Re: Looking for children of est parents.
Date: June 09, 2008 07:18PM
I too am a child of EST parents. I am now 41 (42 in september) and my entire life with my mother and many other family members revolved around EST. It was not untill last year that I finally realized that EST was a cult which was masqueraded as life enriching program. I did the program at 12 years of age and it took me many years to overcome the psychological dammage which was inflicted upon me by my mother and family members. There was constant criticism, "processing" verbal attacks, and attacks of character. My mother passed away many years ago, but the feelings still linger. I have made a clear decision to distance myself from my family to avoid their destructive behavior, I wanted to do it when I was in my 20's but then my family, once again at the persistence of my mother became involved with another cult, The Sterling Institute of Relationship. Finally today, I am on the right track and I am pursuing a Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) which my family does not support. So I go it alone. I know the anguish you went through, the feelings of isolation, perhaps even feelings of worthlessness and even the consideration of suicide.
Although my father never had anything to do with EST or any other cult, because he is a heavy alcoholic, he sure was not there as much of a support in my life. We are on good talking terms now, but I would rather not see him much anymore and will keep my distance. But that is another story.
My sister and her husband, my brother and his wife, my stepfather and several other family members have all done the EST training and to this day they still do not see the powerful destructive effect it had on their lives.