Mind Shift with Erwin & Aaron McManus #110 Mental Health: Faith That Faces Trauma
Dec 17, 2025
Tim Ross, a mental health advocate and host of Upset The World, shares his powerful journey through childhood abuse, addiction, and recovery. He delves into the role of vulnerability and empathy in healing, emphasizing the importance of storytelling. The conversation also touches on the dangers of perfection in church leadership, the need for supportive communities, and how dissociation can impact identity. Tim offers practical steps for addressing trauma while encouraging authenticity over facade, particularly in nurturing relationships and parenting.
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Breaking The Secret Changed Everything
- Tim Ross disclosed he was sexually abused at eight and carried secrecy until he confessed at 19 to his mother.
- That confession became a turning point that led to conversion and decades of therapy and healing.
First Lie Born From Protection
- Tim admitted his first conscious lie at eight to protect his family and abuser from consequences.
- That protective secrecy became a long-term pattern he later had to undo in therapy.
God Was Present, Not Distant
- In EMDR work Tim visualized Jesus being abused with him rather than passively watching.
- That shift reframed 'Where was God?' into 'God was with me,' freeing him from bitterness toward God.