I probably understand what you mean by 'leaving a cult'. I felt that way exactly when I finally, this past spring, left the place I was living in. The main reason I finally broke away and left was because a man, my room-mate, who was abusing me. It took years for me to get the courage to leave. When the night came that I truly felt my life and the lives of my precious pets were in danger I broke away and left. Never looked back. In a big way I feel like I left a cult leader.