Hey Everyone,
I've spent some time in the past reading through these forums, but am fairly new as a registered user. I apologize if this post is mis-categorized.
A couple of years ago I had the misfortune of experiencing an LGAT. The group had done (from what I could tell) wonders for my depressed girlfriend, and based on where is she now versus where she was, I'd say it helped her to a degree. So, after she and many others pushed me, I eventually enrolled myself.
Of course I experienced the same "life changing" high that came with it after graduating. They used the typical model (feedback arcs, red/black game, the four fingered solute, etc. basically a spin off of the Great Life Foundation). And, for a while I felt like I could take on the world, and had escaped the things that "held me back", I've even staffed a great number of times to surround myself in the culture of it.
Fast forward to present day, and I have never been filled with more anxiety and stress in my life. Just the idea of talking to people makes me anxious and nervous, whereas it was not like this before. I feel depressed, and without energy. I've witnessed first hand the dangers of the effects that LGATs can have, having my own family member suffer from full fledged psychosis and multiple suicide attempts after his experience.
For those of you that got out, what kind of resources would you recommend in overcoming the emotional/psychological damage that's been incurred? It's strange, because half of me still believes in the jargon, and the other half wants out. I'm constantly surrounded by people that are involved with the group in my relationships, so sometimes it seems impossible to totally disconnect from it.
Any thoughts, support, and resources would be greatly appreciated!
I've spent some time in the past reading through these forums, but am fairly new as a registered user. I apologize if this post is mis-categorized.
A couple of years ago I had the misfortune of experiencing an LGAT. The group had done (from what I could tell) wonders for my depressed girlfriend, and based on where is she now versus where she was, I'd say it helped her to a degree. So, after she and many others pushed me, I eventually enrolled myself.
Of course I experienced the same "life changing" high that came with it after graduating. They used the typical model (feedback arcs, red/black game, the four fingered solute, etc. basically a spin off of the Great Life Foundation). And, for a while I felt like I could take on the world, and had escaped the things that "held me back", I've even staffed a great number of times to surround myself in the culture of it.
Fast forward to present day, and I have never been filled with more anxiety and stress in my life. Just the idea of talking to people makes me anxious and nervous, whereas it was not like this before. I feel depressed, and without energy. I've witnessed first hand the dangers of the effects that LGATs can have, having my own family member suffer from full fledged psychosis and multiple suicide attempts after his experience.
For those of you that got out, what kind of resources would you recommend in overcoming the emotional/psychological damage that's been incurred? It's strange, because half of me still believes in the jargon, and the other half wants out. I'm constantly surrounded by people that are involved with the group in my relationships, so sometimes it seems impossible to totally disconnect from it.
Any thoughts, support, and resources would be greatly appreciated!
