Enormous Feelings of Betrayal 

Feeling of Spiritual Rape of the Soul

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder¹

Trauma becomes crystallized a few days after a traumatic event, such as exiting an abusive, high demand group. Several of a cluster of symptoms can develop, including spontaneous crying, suicidal thoughts, emotional numbing, phobias, social withdrawal, flashbacks, amnesia, anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, self-loathing, fear of going insane.

Anger or Rage

Toward the group and leader; toward oneself; suppression of anger in the group actually contributed to depression and a sense of helplessness.

Denial

Identity Confusion/Disorientation

The pre-cult personality--or real self--struggles with the in-cult personality2 that was imposed by the group. There can be difficulty integrating the cultic world with the outside world.

Dissociation (or Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Not being in touch with reality or those around them; inability to communicate.

Floating (a.k.a. trancing out)

Getting triggered into cult3 mode, flashbacks into the cult mind-set; thoughts of returning to the group, nostalgic feelings.  (part of dissociation). See Cognitive Focusing.

Panic and Anxiety Attacks 

Obsessive Thoughts

Depression

Psychosomatic Symptoms

Headache; stomach ache; backaches; fatigue; asthma; skin rashes; lethargy; sexuality problems.

Problems or Inability in Making Decisions

Because of the dependency fostered by the group.

Lack of Motivation

Inability to Concentrate

With short-term memory loss.

Fear

"What if I am wrong?" "What if harmful events actually do happen?" "I can't ever be happy outside the group." "What if I run into a present member?" Includes phobias and fear of going crazy.

Grief & Sense of Loss

Grieving loss of innocence, idealism, spirituality, self, pride; sense of purpose, meaning and belonging in life; support system; friends and family lost in the group; loss of time, goals and youth.

Guilt/Shame

For getting involved, for the people they recruited, things done while in the group; for leaving.

Lack of Trust

Of group situations; deep suspicions about others motives and attitudes.

Intense Loneliness

Strong and unique bonds were forged in the group.

Sense of Purposelessness & Disconnection

Missing the peak experiences of the group.

Sense of Isolation/Alienation

"No one can understand what I am going through."

Overly Critical of Oneself and Others 

Due to incorporating the harsh attitudes of the cult leader.

Seeing Everything in Black and White

Cults do not teach to look for the gray areas.

Problems Having Boundaries

Boundaries were violated time and again in the group until one lost sense of which boundaries were appropriate.

Feelings of Inferiority and Worthlessness

Cult leaders continually blame members.

Hypersensitive

To anger and rebuffs from others

Sleep Disorders

Including nightmares and insomnia.

Eating Disorders

Fear of Intimacy and Commitment

Problems with Career or Employment

Because of years in the group; lost job opportunities, etc.

Unable to Deal With Conflicts

Impatience with the Recovery Process

Info compiled by D. W. and Mike
Exit & Support Network™
Updated September 14, 2006
 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: If you are struggling with any kind of destructive behavior; i. e., suicidal behavior or self-injury, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been found to be helpful. This kind of therapy helps survivors to use tools to control moods that can go out of control very rapidly. As one child survivor (who underwent DBT) told us: "When you feel powerless, you feel hopeless. Once you realize that you have the power to change things in your life, you will not feel you have to wait for people to be good to you. You have the power to choose a better option."

EMDR: A number of survivors who have suffered trauma say they have been helped with a new procedure called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). However, therapists trained in complex trauma-related conditions (including mind control trauma) have told us that if the survivor is dissociative, this therapy can cause a flooding of memories. Please discuss this, and any other questions, with a qualified therapist.

Critical Incident Stress Information Sheets
Brief sheets for those who have experienced a traumatic event or critical incident (that which causes unusually strong emotional reactions). Includes: "Signs and Signals of a Stress Reaction", "Things to Try" and "For Family Members and Friends." (.pdf file)

Footnotes:

¹Involvement in mind manipulating groups can also cause "anxiety in re-socialization." Diagnosis depends on the individual symptoms that appear, not the severity of the experience. Competent counseling by someone who understands trauma and/or cultic abuse is recommended when the former member is having difficulty in recovering.  

² Refer to the book, Snapping: America's Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change by Flo Conway & Jim Siegelman.

³ Religious cults have also been classified as high demand, exploitive, and mind-manipulating organizations. See: Identifying Marks of an Exploitive, Abusive Group.
 

Recommended books:

Captive Hearts, Captive Minds [Read excerpts from chapter 12 on our site; covers seeking professional counseling and questions to ask.]

Trauma and Recovery (covers Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Booklist for more titles on recovery.

Common Spiritual Difficulties After a High Demand Group

Exiting an Exploitive, Deceptive Group (covers the healing process)

Trauma Resources

Healing Through Grief (articles and stories)

Prayers for Freedom From Spiritual Strongholds (very effective in gaining liberation from many strongholds and oppressions due to involvement in any harmful cult or occult practices; includes moral issues) 

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