Caring for Yourself After General Conference: Healing the Lingering Impact of LDS Messaging
Why It Still Stings—Even After You’ve Left
Last month, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered for General Conference—a weekend filled with talks, teachings, and familiar language. But for those who’ve left the church, are in the process of questioning, or have experienced religious trauma, the emotional impact of conference doesn’t always end when the final session does.
Even if you didn’t watch. Even if you thought you were “over it.”
You may find yourself days or weeks later feeling unsettled, irritable, anxious—or heavy with grief. This isn’t you overreacting. This is your nervous system remembering.
Why General Conference Lingers
Conference isn’t just a church event. For many, it was a ritual tied to authority, belonging, obedience, and identity. The words spoken from the pulpit were more than just talks—they were mandates, expectations, and definitions of worthiness.
Hearing those same voices, even from a distance, can stir old wounds. Seeing family members share quotes or testimonies can reopen places you thought had healed. The body keeps score, even when the mind tries to move on.
Some of the lingering triggers after conference might include:
Feeling disconnected or “othered” from family and loved ones who still believe
Flashbacks or intrusive memories of past conference weekends
Shame, fear, or guilt resurfacing without clear cause
Anxiety about being judged or misunderstood by your former community
Exhaustion or emotional numbness you can’t explain
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not broken. You’re not going backwards. You’re not weak for still being affected.
Why Post-Conference Care Matters
We often talk about preparing for triggering events—but what happens after the moment has passed? Caring for yourself after General Conference is just as important as setting boundaries before or during.
Lingering emotional weight needs tending. The nervous system needs help coming down from hypervigilance. The heart needs space to grieve what was lost—and what never was.
Post-conference care might look like:
Naming what felt hard, tender, or painful about this year’s conference
Allowing space to grieve without rushing to “fix” it
Journaling or storytelling to process lingering feelings
Grounding your body with movement, warmth, or touch
Spending time with people who affirm your worthiness and agency
Limiting exposure to content or conversations that feel harmful
You Don’t Have to Heal Alone
As a therapist who specializes in religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and high-control religious systems, I know how disorienting it can be when old messages still hold power long after you’ve left. I hold space for the grief, anger, confusion, and tenderness that surfaces—not just during conference weekend, but in the weeks and years that follow.
You’re allowed to take your healing seriously. You’re allowed to tend to your story with care. You’re allowed to honor your body’s wisdom when it says, “This was too much.”
If you’re noticing lingering grief, guilt, anxiety, or confusion after General Conference, know that you’re not alone. Healing is possible. And you deserve support that honors both your wounds and your wisdom.