Many people leave purity culture believing they've moved past its teachings—only to find that guilt, anxiety, or shame around sexuality still lingers. In this article, I explore why sexual shame often persists long after your beliefs have changed, how purity culture shapes the nervous system (not just your thoughts), and why healing begins with curiosity rather than self-judgment.

James Dobson shaped evangelical culture, and his harmful teachings on sex, purity, and gender left many survivors with shame and trauma. Here’s how to understand that legacy and begin healing.