Thank you kBOY I appreciate your encouragement!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It seems certain leaders have fantasies of unlimited power and believe they should only associate with special people. Even though they can be charming, their sense of entitlement and lack of empathy is intimidating. Ignoring the needs of those who are giving their lives to them, and triangulating stories among the circle of friends, is CRAZY making!!! And incredibly hurtful. I have felt the pu
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I appreciate reading all posts. They really help me. Onion posted something a while back comparing the Nazi terror tactics and how this is used in a cult. That was very applicable to so many scenarios. Thank you for those posts Onion. I hope everyone will enjoy a year of goodness. I pray that the terror will become less imprisoning and we will all experience freedom to do things we desire to d
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Powertrip Thank you so much for your vulnerable and painful post. I’ve had hurt similar to yours but not in the JRS walk group. I came in contact with the group in Oregon briefly. I want to say that I’ve met some amazing people here Reepicheep, kBOY, Changedagain, Onion and I know you are not alone. We may have a few friends on Facebook, real-life friends, and neighbors, but we feel alon
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY you said: Spending alone-time (as long as it has a positive focus) is a very important component in re-setting and re-calibrating ourselves after having our paradigm crafted by someone else's mindset. This is so true. I’m naturally and I unnaturally a loner. It comes natural as a writer and introvert. However, being alone because I feel the need to protect myself and don’t know how
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Reepicheep! Thank you for the depth of your thoughts. Onion I agree regarding the president. He has his own cult following. Bizarre irony how people tend to trade one abuser for another different kind. That’s the cycle I’m trying to break. I’ve kept to myself for about five years now. It’s been lonely but it certainly has de cluttered my mind from the noise so that I can hear my own though
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

You know something... I just really love people. I hope your Christmas is comforting and safe. I want you to know I really think about all of you that have been so inviting to me. Thank you. I wish with all my heart that we will all find peace, hope and healing. I hope you understand the depth of my care. Melissa Saulnier - Northern Gate
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > N O R T H > > > “You’re only as sick as your secrets.” > > A very powerful statement and the reason for so > much psychological PTSD within the fellowship, due > to, first the abuse, then the shunning, isolating > the victim with their 'secrets'. > > This compartmentali
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nancy B I am so sorry you were preyed upon by a narcissistic sociopath after going through so much! You aren’t alone in having that happen. You are right that those kinds of people have an uncanny way of finding vulnerability in others. Moving away from her probably helped a lot! I know it has helped me to completely disassociate with people who are willing to hurt me. When you accidental
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nancy B You said: My heart will always be with my family and friends from Washington - we'be be estranged because of the lies of the leaders. I'd like to have the mended. Bless you for working on the hard stuff! I hope you’ll feel my support and understanding. If you haven’t experienced psych control, it’s difficult to understand the issues a person faces. It takes years of hard w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I believe when you have enough little puzzle pieces from your memories it will all become clear that the Walk was not a Walk with God under the direction of the leaders. Nancy B I appreciate your information. I do not think it is silly that some things that went on in GP felt a little bit like the movie Eyes Wide Shut.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello all, I just wanted to share this: Regardless of where I am (we are) on this continuum, if I want freedom from mental bondage (and I do), I have begun to realize I have to make the long journey from “What will people think or do to me?” to “I am strong enough and smart enough.” For me, that journey begins with shame resilience, self-compassion, and owning my story. To claim the truths ab
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you kBOY. You are so right about that!!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NancyB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Northerngate replying to your comment December > 10, 2019 06:14AM: > > WOW! What can I say? Aren't we all paranoid about > looking paranoid? > > Well, there is the excuse it was "your guardian > angles protecting you?' bullshit that was used on > me by an un-related narci
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion, Reepicheep, kBOY, Nancy B, PUDD, Who I should be what I should be how I should be... Every effort to twist my way out of the web just leads to becoming more stuck. Well, the slow brainwash happened, and the vast majority of it was directed to reinforcing those ideas the abuser, dad and my two exs’, said was normal, but was not! I clearly see that posts here sometimes trigger shame in
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NancyB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kBOY Wrote:December 04, 2019 06:05AM > ------------------------------------------------------- > > P U D D > > > > Regarding the internet, it does cut both ways. > > Those with smarts to tailor their message (and > > squelch opposing voices) can present themselves > as > >
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NancyB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Northerngate in repsonse to your post on > Date: December 07, 2019 10:44PM > > First off, I am also a writer. Doing research on > narcissistic socio-paths Nancy, first of all, so nice to meet another writer. Writers need each other! Second, you do make sense! My dad grew up during WWI depression
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > O N I O N & N O R T H > > > Plus, it brought you to us, and us to you, as we > all journey forward together, away from the > devastation that lay behind, and on to our own > 'promised land'. Thank you sooo much for your words. It is terribly difficult to find people who understan
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One more thing, when I was full on PTSD and moved to Oregon for a year of respite from the life I had known, I had no Idea who my GP landlord was. I just chose that property to rent from a craigslist ad. I think it is odd/providence that I ended up in the lions den so to speak without knowing it. It seems I came out without being harmed. But it’s really weird that out of all the places that I cou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > In creating a new life after the cult, make "Self > Care" your top priority. Even taking a small step > and doing something consistently that is caring > for yourself (preparing healthy meals, bathing > with a lovely new soap, etc.) starts the process > of removing the conditioning
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Very insightful Changedagain. Thanks for sharing your insight with me!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Here is a link to a TedTalk by Dawn Smith. She was > raised in a cult and talks about her experiences > and how she left. One thing she said during the > talk was: "The hardest day of freedom is better > than the best day in a cult". That really > resonated with me. > > Even tho
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion said: Instead, we will set goals on what you want to have in the new life you are creating. As you take steps into your new life, triggers from the past will come up, and we will deal with them as they come up. You may find fewer triggers coming up the further you go into the steps into your new life. Me: I have found this to be true for me as well. I am defining and planning my new
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Wondering how to help people who are still stuck > in an oppressive group? Or how the current > political situation might be related? Here is a > link to a very insightful interview with Rick > Ross. > > Reepicheep I went to the site and listened. Very good! I started writing fiction a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote Exposing what has been hidden for many years > is a dangerous endeavor, so I'm appreciative of > those who have courageously come forward recently > to share their experiences, adding to the discussion. I agree exposing is dangerous. Brilliant people see the truth and often expose psychopaths accidentally, never realizing the slander and blame placing that
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I found something good today while reading during my lunch break: Shame thrives on secret keeping, and when it comes to secrets, there’s some serious science behind the twelve-step program saying, “You’re only as sick as your secrets.”
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I appreciate the input regarding internet. That’s how I found a place to rent in OR and it just happened to be a landlord who was in the JRS group. Regarding the internet and other tools: Anything can be twisted into something bad or dark. Obviously, it has been used for horrific ends such as trafficking. But, traffickers have been caught because of the internet as well. My goal is to not b
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep I like your sense of humor!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep and Tknc Just a thought...I am very careful these days about who gets to lay hands on me. There is something to be said about negative energy passing from one person to another.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Northerngate Wrote: > ------------------------------------------------------- > ... > > > > Technology has forever changed the ability of > > sociopathic leaders to effectively conceal or > > withhold information, and many people have > > ultimately left cults as a direct re
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families