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Is just how I felt. It's particularly hard when for years, people have been encouraged to distance themselves from friends and earthly family who don't respond to "the word" as promoted by TWI. So when you've been M&A'd, there's nowhere to go (you think). All those bridges need to be rebuilt, too, and sometimes that's very difficult. Never fear: TWI has cast you out. GOD HAS NOT CAST YOU OUT NOR ABANDONED YOU and still loves you and will bring to you those who can help you recover from the abuse. You may not be able to help yourself, so God will put people in your path who can offer a kind word here, an action there, a place to be, a balm for your soul. You might not recognise it at the time, but it'll be something you'll hang on to. As OldSkool has said, counselling can help. Some people have found divorce recovery/workshops helpful. Or talking about it with a wise, trusted, loving friend might help. Luke 15 (also in Matt 18) 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. You were not just a lost sheep - you were a stolen sheep. Not only you (as a lost/stolen sheep) will be sought for and recovered, and brought home with rejoicing - the thieves will be dealt with too, in due time. Plenty of condemnation all over the Bible about not stealing and how thieves are to be dealt with.

Just for the record...the 7Up ad is not real. There are photoshop artists that can recreate, change, produce things that look authentic...like an old 7 UP ad. More now than ever, don't believe everything you see.

This is a great thread...thanks Rocky! I would encourage anyone leaving TWI for any reason (whether M/A or leaving on your own) to understand that you are dealing with a huge loss in your life. Loss of friends, loss of family for some, loss of community, etc. Then there is the feeling that God doesn't exist outside of TWI and there is nothing better outside of TWI...and nothing could be further from the truth. Familiarize yourself with the 5 stages of grief...because you will be living through them. - denial - anger - bargaining - depression - acceptance Acceptance is your goal. I stayed on a spin cycle of the first four points without ever getting to acceptance until I did 16 weeks of counseling, even then it took a lot of time. Not everyone needs to do that but it helps. I encourage people to seek help because I didn't know I needed any help after leaving TWI and I needed a lot of help. Don't ignore the fact that you are departing an abusive cult who uses psychological ploys to keep followers under their thumb.