Recovery from Abusive Groups Page 20
though, it might be helpful to learn to trust a therapeutic relationship again,
although you may want to avoid therapists who support New Age encounter
cults.
Also available and often at little or no cost are support groups for many different
types of problems, including such painful and difficult issues as incest,
alcoholism and the adult children of alcoholics, rape, and more.
(See Black, 1982 Vaughan, 1982 Whitfield, 1987 Woititz, 1983.)
Financial Stability
Writing a resume, finding a job, earning money, managing a checking account,
paying bills, and deciphering a bank statement may all be very new experiences
for some ex-cultists. It can be overwhelming to have to acquire so many self-
management skills while trying to heal, especially during the first year of
recovery. Family, friends, and others can be very helpful and supportive by
teaching you these necessary skills, encouraging you to become self-sufficient
little by little (see Basic Skills, p. 66). If you can afford them, there are also
resume and job counseling services available.
A word of caution, the primary goal of recovery is to work through and integrate
the cult experience. Be careful not to get so caught up in school or a job that
you don't have the time or energy to learn about mind control and to get in
touch with your feelings regarding the experience. Otherwise, these issues may
surface at the wrong times, for example when you are interacting with your
boss.
Work Environments
You have left an environment where you were often told what to do and how to
think. Some companies are run this way and that similarity may feel very
threatening to you. It could set off "floating" episodes (see Floating, p. 36) or
cause you to become disoriented and anxious. If you have to work and if such a
company is the only employer for your job skill, you may have little choice for
now but to work for them. This, too, can cause a feeling of being helpless and
manipulated.
It might help reduce this stress, if you decide to work in this environment only
for a certain period of time, say, until you are stronger. In the meantime,
discuss the events at work and your reactions with someone you trust. This will
help reduce the stress, and provide support and a reality check for your
reactions. As you work through the issues of recovery, you can build a job plan
and look for a different work environment later.
Routine and Boring
When I was still in the early stages of recovery and needed a job, it was
suggested to me to find a dull, routine job where I wouldn't have to think too
much, but one that would give my life some structure. This was a very helpful
suggestion, because when the depression and grieving set in, I was very
though, it might be helpful to learn to trust a therapeutic relationship again,
although you may want to avoid therapists who support New Age encounter
cults.
Also available and often at little or no cost are support groups for many different
types of problems, including such painful and difficult issues as incest,
alcoholism and the adult children of alcoholics, rape, and more.
(See Black, 1982 Vaughan, 1982 Whitfield, 1987 Woititz, 1983.)
Financial Stability
Writing a resume, finding a job, earning money, managing a checking account,
paying bills, and deciphering a bank statement may all be very new experiences
for some ex-cultists. It can be overwhelming to have to acquire so many self-
management skills while trying to heal, especially during the first year of
recovery. Family, friends, and others can be very helpful and supportive by
teaching you these necessary skills, encouraging you to become self-sufficient
little by little (see Basic Skills, p. 66). If you can afford them, there are also
resume and job counseling services available.
A word of caution, the primary goal of recovery is to work through and integrate
the cult experience. Be careful not to get so caught up in school or a job that
you don't have the time or energy to learn about mind control and to get in
touch with your feelings regarding the experience. Otherwise, these issues may
surface at the wrong times, for example when you are interacting with your
boss.
Work Environments
You have left an environment where you were often told what to do and how to
think. Some companies are run this way and that similarity may feel very
threatening to you. It could set off "floating" episodes (see Floating, p. 36) or
cause you to become disoriented and anxious. If you have to work and if such a
company is the only employer for your job skill, you may have little choice for
now but to work for them. This, too, can cause a feeling of being helpless and
manipulated.
It might help reduce this stress, if you decide to work in this environment only
for a certain period of time, say, until you are stronger. In the meantime,
discuss the events at work and your reactions with someone you trust. This will
help reduce the stress, and provide support and a reality check for your
reactions. As you work through the issues of recovery, you can build a job plan
and look for a different work environment later.
Routine and Boring
When I was still in the early stages of recovery and needed a job, it was
suggested to me to find a dull, routine job where I wouldn't have to think too
much, but one that would give my life some structure. This was a very helpful
suggestion, because when the depression and grieving set in, I was very
