Have you left fundamentalist religion or a cult?

[Letdownbackthen]

I was raised in what I would call a Christian cult now, nothing massively sinister just a bit odd and hard to break free from psychologically

My psyche feels smashed, I'm really struggling with anxiety. Just wondering if anyone else has left something that heavily indoctrinated them?

[vdbfamily]

My family were part of the Exclusive Brethren when I was very young but left when I was 3. I have had contact with family members who have left in more recent years and it has been very very hard for them to exist in 'the world' without the safety net of all the rules and regulations. I think it is important to almost start again re what you believe. Some throw the baby out with the bathwater and never want to go to church again, whilst others try and work out for themselves what the Bible says/means rather than what they have been told. I found that even though my parents left when I was young, they still struggled with the rules for years. My mother never had her hair cut and wore her first pair of trousers in her 60's. I did not wear trousers until well in my teens and only own a couple of pairs even now. These funny things still shackle us over 40 years later. Do you know other people who have left that you can speak to as I think that helps? There is quite a network with the Brethren so you will probably find there is with whatever group you left.

[Lessstressedhemum]

I left Jehovah's Witnesses. I would describe that as a cult now. It was very hard and there are still some hangovers.

[Lostsoul231]

I left jehovahs witnesses too
So controlling

[steppinstone]

Yes. There are some good books on the subject that I found helpful: one was called Leaving The Fold. I would recommend this. Be kind to yourself. And therapy I would also recommend !

[IKnowWhyACagedBirdSings]

Parents lest JW's. I think it is easier to leave nowadays,given the public awareness of cults/brain washing.

[tigerdriverII]

EXH left a Christian cult. He really suffered and it screwed with his head. Now 35 years ago and I think he's relatively ok now but he could have done with some understanding therapy at the time. Carried a lot of weird thinking for a long time, e.g. Illness is the result of sin (possibly several generations ago), reading horoscopes will send you to hell, women should obey House Rules (I did say EXH).

[Love51]

I left a very mainstream religion, not a cult, and it still feels odd, 18 mths on. I feel sad about it sometimes, as I miss that feeling of being enveloped in something. I'm struggling a bit with morality, particularly financial. But on the whole I am less anxious - it doesn't feel like everything I do is monumental, so I'm free to make mistakes without letting anyone down (small mistakes, I still have a dh and kids and a job, so can't go crazy wild!)