I’m going to dig into my personal history a bit here. I was born into a cult and dealt with various forms of abuse in it and after I got out. While all of that was Very Bad, it left me with some decent perspective on things to be aware of. So I’m going to share.

Let’s talk about what to look out or in high control groups! Aka cults. While cults generally have a religious connection, high control groups can exist in many forms and we should all know what to look out for. Interpersonal abuse can also follow many of these patterns and should be taken just as seriously!

Is there unquestioning commitment to a leader or small group in charge?

Are you discouraged from voicing, or even having, doubts or concerns?

Are they encouraging things that will weaken your mental resistance and keep you malleable to them? This can be sleep deprivation, over working, or intensive spiritual group practices.

Are leaders telling you how to dress/act/think/who to interact with? Are peers pressured to reinforce these rules? Do they use guilt and shame to keep these regulations going?

Do those with power protect their own without regard for the consequences to the rest of the group? This can look like consolidated or closed door decision making, protecting other abusers, or strict enforcement of the hierarchy.

Does the group encourage you to cut ties with friends and family or discourage personal goals you had prior to engaging with them?

All of these are red flags. If you find yourself in a situation where these things are happening it is extremely important to step back and reassess where you are and what you are doing. Reach out to people who are not in the group and seek advice or support. Many people think that they are too smart to fall into these traps, but the reality is that these groups are all over the place and will draw people in who are not aware.

While this is focusing on groups of abuse, it’s important to restate that interpersonal abuse follows many of the same patterns. If any of your relationships mirror the issues listed above it is crucial to look critically at them. Again, reach out to people outside of the situation for perspective and support. The longer you are involved in these situations the more isolated you become and the harder it is to remove yourself. Abusers, of groups and individuals, rely on their victims being reliant on them.

#Cults #HighControlGroups #Abuse