The Re-Traumatization of Ex-Cult Members in Today's Political Climate

Recent years have brought a surge in political division, authoritarian rhetoric, and widespread disinformation. While these developments are distressing, they hold a particularly re-traumatizing effect for individuals who have previously left high-control religious environments or cults. For survivors, the current political landscape can feel eerily familiar, because it often echos the manipulation and psychological control ex-cult members worked hard to leave behind.

Understanding Cult Dynamics

In order to understand the impact of current political events on cult survivors, it is important to explore the nature of cults and high-demand groups. Cults typically operate under the leadership of an authoritarian figure(s) who demands unquestioning loyalty. High-demand and fundamentalist groups tend to suppress dissent and critical thinking, isolate members from outside influences, restrict individuals from evidence-based information or data that contradicts messages from the group, enforce strict behavioral and ideological codes, and use fear, shame, and punishment to maintain control.

Members are often locked into binary worldviews (good vs. evil, saved vs. lost, us vs. them) and discouraged from questioning authority or trusting their own perceptions. Because the indoctrination starts at very young ages, members build their whole life around these binary worldviews, which then makes leaving these groups painful, often dismantling their sense of identity, worldview, and social network.

Parallels in the Political Arena

Since it can be very traumatizing to leave an authoritarian environment, it can become re-traumatizing to be “forced” into another authoritarian environment. This may include tactics like:

1. Charismatic Leadership- Political figures who demand loyalty, punish dissent, and frame themselves as the sole source of truth can trigger memories of manipulative  and authoritarian leaders. Survivors may find themselves emotionally activated by rhetoric that mirrors the absolutism and moral superiority they left behind.

2. Disinformation and Reality Distortion- High-demand groups, cults, and fundamentalist environments rely on controlling the flow of information. Similarly, the political spread of conspiracy theories, denial of factual evidence, and media manipulation can be unsettling to those who were once taught to distrust their own thoughts and observations.

3. Fear-Based Messaging- Messages that focus on dehumanizing opponents or frame disagreement as betrayal, mirror cult tactics that are designed to keep members quiet and compliant. This type of fear-based communication can reactivate internalized fear responses and a hypervigilant nervous system of a survivor.

4. In-Group/Out-Group Dynamics- Political movements that create rigid divisions between "us" and "them" often replicate black-and-white mentality that is central in cult ideology. This can be difficult for those who were taught to fear outsiders and now fear being labeled as traitors or heretics by their own families or communities.

5. Erasure of Individual Agency- High-demand groups and cults often strip members of personal autonomy, encouraging them to adhere to the group. In the political context, policies that curtail individual rights or autonomy over one’s body, identity, or voice can feel like a loss of hard-won personal freedom.

Psychological Re-Traumatization

Without conscious awareness, re-traumatization occurs when one is exposed to experiences or environments that remind them of past trauma. For cult survivors, political climates can unconsciously echo former patterns of abuse. This includes:

• Hypervigilance- feeling a heightened sense of threat, unable to relax or disengage from the news cycle

• Emotional Flashbacks- a sudden feeling of panic, shame, or powerlessness without a clear memory of past events

• Isolation and Distrust- the polarization of society can cause individuals to withdraw, fearing betrayal or misunderstanding by others

• Existential Dread- the rise of authoritarianism may prompt despair about whether true safety, freedom, or justice is ever possible

These responses are not signs of weakness but survival mechanisms rooted in past trauma. Recognizing them is the first step toward healing.

Impact on Relationships and Community

Political tensions can also strain relationships with family and community members. Families can often mirror the same authoritarian values they experienced in their religious group, making political differences feel like life-or-death conflicts. Conversations that escalate into moral judgment, gaslighting, or emotional cutoff can feel like emotional abuse all over again. Survivors may feel they have to choose between staying silent to preserve relationships or speaking their truth and risking exclusion or rejection. Survivors could also find themselves in activist spaces that unintentionally replicate high-control dynamics. For example, demanding ideological purity, shaming dissent, or creating rigid hierarchies. Survivors have to navigate these spaces thoughtfully, learning to distinguish between healthy group engagement and coercive dynamics.

Strategies for Survivors

Reclaiming emotional well-being and agency in an activating political climate requires intentional strategies, including:

1. Limit Media Exposure- Create boundaries around how often and from where you consume news. Choose reliable, evidenced, and fact-based sources, while also taking intentional breaks to regulate your nervous system.

2. Practice Grounding and Self-Compassion- Grounding exercises can help you return to the present moment. Treat yourself with kindness and respect, giving yourself the benefit of the doubt when emotional triggers arise. Acknowledge that your reactions make sense given your past experiences.

3. Seek Trauma-Informed Support- Connect with a therapist who understands religious trauma and cult recovery. Process trauma in a validating and safe environment.

4. Find or Build Safe Community- Look for and participate in spaces or groups that honor diversity of thought, encourage consent and boundaries, and practice restorative justice, rather than punitive justice. Community helps to support healing and recovery.

5. Reaffirm Your Values and Autonomy- Write down what matters most to you. Cultivate practices that reinforce your agency. This can include, but not limited to, voting, journaling, creative expression, or simply saying no.

6. Engage in Micro-Activism- It is important to be realistic in your goals, recognizing that not everyone can be on the front lines. However, small actions like supporting a cause financially, having informed conversations, or volunteering can help you feel empowered rather than helpless. Change happens with small individual actions taken by many.

7. Recognize your Power- While the political environment may feel unstable or even threatening, survivors are not powerless. The skills developed in leaving a high-control group—discernment, boundary-setting, critical thinking, and courage—are often what is needed. Healing is not about forgetting the past but transforming how it lives in your body and your story.

8. You are Not Alone- Know that you are not alone. There are thousands who are feeling similar to you. Your experiences and insight is invaluable to the societal and political change.

Looking for Support?

If you're navigating the effects of religious trauma, cult recovery, or feeling triggered by the political climate, I offer virtual therapy services for residents in California, Maryland, and Utah.

Learn more and schedule a free consultation here.

You can also find more information from the International Cultic Studies Association