Not a Scientologist but...

[HeadShrinker]

Hey there! I am not sure how welcome I will be here as I am finishing up medical school with a leaning to go into Psychiatry. I would most likely specialize in in-patient treatment of schizophrenia and other crippling diseases of that nature. I do believe in viewing the person as a person with a disease and not a disease who has a person. (not sure if that made sense)

Of course I have a fascination with cults and have reearched a variety of them when I stumbled across Scientology. I learned about the cult through Operation Clambake website and then fanned out from there. I have been reading and studying about this philosophy purely as an outsider and from websites (mostly anti Scnt) and have read Bare Faced Messiah. On and off I've studied about Scn for two years and stumbled across this board a year ago. I've been a lurker but finally decided I would "out" myself and see how I swim in this pool.

I am here to learn and maybe even try to understand how to help others who've been hurt by the practices of Scientology. I've even thought of maybe focusing therapy on people who've left cults and are trying to get their feet under them. My reservation would be worrying about the "Church's" fair game policy and having frivilous lawsuits brought against me whenever I treat a person leaving the Church. The records I've read (Lisa McPherson case) would indicate the Church thinks nothing of destroying a physician's life just to protect their image.

So, am I welcome here? Or should I quietly step away and return to lurkersville? :D

[Zinjifar]

No reason you wouldn't be welcome here. ESMB is a mixed bag and they even let us non-clams on.

Unrelated, you might see Scientology as an acquired paranoid-schizoid state with controls that exploit therapeutic transference.

Zinj

[slimjim]

Hi Headshrinker, welcome. I think you may have already read by now that a number of ex scientologists have gone to therapist (with great difficulty initially, as psychs are considered dangerous while in the cult). And with good success. This board and ex scientology kids may be good boards to kind of see how us x culties do and what our issues are. I'm ok now, but could've used some help back in 2005 - 2008!

[HeadShrinker]

No reason you wouldn't be welcome here. ESMB is a mixed bag and they even let us non-clams on.

Unrelated, you might see Scientology as an acquired paranoid-schizoid state with controls that exploit therapeutic transference.

Zinj

I've definitely noticed an increased paranoia in ex's but it is completely justified in their case. They just exited a cult that punishes for thought and requires a person to write down their "crimes." Also, there is the pervasive KR (I think that's what I remember from posts) where people must report other "crimes" they've witnessed. Let's not even get into the church's illegal inprisonment of congregants desiring to leave said cult.

I've have read some threads here that lead me to believe that the practices also create a delusion disorder as well. (people claiming to be reincarnated LRH/Nibs/Mary/etc., or even claiming to be a reincarnation of someone presently living) I don't believe in reincarnation but as far as I know, no belief system states one can be an incarnation of a living being.

I wish there was a way I could study the brain of people (not by excision but maybe by imaging...relax folks, I'm no mad scientist lol) who go through the auditing, particularly when they are "remembering" past "tracks." I know some people have had psychotic breaks after going through certain processes in Scientology. So something is going on in the brain, even if I don't understand exactly what that process is.

[HeadShrinker]

BTW, Zinj, I thought you were an ex by reading some of your posts. Now I feel sheepish.

Slimjim,
It's the "insider" perspective that I wish to learn about. I think the only way to help folks recovering from the cult is to truly understand what their struggles are/were. So this board (and the ex kids) has been invaluable in that respect.

[Voltaire's Child]

Hey there! I am not sure how welcome I will be here as I am finishing up medical school with a leaning to go into Psychiatry. I would most likely specialize in in-patient treatment of schizophrenia and other crippling diseases of that nature. I do believe in viewing the person as a person with a disease and not a disease who has a person. (not sure if that made sense)

Of course I have a fascination with cults and have reearched a variety of them when I stumbled across Scientology. I learned about the cult through Operation Clambake website and then fanned out from there. I have been reading and studying about this philosophy purely as an outsider and from websites (mostly anti Scnt) and have read Bare Faced Messiah. On and off I've studied about Scn for two years and stumbled across this board a year ago. I've been a lurker but finally decided I would "out" myself and see how I swim in this pool.

I am here to learn and maybe even try to understand how to help others who've been hurt by the practices of Scientology. I've even thought of maybe focusing therapy on people who've left cults and are trying to get their feet under them. My reservation would be worrying about the "Church's" fair game policy and having frivilous lawsuits brought against me whenever I treat a person leaving the Church. The records I've read (Lisa McPherson case) would indicate the Church thinks nothing of destroying a physician's life just to protect their image.

So, am I welcome here? Or should I quietly step away and return to lurkersville? :D

No reason you wouldn't be welcome here. Most of the people here are ex Scientologists as well as ex church members. Some are ex members who still practice Scn but you'll find very few, if any of them, to be anti psychology or anti psychiatry.

Welcome!

[trollbaitz]

There's a shrink who protests and posts on wwp. Her handle is psychoutcults. She may give you some of her thoughts on the matter, HeadShrinker.

I'd think you'd be welcomed here by everyone except the people who just recently left the cult. It takes them some time to wade through all the cult muck in their minds.

[Dulloldfart]

So, am I welcome here?

Sure!

Paul

[Zinjifar]

BTW, Zinj, I thought you were an ex by reading some of your posts. Now I feel sheepish.

Slimjim,
It's the "insider" perspective that I wish to learn about. I think the only way to help folks recovering from the cult is to truly understand what their struggles are/were. So this board (and the ex kids) has been invaluable in that respect.

Biggest problem with the 'Insider perspective' is that 'The Tech' is specifically designed to blind you to what is being done to you. Once out a lot of exes do get valuable insight into how it 'worked' on them.

(and, no reason to feel sheepish)

Zinj

[HeadShrinker]

Oh wow! Some of the posters answering are like...famous in my head. LOL I've been reading on this board for about a year and know some folks were in the Church for decades and thus very strong to leave the cult finally.

Trollbaitz,
Thank you for that info, I will see if I can bump into him/her and try to get a better understanding of treating ex's if they come calling.

I am actually thinking of writing a thesis on how Scn slowly sucks the followers in and eventually creates the perception that one cannot leave. I am often amazed that people would go through the process placed upon them to leave the church. Instead of simply running away they actually go through demeaning treatment to be give permission. I just read someone's story the other day where DM punched him multiple times and he never even thought of hitting back. I was so angry for the poor guy I wanted to find DM and punch the crap out of him. But then I was stunned that it never occured to the victim or the witnesses to simply intercede and refuse the inhumane treatment.

Man, that was some babbling, eh? Anyways, thanks everyone for the warm welcome.