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People harmed by
cults often will
report feeling
betrayed and abused,
psychologically if
not physically or
sexually. They may
feel traumatized,
depressed, guilty,
angry, anxious,
distrustful, and
confused.
There are a wide
variety of cults.
Different people
respond differently
to the same
environment.
Therefore, not all
people who have been
in cults are harmed
by the experience.
But some, perhaps a
majority, are
harmed. Part of
ICSA’s mission is to
help these people,
so our focus here is
on this subgroup of
cult members.
The testimonies of
the thousands of
people who have
sought help after a
cult experience
suggests that the
core of their
subjective
experience is a
sense of abuse and
betrayal. The group
promised them
something wonderful,
but ultimately they
received
disillusionment and
pain.
As noted in our
answer to the
question, “Why
do people leave
cults,” exiting
a cult can involve
much pain and
suffering, in part
because the group
environment is so
demanding and in
part because the
group becomes a part
of the person’s
personality.
Departure, then, is
a form of psychic
trauma. Indeed,
many former cult
members have been
diagnosed with PTSD
(Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder).
However, even for
those who don’t
reach the level of
PTSD, the pain can
be severe. Among the
problems ex-cult
members have
reported are
(adapted from
Giambalvo):
-
Sense of
purposelessness,
of being
disconnected.
-
Depression.
-
Grieving for
other group
members, for a
sense of loss in
their life.
-
Guilt.
-
Anger.
-
Alienation.
-
Isolation.
-
Distrust.
-
Fear of going
crazy.
-
Fear that what
the cult said
would happen to
them if they
left actually
might happen.
-
Tendency to
think in terms
of black and
white.
-
Tendency to
spiritualize
everything.
-
Difficulty
making
decisions.
-
Low self-esteem.
-
Embarrassment.
-
Employment
and/or career
problems.
-
Dissociation.
-
Floating/flashbacks.
-
Nightmares.
-
Family
conflicts.
-
Dependency
issues.
-
Sexual problems.
-
Spiritual
issues.
-
Inability to
concentrate
-
Re-emergence of
pre-cult
emotional or
psychological
issues.
-
Impatience with
the recovery
process.
Even with
professional help,
it is not uncommon
for ex-members to
require one or two
years to work
through their
problems and
re-establish an
identity and sense
of purpose apart
from their group.
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