When I left 10 years ago I was too scared to look for anything, I kept my head down, minor forays into social media, I think it was because I had blown, quite efficiently as well, and had not been tracked down or talked too whilst running. Took me about 5 years before I accepted my first friend request on FB from ex staff that were also disenfranchised with scientology.
I also can relate to "people who have never been in a cult ... would find it hard to believe but I recall it well and still love to remember the time (almost 10 years ago) when I decided to free myself from scientology permanently and completely" I do not regret my time inside just feel abused now looking back, but have so many fond memories of those times.
I hope you appreciate this, but funny enough I joined a NGO after leaving the SO, and spent sometime in disaster relief operations where we had security guards, metal detectors on doors, communal houses and buses to take you to the office, even told not to go out 2d with the locals (not in those words), and still life inside was comparably harder, and normal people do not speak to each other like staff do!
lastly, did you feel like you had PTSD like symptons on leaving? The flash backs, the dreams, the waking up and having to remember you left and are safe? That was what I believe kept me hidden for so long, an Australian Male who has been over influenced by scientology, talking about his feelings! you would have more hope actually going clear!