Post-Traumatic Stress after Escaping Scientology
- Thread starter Intelligence
- Start date
sallydannce
Gold Meritorious Patron
Thanks heaps Intelligence. I've been rattling on about memory loss on my story thread earlier this week. Having some "serious" issues with it.
Gonna have to read this later as about to take myself for walk on beach. Stress burning striding it out here I come...
Gonna have to read this later as about to take myself for walk on beach. Stress burning striding it out here I come...
G
Gottabrain
Guest
Spot on, Infinite, and completely true.Fighting COS and even talking about scn restims many of us, but there is a good measure of relief and satisfaction in taking this evil cult DOWN for us, too. The majority of us got into it thinking we were doing something good, so there is that extra bit of self-satisfaction in knowing that, finally, we ARE - by destroying it.
Hard to miss the irony. Juggling to keep a personal balance on this is not always easy, though, but what can you do?
SweetnessandLight
Crusader
I just want to add that stress effects most of us in our short-term memory skills. Reduce the stress, and the short term memory seems to return a bit more over time.
I think Tory's issues may be more long-term, due to damage from the grand mal seizures, but there are always new treatments and more being learned all the time.
Styles of Cognitive Behavioral therapies (talking therapy) seem to be very effective for making fairly rapid strides towards recovery from PTSD issues. I speak as one who has dealt with them myself, personally, in the past.
Don't think that you just have to live with it!
I think Tory's issues may be more long-term, due to damage from the grand mal seizures, but there are always new treatments and more being learned all the time.
Styles of Cognitive Behavioral therapies (talking therapy) seem to be very effective for making fairly rapid strides towards recovery from PTSD issues. I speak as one who has dealt with them myself, personally, in the past.
Don't think that you just have to live with it!
sallydannce
Gold Meritorious Patron
I just got back from walking miles along the beach. There was a full moon! I succeeded in not howling. Okay...not entirely true - there was a little (semi-elegant) jumping and mildly-muted yelping going on. It was so so so so beautiful!!! Then I drove home to the loud tunes of Pink Floyd. There are moments of perfection.
Great article David. Thank you, and others who contributed. This is a subject dear to my heart because I have struggled so hard to get my head sorted. Hand me the blue pill and fix me!
I'm still untangling the mess in my head after nearly six years of intense times. The nightmares in the beginning were terrifying. I’d wake up sobbing and completely disorientated. I feared going to sleep for quite a while, maybe for about a year or a bit longer. It is only recently I have started sleeping without a night-light on. From time to time, I still hit patches of nightmares and have to work hard at those times to face the memories/feelings that surface.
Recently I have had to begin dealing with memory problems. I am about to explore this with medicos. It is a little more than “I’m getting older”. I knew I had memory issues but something happened recently which made me realise that it may be worse than I initially thought. The saga continues cleaning up the mess that leaving scientology created.
Which is one of the hardest aspects for me. I get so sick and tired of dealing with the layer upon layer of shit that comes up. It is frustrating and tiring. No matter how much I try to “forget it all” and move on, the shit keeps surfacing. I long for the day when I can go for months without any triggering or nightmares or memory issues or emotional content impacting in my life. Patience and I are becoming good mates. Sometimes. Maybe.
I am still cognitively sluggish at times. By this I mean I simply can’t string thoughts together or work stuff out. In the beginning I could not get one plus one to equal two. These days I mostly have my sharp fast cognitive skills back (ripping roaring along with concepts, etc) but every so often the train stops without my volition and I am like a fish out of water struggling with the most basic concepts.
I am of the strong opinion that if I don’t deal with this stuff it will come back to bite me in years to come. I don’t think suppressing this stuff is healthy. A pressure cooker situation can be created if a safe way is not found to deal with this stuff. It is a balancing act of distraction, of looking back to integrate it so that moving forward is possible and just being in the moment. If that makes any sense.
Again, thank you David for bringing this vital subject into the light.
I wish you peace.
Great article David. Thank you, and others who contributed. This is a subject dear to my heart because I have struggled so hard to get my head sorted. Hand me the blue pill and fix me!
I'm still untangling the mess in my head after nearly six years of intense times. The nightmares in the beginning were terrifying. I’d wake up sobbing and completely disorientated. I feared going to sleep for quite a while, maybe for about a year or a bit longer. It is only recently I have started sleeping without a night-light on. From time to time, I still hit patches of nightmares and have to work hard at those times to face the memories/feelings that surface.
Recently I have had to begin dealing with memory problems. I am about to explore this with medicos. It is a little more than “I’m getting older”. I knew I had memory issues but something happened recently which made me realise that it may be worse than I initially thought. The saga continues cleaning up the mess that leaving scientology created.
Which is one of the hardest aspects for me. I get so sick and tired of dealing with the layer upon layer of shit that comes up. It is frustrating and tiring. No matter how much I try to “forget it all” and move on, the shit keeps surfacing. I long for the day when I can go for months without any triggering or nightmares or memory issues or emotional content impacting in my life. Patience and I are becoming good mates. Sometimes. Maybe.
I am still cognitively sluggish at times. By this I mean I simply can’t string thoughts together or work stuff out. In the beginning I could not get one plus one to equal two. These days I mostly have my sharp fast cognitive skills back (ripping roaring along with concepts, etc) but every so often the train stops without my volition and I am like a fish out of water struggling with the most basic concepts.
I am of the strong opinion that if I don’t deal with this stuff it will come back to bite me in years to come. I don’t think suppressing this stuff is healthy. A pressure cooker situation can be created if a safe way is not found to deal with this stuff. It is a balancing act of distraction, of looking back to integrate it so that moving forward is possible and just being in the moment. If that makes any sense.
Again, thank you David for bringing this vital subject into the light.
I wish you peace.
SweetnessandLight
Crusader
For those who aren't sure if this is effecting them or not, here's some info on it, from:http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm
"The difference between PTSD and a normal response to trauma
The traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder are usually so overwhelming and frightening that they would upset anyone. Following a traumatic event, almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. When your sense of safety and trust are shattered, it’s normal to feel crazy, disconnected, or numb. It’s very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful, and find it difficult to stop thinking about what happened. These are normal reactions to abnormal events.
For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. But if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms don’t decrease. You don’t feel a little better each day. In fact, you may start to feel worse.
A normal response to trauma becomes PTSD when you become stuck
After a traumatic experience, the mind and the body are in shock. But as you make sense of what happened and process your emotions, you come out of it. With post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, you remain in psychological shock. Your memory of what happened and your feelings about it are disconnected. In order to move on, it’s important to face and feel your memories and emotions.
Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell.
While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are three main types of symptoms:
Re-experiencing the traumatic event
Avoiding reminders of the trauma
Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Symptoms of PTSD: Re-experiencing the traumatic event
Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptoms of PTSD: Avoidance and numbing
Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
Loss of interest in activities and life in general
Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptoms of PTSD: Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Irritability or outbursts of anger
Difficulty concentrating
Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anger and irritability
Guilt, shame, or self-blame
Substance abuse
Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
Depression and hopelessness
Suicidal thoughts and feelings
Feeling alienated and alone
Physical aches and pains
Symptoms of PTSD in children and adolescents
In children—especially those who are very young—the symptoms of PTSD can be different than the symptoms in adults. Symptoms in children include:
Fear of being separated from parent
Losing previously-acquired skills (such as toilet training)
Sleep problems and nightmares without recognizable content
Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as a fear of monsters)
Acting out the trauma through play, stories, or drawings
Aches and pains with no apparent cause
Irritability and aggression"
I repeat, help is widely available! Don't suffer in silence if you are experiencing this!
"The difference between PTSD and a normal response to trauma
The traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder are usually so overwhelming and frightening that they would upset anyone. Following a traumatic event, almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. When your sense of safety and trust are shattered, it’s normal to feel crazy, disconnected, or numb. It’s very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful, and find it difficult to stop thinking about what happened. These are normal reactions to abnormal events.
For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. But if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms don’t decrease. You don’t feel a little better each day. In fact, you may start to feel worse.
A normal response to trauma becomes PTSD when you become stuck
After a traumatic experience, the mind and the body are in shock. But as you make sense of what happened and process your emotions, you come out of it. With post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, you remain in psychological shock. Your memory of what happened and your feelings about it are disconnected. In order to move on, it’s important to face and feel your memories and emotions.
Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell.
While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are three main types of symptoms:
Re-experiencing the traumatic event
Avoiding reminders of the trauma
Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Symptoms of PTSD: Re-experiencing the traumatic event
Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptoms of PTSD: Avoidance and numbing
Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
Loss of interest in activities and life in general
Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptoms of PTSD: Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Irritability or outbursts of anger
Difficulty concentrating
Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anger and irritability
Guilt, shame, or self-blame
Substance abuse
Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
Depression and hopelessness
Suicidal thoughts and feelings
Feeling alienated and alone
Physical aches and pains
Symptoms of PTSD in children and adolescents
In children—especially those who are very young—the symptoms of PTSD can be different than the symptoms in adults. Symptoms in children include:
Fear of being separated from parent
Losing previously-acquired skills (such as toilet training)
Sleep problems and nightmares without recognizable content
Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as a fear of monsters)
Acting out the trauma through play, stories, or drawings
Aches and pains with no apparent cause
Irritability and aggression"
I repeat, help is widely available! Don't suffer in silence if you are experiencing this!
Good twin
Floater
I left the cult almost five years ago. It was difficult to claim any psychiatric disorder after over thirty years of indoctrination about the consequences of such.
A few years after leaving the cult I started to contact the people who knew me before I joined, mostly to discover who I was before I submitted myself to the brainwashing and mental manipulation. I found a friend who was well versed in psychology and psychiatric conditions. She gave me books to read to help me understand how non Scientologists view emotional issues. It was difficult to grasp at first.
I read a book on co-dependence which helped me define my emotional state before I entered the cult. I also read a book called "Shadow Syndromes" which defines psychiatric conditions and explains the potential of having acute rather than chronic conditions.
PTSD and OCD fascinated me as I could see the patterns in myself and other exes that I knew. It took me a long time to examine Depression and Bipolar disorder as this seemed to be the most dangerous of labels. I was only able to entertain the possibility of this condition as a shadow syndrome. The idea of having this as a chronic condition was too painful to examine.
Recently I have been facing the symptoms of depression and realized that the Scientology lifestyle creates bipolar behavior. While not fully committed to following up with actual treatment I have become aware of the pattern of Bipolar behavior and yet another reason to disagree that it is only the upper bridge that is damaging.
There is an agreement among many in the ex community that the Sea Org and OT levels are the major mind fuck that Scientology offers. But each of us struggle with our own demons and can only face what we choose to.
In the cult if you had a few sessions of auditing and lots of real life experience between Scientology you might have been able to achieve some relief and sense of balance. But if you really bought into the idea of getting up the bridge and keeping your ethics in, you set yourself up for a lifestyle of manic behavior with depression episodes peppered throughout.
A good Scientologist operates at a highly productive level and presents a high tone level in his interactions publicly. This could be seen as manic behavior. At the same time in order to move in the Bridge to Totally Fucked up you have to have issues worth addressing. You can't have auditing while you are "winning" (manic) so you allow yourself with your mocked up reactive mind to sink into a depressed and self critical state. This pattern repeated over a period of years is classic Bipolar behavior.
Just some of my recent thoughts on the subject.
A few years after leaving the cult I started to contact the people who knew me before I joined, mostly to discover who I was before I submitted myself to the brainwashing and mental manipulation. I found a friend who was well versed in psychology and psychiatric conditions. She gave me books to read to help me understand how non Scientologists view emotional issues. It was difficult to grasp at first.
I read a book on co-dependence which helped me define my emotional state before I entered the cult. I also read a book called "Shadow Syndromes" which defines psychiatric conditions and explains the potential of having acute rather than chronic conditions.
PTSD and OCD fascinated me as I could see the patterns in myself and other exes that I knew. It took me a long time to examine Depression and Bipolar disorder as this seemed to be the most dangerous of labels. I was only able to entertain the possibility of this condition as a shadow syndrome. The idea of having this as a chronic condition was too painful to examine.
Recently I have been facing the symptoms of depression and realized that the Scientology lifestyle creates bipolar behavior. While not fully committed to following up with actual treatment I have become aware of the pattern of Bipolar behavior and yet another reason to disagree that it is only the upper bridge that is damaging.
There is an agreement among many in the ex community that the Sea Org and OT levels are the major mind fuck that Scientology offers. But each of us struggle with our own demons and can only face what we choose to.
In the cult if you had a few sessions of auditing and lots of real life experience between Scientology you might have been able to achieve some relief and sense of balance. But if you really bought into the idea of getting up the bridge and keeping your ethics in, you set yourself up for a lifestyle of manic behavior with depression episodes peppered throughout.
A good Scientologist operates at a highly productive level and presents a high tone level in his interactions publicly. This could be seen as manic behavior. At the same time in order to move in the Bridge to Totally Fucked up you have to have issues worth addressing. You can't have auditing while you are "winning" (manic) so you allow yourself with your mocked up reactive mind to sink into a depressed and self critical state. This pattern repeated over a period of years is classic Bipolar behavior.
Just some of my recent thoughts on the subject.
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Arthur Dent
Silver Meritorious Patron
Hard work and challenges are not the problem, I think. Staff, be it tons of volunteering, mission, org or sea org, are damaging mainly because of the never ending twisted mind-fuck of ethics. Whom you may or may not associate. What you can or cannot read. Reporting on people. Left to be unencumbered and used as a general therapy, scn. may not be so bad. But the helpful parts are so intermingled with dangerous, thought-stopping data. And, yes, I know it is all scn. I'm just saying the abuses of ethics, which are physical and mental are the worst. The screaming from seniors, the threats, the punitive actions. Pure nuts. And illegal in any other sector. (Hostile workplace??) Hiding behind the religion curtain are mice and cowards. They are taught to be bullies and rewarded for it. It is one sick organization. It really does break people.
It's a hard mess to undo once you leave. If only on staff a couple years maybe it would some practical experience and then you move on but the long term commitments most make set aside our real selves. And we do become manic/depressive. We come off as being so "able" but it's like the Emperor's clothes.
Again, I thank the gods every day that I didn't ruin my children with it, although i tried! Since being out I've made some new friends, kept a few old ones of like-mind, recouped my family, have not fought with my spouse and got out of debt. If only I was in my 20's! Or 30's! Or............................
I've had to deal with demons coming up day after day for a long time. They seem to have settled out. Haven't woken up with a scn nightmare in awhile. I don't panic when the doorbell rings (although I am still cautious!). I've moved on to challenging my stagnant intellect with more education. I would highly recommend this to anyone out of the cult! It's a journey and I've decided to make the rest of mine something worthwhile (at least to me) as scn. ate up the majority of my lifetime years.
The hardest part was and is fitting in anywhere. It's gotten better. Physically, there are no big signs of wear and tear and no one can tell I'be been in a cult as there is no big scarlet C on my chest. The staff-think is often there and I have to constantly battle it out of my mind and try to improve my critical thinking. It's an ongoing process and getting better. Scientology, staff, whatever...provides a comfort zone. A misnomer for sure, but it is built around us and we get used to it. It helps to get out and get to know new people in all walks and rub elbows and study how real people think and behave. That has been a good therapy for me.
It's a hard mess to undo once you leave. If only on staff a couple years maybe it would some practical experience and then you move on but the long term commitments most make set aside our real selves. And we do become manic/depressive. We come off as being so "able" but it's like the Emperor's clothes.
Again, I thank the gods every day that I didn't ruin my children with it, although i tried! Since being out I've made some new friends, kept a few old ones of like-mind, recouped my family, have not fought with my spouse and got out of debt. If only I was in my 20's! Or 30's! Or............................
I've had to deal with demons coming up day after day for a long time. They seem to have settled out. Haven't woken up with a scn nightmare in awhile. I don't panic when the doorbell rings (although I am still cautious!). I've moved on to challenging my stagnant intellect with more education. I would highly recommend this to anyone out of the cult! It's a journey and I've decided to make the rest of mine something worthwhile (at least to me) as scn. ate up the majority of my lifetime years.
The hardest part was and is fitting in anywhere. It's gotten better. Physically, there are no big signs of wear and tear and no one can tell I'be been in a cult as there is no big scarlet C on my chest. The staff-think is often there and I have to constantly battle it out of my mind and try to improve my critical thinking. It's an ongoing process and getting better. Scientology, staff, whatever...provides a comfort zone. A misnomer for sure, but it is built around us and we get used to it. It helps to get out and get to know new people in all walks and rub elbows and study how real people think and behave. That has been a good therapy for me.
Demented LRH
Patron Meritorious
This thread is very helpful to those who suffered immensely as the result of their encounter with Scientology -- by sharing their stories they speed-up the healing process. This is not just my opinion -- my cousin, who is a clinical psychologist, told me so.
I was thinking for a long time to start a thread with a similar topic, but felt that I do not have the moral right to do so -- my exposure to Scientology was brief and unventful; the last thing I want to do is to look as if I am patronizing the people who had horrific Scientology experiences.
I am glad that someone started this thread, and I will contribute to it by describing certain techniques that help to recover from a prolonged stay in a cult.
I was thinking for a long time to start a thread with a similar topic, but felt that I do not have the moral right to do so -- my exposure to Scientology was brief and unventful; the last thing I want to do is to look as if I am patronizing the people who had horrific Scientology experiences.
I am glad that someone started this thread, and I will contribute to it by describing certain techniques that help to recover from a prolonged stay in a cult.
Good twin
Floater
Lori
Cheryl E Love
Earlier this year I finally decided to seek help for my increasing depression, nightmares, and panic attacks. Being "out" for 3 years, I was confused as to why, suddenly, I felt the proverbally shoe was about to drop.
It took a lot for me to get past the drilled in mindset that psychs are evil and only want to drug me. And, at first that was exactly what happened. The psychologist that saw me initially was so overwhelmed (her words later) by what was pouring out of me that she diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia! Boy, was I outraged! Fortunately she revised that after me practically begging get to read this forum and Tony Ortega's blog.
She did and on my next visit she, along with a doctor revised diagnosis as extreme PTSD! Neither of them had ever met a scientologists not knew more than it "was a whacky thing celebrities got into"
Now, I am seeing both regularly and they are getting educated
It is really wild trying to answer their questions and have them understand that when I
get upset about a visit from a "handler" or am threatened with disconnection from my remaining family it is real!
They both are "lurkers" here now and are spreading the word.
I was NOT put on meds, In fact my doctor said my hypervigelence is a SURVIVAL INSTINCT and she wasn't about to full it with drugs.
I thank God every day this forum and people like Tony exist. THANK YOU
It took a lot for me to get past the drilled in mindset that psychs are evil and only want to drug me. And, at first that was exactly what happened. The psychologist that saw me initially was so overwhelmed (her words later) by what was pouring out of me that she diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia! Boy, was I outraged! Fortunately she revised that after me practically begging get to read this forum and Tony Ortega's blog.
She did and on my next visit she, along with a doctor revised diagnosis as extreme PTSD! Neither of them had ever met a scientologists not knew more than it "was a whacky thing celebrities got into"
Now, I am seeing both regularly and they are getting educated
It is really wild trying to answer their questions and have them understand that when I
get upset about a visit from a "handler" or am threatened with disconnection from my remaining family it is real!
They both are "lurkers" here now and are spreading the word.
I was NOT put on meds, In fact my doctor said my hypervigelence is a SURVIVAL INSTINCT and she wasn't about to full it with drugs.
I thank God every day this forum and people like Tony exist. THANK YOU
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Sautez
Patron with Honors
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthre...tress-Disorder&p=647080&viewfull=1#post647080
It can show up months or many years later after traumatic experiences like: A huge betrayal, Cult experiences, or any trauma which is personally overwhelming.
It can seem to be fine- then get triggered by a specific situation, person, place or thing.
From Gottabrain's thread: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?17123-Scientology-and-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder
Sallydannce's thread was started there
PTSD and OSA both suck.
ps: Osa- The more you come after me the more I will step up and spread the truth about Scn., expose the lies and support the critics.
It can show up months or many years later after traumatic experiences like: A huge betrayal, Cult experiences, or any trauma which is personally overwhelming.
It can seem to be fine- then get triggered by a specific situation, person, place or thing.
From Gottabrain's thread: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?17123-Scientology-and-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder
Sallydannce's thread was started there
PTSD and OSA both suck.
ps: Osa- The more you come after me the more I will step up and spread the truth about Scn., expose the lies and support the critics.
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Coyote13
Thought Criminal
I hella appreciate this thread. I think this needs to be looked into a lot more, namely the long term affects of $cientology on the psyche, and more importantly to me, the effects of $cientology on childrens development emotionally and cognitively. Peace and blessings, again, hella appreciation.
Intelligence
Silver Meritorious Patron
After meeting with Paulette Cooper recently in New England, and following some very wise advice from her about me writing a new book, I began a journey of penning several chapters of my experience at Narconon and involvement with the executives from several COS entities. Revisiting past events caused a few sleepless nights and other nights waking from bad dreams.
I am very fortunate to have met Dr. Steve Wiseman for lunch last year and a few other prominent medical professionals for advice. One being the supervisor from thr Allan Memorial Institute in Montreal who has been my physician for about two years; helping me through PTSD. My doctor knows all too well, the issues of PTSD - - he was a doctor in the Vietnam War and returned diagnosed with PTSD.
He's also well informed of abuses within the COS and he was referred to me by Mike Kropveld from "Infosect" in Montreal.
I had to stop writing my new book a couple of days ago because of all the media frenzy with MacLeans Magazine, The Globe and Mail, and a few others - - quite simply, I was becoming weary and distressed. This is WHY I wrote this article - - to take a break and examine my feelings.
I feel very well today after a wonderful brunch with my trusted Editor and Friend.
Now, back to work tapping away on my laptop keys and push forward to finish my book.
Thank you all for the courageous comments! {{{HUGS}}}
Demented LRH
Patron Meritorious
Techniques of getting back to normal after leaving a cult.
Another good idea would be sending your letter to the cult founder or to his organization. The goal in this case is not to make someone read the letter but to symbolize your departure from the cult.
Email your letters to CoS if you know their email addresses or mail them to RPF, OSA, CMO, etc.
If you feel like cursing the founder, do not hesitate. Strong language is a road to liberation.
Technique 1.
Write a letter to the cult founder. In that letter tell him everything you think about him and his teachings. The cult leader might be dead at the time of writing, but it does not matter -- this is a symbolic procedure designed to set you free from anything that may be holding you back. Do not keep the letter to yourself. You can post it on a website, which is a way of telling the world about your feelings. By doing so you assert yourself as a person, not an inanimate cult property, which is what you were in the past.
Another good idea would be sending your letter to the cult founder or to his organization. The goal in this case is not to make someone read the letter but to symbolize your departure from the cult.
Email your letters to CoS if you know their email addresses or mail them to RPF, OSA, CMO, etc.
If you feel like cursing the founder, do not hesitate. Strong language is a road to liberation.
Demented LRH
Patron Meritorious
Techniques of getting back to normal after leaving a cult.
You will have good days and bad days; when you are having a bad day, you could write a letter to your past self who was involved with a cult. It is like having the present yourself talking to the past yourself.
In those letters you can tell that, no matter how the past you is suffering on a given date or year, everything will be fine in the future, the suffering will end.
Tell your past self about your ex-Scientologist friends that you have now, especially about the ones whose cult experiences are similar to yours. Tell your past self about your love for your friends, and about their love for you. Love is what you did not have when you were in a cult, but you have it now.
Then tell your past self about another group of friends that you have -- this group includes peoole who were never Scientologists and the ones who had only a brief encounter with the cult. These people may not understand everything that you went through, but they are always on your side providing as much help as they can.
The purpose of this technique is to make you less dependent on the past by making it less significant. The only thing that matters now is the present.
Save these letters. Re-read them on a bad day; they will make you feel much better.
Technique 2.
This technique consists of writing letters to yourself.
You will have good days and bad days; when you are having a bad day, you could write a letter to your past self who was involved with a cult. It is like having the present yourself talking to the past yourself.
In those letters you can tell that, no matter how the past you is suffering on a given date or year, everything will be fine in the future, the suffering will end.
Tell your past self about your ex-Scientologist friends that you have now, especially about the ones whose cult experiences are similar to yours. Tell your past self about your love for your friends, and about their love for you. Love is what you did not have when you were in a cult, but you have it now.
Then tell your past self about another group of friends that you have -- this group includes peoole who were never Scientologists and the ones who had only a brief encounter with the cult. These people may not understand everything that you went through, but they are always on your side providing as much help as they can.
The purpose of this technique is to make you less dependent on the past by making it less significant. The only thing that matters now is the present.
Save these letters. Re-read them on a bad day; they will make you feel much better.
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