Thought Reform?


Thought reform or mind control seems like something that only happens in a movie or a novel, but it is prevalent in our society today. One only has to look as far as the Catholic Church to find victims of spiritual abuse. While the stories of altar boys molested by priests have made headlines, countless victims are still suffering in silence. Whenever there is a power imbalance in a relationship, there is a danger that the person who holds more authority will abuse his or her power. It can occur on a large scale as with the Unification Church (the Moonies) or in smaller groups such as Heaven's Gate (39 members) or even in one-on-one relationships such as a priest and parishioner or a professor and a student. Victims of mind control are not crazy cult followers. They are people like me and you who have fallen into a trap set by a predatory leader. In my experience, the trap was built with trust and words and compassion which lured me into thinking that I was safe until it snapped down on me. Victims of mind control are robbed of time. Sometimes years or decades are lost while in the group or relationship. Victims of mind control lose family and friends. Most are told to end contact with outsiders. Many who are able to return to their families find the relationships fractured. Victims of mind control lose their identities. It's difficult to know who you are after being told by someone else how to feel, how to dress, how to act. It's one of the darkest and most frightening feelings in the world. There are very few facilities that treat these victims or therapists who are equipped to handle these cases. It makes for a long, lonely journey for these victims. Compassionate understanding and education by society is lacking. This novel is dedicated to raising awareness and giving a face to victims of mind control.

1. Every person should have the right to his or her own thoughts, ideology, and identity.

2. Thought reform does not simply exist in cults that are on the news. It can occur in one-on-one relationships and in small groups in your neighborhood

3. In any situation where there is an imbalance of power (priest/parishioner, therapist/client), there is potential for abuse.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Paperback Writer

"Dear Sir or Madam: Will you read my book?  It took me years to write.  Will you take a look?  Its based on a novel by a man named Lear, and I need a job so I want to be a paperback writer."
--The Beatles
Lunch with a Sociopath is now available in paperback through Amazon.com at the link below!

http://www.amazon.com/Lunch-Sociopath-Lucie-Lilly-Pawlak/dp/1475058500/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333408992&sr=1-2

1 comment:

  1. I am desperate. I can find no help to get my elderly mother out of the grips of my brother who is intent on keeping her convinced that all family members (except him) is a villain and a curse to her. She seems dependent on his daily calls that simply serve to remind her who she needs to mistrust. She has alzheimers & guardianship/conservatorship was granted to her beloved and highly trusted granddaughter just 3 months ago. My brother has been using her pension to support himself and all his amusements. Now that the money has been cut-off, he has used his charismatic ways to successfully convince her to do anything he asks, which has included talking her into cashing in insurance policies and send them to his daughter so he can get the cash from her & not be culpable of any wrong doing. The police have told us that because my mom is the one obtaining funds to give to him, there is no real evidence against him. But I know the truth. I have listened to phone conversations where he directs her what to do. Since it's my word against his, it's back to square one.
    We have successfully changed her phone #, but it's only a matter of time that somehow the contact begins again. Can you recommend a counseling program of any kind that might help us to help her see how badly she is being manipulated ? The people who care for her the most and won't take a dime from her are the ones being shut out. In a few years her long-term care needs will far exceed her monthly income, and thanks to my brother- any real assets she had are now almost gone.
    please suggest a direction i can take. ginacurtis5@embarqmail.com

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