What have I been doing to care for myself?

How am I feeling?

Updates on life through this process of time passing.

And, what's to come with Home Cult.

In this episode, I share my experience with the final time I saw ‘A’. We cried, we hugged and my gut said this is bad, and going to be so very painful. My life was dramatically changed at the end of April 2024 and the start of the worst year of my life.

I will continue on with this podcast. I will share what I have done to care for myself, and different professionals to seek guidance from. Join me.

Overcoming deep sadness.

1. Seek Professional Help:

   • Therapy: A therapist can provide a safe and supportive space to explore your feelings and develop coping mechanisms.
   • Psychiatrist: If necessary, a psychiatrist can evaluate for potential underlying conditions like depression and prescribe medication.

2. Self-Care Practices:

   • Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness and meditation can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and develop coping mechanisms for difficult emotions.
   • Exercise: Physical activity can significantly boost mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
   • Healthy Diet: Nourishing your body with whole foods can improve your overall well-being and support mental health.
   • Sufficient Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.

3. Social Connection:

   • Connect with loved ones: Spend time with supportive friends and family members.
   • Engage in social activities: Join a club, volunteer, or participate in community events.

4. Engage in Enjoyable Activities:

   • Make time for activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies, creative pursuits, or spending time in nature.

Remember: Overcoming deep sadness takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out for support when you need it.

#overcomingmanipulation #healthyboundaries #selflove #empowerment #deprogramming #mindcontrolrecovery #cultrecovery #cognitiveliberation

Christmas 2023 a gift was purchased for me. Well, ‘A’, ‘B’ and I had a talk about a gift for me and there was an uneasiness the whole time in the ensuing talks. This is my story of how I really noticed a shift in financial outlooks from ‘A’.

Following are more scenarios of financial abuse.

• Controlling access to money: This includes withholding money, refusing to provide an allowance, or making it difficult for the victim to access their own funds.

• Sabotaging employment: This can include interfering with the victim's job search, sabotaging their work performance, or forcing them to quit their job.

• Coercing the victim into making financial decisions that benefit the abuser: This can include pressuring the victim to co-sign on loans, take out credit cards in their name, or invest in risky ventures.

• Using money as a weapon: Withholding money for basic needs like food, clothing, or housing as a form of punishment or control.

• Isolating the victim from their financial resources: This can include preventing the victim from working, controlling their access to bank accounts, or hiding financial information from them.

It's important to remember that financial abuse can take many forms and may not always be easy to recognize. If you suspect that someone you know may be experiencing financial abuse, it's important to offer support and encourage them to seek help from a trusted friend, family member, or a domestic violence hotline.

Keep in mind that the victim might come to you for support and it might look like the victim does not know how to take care of their finances. This can often be a silent cry for help, as was the case with, ‘A’ and a friend that ‘A’ went to for help.

'A' and I went for a walk. One of those nice winter walks where the air is cold and the company is great.

The company was still great, but the things that were said caused great alarm.

Two major cult meanings were revealed to me.

5 Signs Someone Might Be Susceptible to Cult-like Behavior

• Low Self-Esteem and Insecurity: Individuals with low self-esteem may be more susceptible to manipulation and control.
• Need for Belonging: People who yearn for strong social connections may be drawn to groups that offer a sense of community and purpose.
• Desire for Meaning and Purpose: Individuals seeking meaning and purpose in life may be attracted to groups that claim to have all the answers.
• Trusting Nature: A tendency to trust others easily can make someone vulnerable to exploitation.
• Idealism and Perfectionism: People with high ideals and perfectionist tendencies may be drawn to groups that promise a perfect or utopian future.

#selflove

#empowerment

#mentalhealth

#deprogramming

#mindcontrolrecovery

#cultrecovery

#cognitiveliberation

The story of the garage conversion into an art studio.

By now our experiences together (myself with A) had really shifted into something very different. And, by different, I mean difficult to see. I could tell that money was being spent at an alarming rate, with only A working as B had quit work.

Weaponized Counselor Speak was becoming the norm and very quickly my husband and I were not welcome in the house, leaving A to finish the rebuild alone.

The look of confusion and fear was apparent in A’s eyes on a daily basis.

Part of the reason I am putting this podcast out is to be of benefit to anyone else in this position. From either the inside or the outside as I am.

I am happy to help if you have questions. Please feel free to comment so we can connect.

Books:

• Willful Blindness: Why We Don't Notice What's Right in Front of Us by Martha Stout
• The Cult at the End of the World by Jon Ronson
• The Program Is You by Joel Gold

Therapy and Counseling:

• Seek professional help: A therapist experienced in trauma and cult recovery can provide guidance and support.
• Join a support group: Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can be incredibly helpful.

#empowerment

#mentalhealth

#deprogramming

#mindcontrolrecovery

#cultrecovery

#cognitiveliberation

I never thought a simple walk that took place on February 20th of 2024 could lead to such a profound and disturbing behaviour. In this podcast, I'll share my ongoing personal journey of noticing how the walks and hikes that were taken and enjoyed between A and me have really started to be different.

I am taking notice, awakening to the reality of a toxic relationship from B, and only with the perspective of hindsight do I see the cult-like dynamics at play.

Go with love and kindness. Always care for yourself and those you love.

Books and Articles About Cults and Cult Recovery

Books:

• Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs by Carolyn Jessop

• Don't Call It a Cult by Sarah Edmondson

• Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright

• Wildfire: The Long Strange Trip of the Grateful Dead by Joel Selvin (while not strictly a cult, it explores themes of group dynamics and manipulation)

Articles and Resources:

• The Family International: A controversial religious group with a history of cult-like practices.

• The Children of God: A cult known for its extreme practices, including child abuse and exploitation.

The Branch Davidians: A religious sect involved in a deadly standoff with federal agents in Waco, Texas.

#selflove

#empowerment

#mentalhealth

#deprogramming

#mindcontrolrecovery

#cultrecovery

#cognitiveliberation

I noticed the vitriol in comments that would have never been said in such a way previously. My story shows the subtle shifts in verbiage used in once-everyday conversations and actions that are out of character.

Additional Tips for Supporting Loved Ones:

• Educate Yourself: Learn about the signs of cult involvement and the tactics used by cult leaders.

• Stay Connected: Maintain open communication with your loved one, even if it's difficult.

• Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge their experiences and emotions, even if you don't understand them.

• Offer Support and Encouragement: Let them know that you love and support them, no matter what.

  
  

  #overcomingmanipulation #healthyrelationships

  #healthyboundaries #selflove

  #empowerment #deprogramming

  
  

Why are the holidays so painful? Well, I understand some people have a hard time during the holidays and that’s why communication comes into play. I look back and wish that something different happened on Thanksgiving of 2023, a different form of communication, I don’t know, something, anything.

I have no idea what set this experience in motion. What I do know is it had a downhill roll into our lives from here.

Here are a few tips to look out for in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):

1. Intense and Unstable Relationships: People with BPD often have difficulty maintaining stable relationships. They may idealize others at first, then quickly devalue them. This can lead to intense emotional swings and chaotic relationships.

2. Impulsive Behavior: Individuals with BPD may engage in impulsive behaviors, such as substance abuse, reckless spending, or risky sexual encounters.

3. Emotional Instability: Rapid shifts in mood, from intense anger to deep sadness, are common in BPD. These emotional swings can be difficult to predict and can lead to impulsive actions.

4. Fear of Abandonment: People with BPD often fear being alone and may go to great lengths to avoid abandonment, even if it means engaging in manipulative or destructive behavior.

Self-Harm: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are common among individuals with BPD.

#healthyrelationships

#healthyboundaries

#selflove

#empowerment

#mentalhealth

#deprogramming

#mindcontrolrecovery