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This Is What Happens When You Leave A Cult
If you experience any of these, you are normal
Leaving a cult can be a harrowing experience. I’ve done it a few times in my life and it never gets easier.
There are several unique challenges you must overcome as part of reclaiming your life.
Here are five.
Emotional Challenges
Anger, shock, shame, embarrassment, annoyance, devastation and despair are just some of the emotions you might feel when leaving a cult. It’s normal and completely understandable. While in the cult, you were manipulated into feeling and doing things that weren’t coming from the real you. Also, your cult may have convinced you that feeling anything ‘negative’ is wrong. This is why it’s important to remember that all your emotions are valid. Feeling makes us human. Finding a safe way to process these emotions is part of healing.
Loss Of Identity/Path/Direction
Cults provide people with a deep sense of belonging, meaning and purpose. Even destructive and authoritarian cults are able to fill this human need for inclusion and answers. Unfortunately, the “purpose” the cult provides is usually an illusion, or it has been exploited for the cult leader’s personal gain.
