Abuse of power by a group over others...........(sound famil

Problems can stem from abuse of power by a group over individuals or another group. This can take the form of cult involvement. The cycle of abuse must be broken. This cycle is kept in play by the victim returning to the abusive group.

The abuse viictim needs to be liberated from the entanglement.

The problem is growing. The magnitude of the cult problem is staggering. Estimates of the number of cult members in the United States range well over 10 million in an estimated 3,000-4,000 cults. Many of those who leave such groups will sustain lasting psychological problems. Few of those will understand the extent or the nature of the damage they have sustained. In fact, the only social and health problems that exceed the harm inflicted by cults are drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, violent crime, accidents, all forms of cancer combined (cult involvement exceeds the total of any one type of cancer), syphilis, gonorrhea, colds, and flu.

Warning Signs

Some survivors of coercive abuse don't realize they are involved in a destructive organization. Many who have been emotionally damaged in these types of situations are unaware that their struggles are related to their experience. Below are some tips to help you spot someone who is suffering as a result of coercive abuse.

* Severe guilt. Even after they intellectually break from the group, abuse victims can suffer from debilitating guilt due to extreme emotional attachment to the group.

* Abuse "hopping". The person goes from one abusive group to another.

* Inability to stay away from the abusive group.

* Vacillation between speaking very negatively and very positively about the abusive group.

* Family problems that were not present prior to the individual's involvement with the group.

* Irrational sense that society is "out to get them." This may result from the cult's tendency to foster an "us vs. them" mentality.

* Inability to think for himself or herself. Victims of exploitation are often deprecated to the point that they believe themselves to be incapable of sound decision-making.

* Loss of a sense of purpose and zest for living which set in after involvement with the group.

* Fear of the supernatural.

* Disbelief that there is God or any type of spirituality.