Quote:
Originally Posted by Xynesthesia2
I have not finished the whole podcast yet but, so far, I have been struck by Marty's own involvement as well. It is hard for me to comprehend how someone can get so enmeshed for so long but I guess it's only me as I fail to relate to many other types of long-term interpersonal enmeshment and dependency also reported on this forum. I've grown to accept that it is just something I will probably never fully comprehend but can be very real/serious for many people (just like my substance addiction was for me).
|
I can't say how far the vulnerable, younger me would have followed Dr. Ike down the rabbit hole in the cause of "healing." I thought too long that others had a life wisdom I lacked, and my therapists played guru roles to the hilt.
Fortunately, friends' guidance saved me from my bully therapists, so, unlike Marty, I wasn't isolated. Marty also didn't have the internet when the relationship started. Reinforcement is critical when disentangling from a cult, I think.
Then there's the unsourced quote:
"It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." Many people want divine figures and strong men.