Ellen Wrote from another thread:
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>>BTW - this site and this discussion board have been largely instrumental in getting my loved one out of Landmark. She is now on the road to recovery.
Oz>>>
>>Any feedback on which posts, or was it cumulative, maybe?
Was there one particular poster who affected her?
Ted Patrick, the original cult "deprogrammer," talks about
finding that one special question that gets the person
thinking again. That one observation that sparks their
curiousity again. For so many, the mind snaps shut after
indoctrination much tighter than it ever was before. There
is the brainwashing itself to contend with and then the
grip that some people hold it with beyond the strength
most people would imagine.
I am happy for you. And her.
Ellen>>
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Ellen,
She has only had the url to this site since this week. The site has been benefical for my education to help her.
I read all about exit counselling, mind control, the LE section and other material on the web. I sought the advice of Rick Ross himself, spoke with clergy, both Protestant and Catholic, psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors. Very special people from this discussion board also came to our aid.
I found it very insightful to know what exactly happens in the Forum and the Advanced Course, linking the relationship between philosophy taught and the psychological tactics used to drive the philosophy. I arrived at the point where I could predict her behaviour to some extent, giving me advanced warning of things to come. I can't stress it more to people to study up. The weakness of LE is based on the "one size fits all" method and Grads seem to act, speak and think the same.
As I was learning, Jane was moving at a fast rate of knots getting deeper and deeper into LE and making life changing decisions based on her new "meaning" of life. I liken the situation to that of a juggler who was happy with two balls but the assistant kept adding a new ball every ten seconds for an hour.
I fell into the trap of arguing which did not help.
She states that she finally exited because: 1) of me; 2) of the pressure. I believe the second reason is stronger and this tends to support readings and advice that most people leave a cult through exhaustion, not interlectual rigour.
This covers the period 26 Sept 2003 to 4 December 2003.
Okay - so she's out but still thinking, feeling and behaving like a Landmarkian. It was not until early Feb 2004 that she realised that "We, [herself & other LE people she knew] were running around thinking that we were little gods".
She concluded this opinion through a document I gave her which explains the LE philosophy. A snapshot of it is found in my first writing to Briggs in the following thread:
[
forum.culteducation.com]
Her critical thinking was returning and she was able to make a value judgement of LE vs Christian philosophy. Hence, my tact may not work for all. It depends on the person's original belief systems and the contrast with LE. The key is to allow the person the space and environment to weigh up their original beliefs with that of Landmark's.
She mentioned to me last Sunday that throughout her LE experience she felt that something just was not quite right. Somehow, LE just can't quite turn the little voice off completely. She also mentioned that my persistance was a key as well.
This story is not over.
Oz