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     david_mccarthy Intermediate Member Username: david_mccarthy Post Number: 149 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 216.227.114.41 |
Joe Szimhart spoke briefly about “triggers” Triggers can be any group-associated symbol, image, sound, song, spoken word, word, smell, movie, name, etc, that causes an ex-member to dissociate, get angry, feel fear, daydream, or react in a way that feels out of control. Most of these reactions in most ex-members fade with normal resocialization in a year or so, but if any linger or cause PTSD symptoms like nightmares and panic attacks, it helps to get seek professional guidance. Information about triggers. http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/giambalvo_carol_copingwithtriggersandptsd.htm http://www.factnet.org/Margaret_Thaler_Singer/Post_Cult_After_Effects.html http://hometown.aol.com/carol2180/coping.htm Joe Szimhart http://home.dejazzd.com/jszimhart What is dissociation? Dissociation is a disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory or consciousness. It is also known as a trance state. It is a very normal defense mechanism. You’ve all probably heard of how a child being abused dissociates—or persons in the midst of traumatic experiences. Those are natural occurrences to an unnatural event. What are some of the events in the life of a cult member that may bring on dissociation? • Stress of maintaining beliefs • Stress of constant activities • Diet/sleep deprivation • Discordant noises — conflicts • Never knowing what’s next There are many, many ways to produce a dissociative or trance state: • Drugs • Alcohol • Physical stress (long distance running) • Hyperventilation • Rhythmic voice patterns or noises (drumming) • Chanting • Empty-minded meditation • Speaking in tongues • Long prayers • Guided visualizations • “imagine…” • confrontational sessions (hot seat, auditing, struggle sessions) • decreeing • hypnotism or “processes” • hyper arousal—usually into a negative state so the leaders can rescue you (ICC confessions) • Ericksonian hypnosis (Milton Erickson) hypnotic trance without a formal trance induction Before I describe how Ericksonian hypnosis works, why are we so concerned about trance states? • Individuals don’t process information normally in trance states • Critical thinking—the arguing self—is turned off • Also turned off are reflection, independent judgment, decision-making • In trance you are dealing with the subconscious mind which has no way to tell the difference between something imagined or reality—it becomes a real experience which is interpreted for you by the group ideology. • Once in a trance, people have visions or may “hear” sounds—that are later interpreted for you in the context of the cult mindset—the “magic” while in reality they are PURPOSELY MANUFACTURED PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO THE TRANCE STATE. • While in trance you are more suggestible—not just during trance but for a period of time up to 2 hours after. • When a person dissociates it becomes easier and easier to enter into a dissociative state — it can become a habit—and it can become uncontrollable. From http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/giambalvo_carol_copingwithtriggersandptsd.htm | ||
| mathew_morrell Junior Member Username: mathew_morrell Post Number: 40 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.30.217.166 |
We can see that RSE relies heavily on “the trance state” in their spiritual practices. Not all spiritual paths do, in fact many vehemently reject it because human evolution tends to be moving in the opposite direction: away from “the trance state” and toward a state of mind where consciousness is increased and not decreased. In a trance state, critical thinking is bypassed and we become incapable of the ability to judge and discern. In essence we revert to a primeval state of mind that is completely subjective and dangerously susceptible to brainwashing techniques. RSE spiritual seekers intentionally paralyze their critical function by ingesting large quantities of alcohol and then allow themselves to the brainwashed by subliminal messages such as those recorded on The List. |
