510 Crystal Hamilton: How To Redefine Family After Religious Trauma

In Crystal’s words: 
I was raised in a strict Mormon household with teachings about my purpose in life was only to be a wife and mother. At a young age, I knew there was more planned for me than this and I struggled with conforming to Mormon values. My parents pressured me into a young marriage when they discovered that I was having premarital sex. At age 18, the marriage was dissolved, and I wavered participating in the church for years. I struggled with finding a sense of belonging and turned to a partying lifestyle.
At 34 years old, I was "sick and tired of being sick and tired." That night I walked into a sober support meeting I knew that’s where I belonged. I cried and allowed other people to help me. I dove into the 12 steps and grew my sober support network. After 10 years of sobriety, I switched from traditional sober support meetings to secular. I haven’t been happier! Such a relief that I am no longer triggered by the G word.
Currently, I own a behavior health agency, I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and I have a passion for working with couples with addiction and codependency issues. With grief about infertility, I have redefined family from the ingrained Mormon beliefs that I was taught as a child. Today I embrace the roles as wife, step-mom, grandmother and dog momma.,
I’m excited to publish this memoir next year about how I recovered from religious trauma and hope my story can help someone else. We’re not alone! 

How to redefine family after religious trauma. 

3 Top Tips 
Trust your intuition
Question everything
Don't listen to your parents

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