, and scriptures from the bible to explore Christian principles that offer love and comfort amid despair.
Social Impact
Surviving human trafficking can cause social and relational challenges for victims. They may feel shameful or stigmatized ultimately leading to social isolation and separation. Because victims are extremely affected by mental, emotional, and psychological trauma, they may develop trust issues, which can put a strain on the relationships they have with family, friends, and intimate partners. The societal stigma surrounding trafficking may lead to discrimination and exclusion, compounding survivors’ challenges.
Loss of Identity and Trust
When an individual’s life is stolen from them and they are demanded to become someone else, they lose their self-awareness and dignity. The individual no longer knows who they are and may even struggle with Dissociative disorder to disconnect from the trauma they’ve endured. The Christian community must take a stance in helping victims of human trafficking rebuild their shattered identities by introducing and showering them with the unconditional love, grace, and mercy of God, as this is an imperative step in the process of mental health restoration.
The Role of Faith: A Beacon of Light in the Darkness
As Christians, our belief in God is not only a source of consolation but also a strong catalyst for healing. We must make ourselves aware of the resilience of survivors and the demand for comprehensive support groups. Drawing parallels from stories in the bible about strength and adaptability to the journey of human trafficking victims will help in their walk of redemption and restoration. Understanding the transformative power of God’s love and grace is essential in guiding individuals from brokenness to wholeness.
Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” The Christian faith is built upon forgiveness. The foundation and concept of forgiveness involving trauma, cruelty, and inequity can provide a path toward liberation for survivors of human trafficking.
Restoring Broken Identities through Christ
God’s grace and love restore those whose lives have been broken and destroyed. The Christian faith is centered around Jesus’s work of redeeming and re-establishing his people’s lives. Employing this doctrine in the psychological rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors can offer keen insight into their personal healing journey. The Church should serve as a support to victims in need, offering pastoral care, faith counseling, and reinvention of self.
Addressing the Stigma: A Christian Call to Action
Many things go through the minds of survivors of human trafficking, like feelings of shame, blame, and guilt. Some victims struggle with an identity crisis, which makes it hard for them to rebuild a positive self-concept. Because of these different emotional barriers, many survivors shy away from getting the proper help they need to heal. Nevertheless, the Christian community must help to dismantle these drawbacks and establish a community that offers solace and understanding for those who are suffering.
We must also take the time to educate the church community and raise awareness within the church about the mental health obstacles that human trafficking survivors experience. By enlightening the church on this issue, we as a community are breaking the chains of shame that victims feel. We are expressing and offering empathy and support. By addressing the spiritual aspects of shame, incorporating, and introducing prayer and meditation to the victims’ lives, and emphasizing God’s unconditional love, the church can serve as a place of comfort and peace for survivors to overcome and heal from the heavy weight that they carry around.
Conclusion: A Call to Compassion and Action
By weaving together, the threads of faith, mental health, and activism, the Christian community can contribute to the tapestry of God’s redemptive work in the lives of those affected by human trafficking.
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