AND OTHER CONSEQUENCESOF

CULT-INVOLVED TRAUMA

PRESENTED BY:DONI P. WHITSETT, PH.D; LCSW

CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORKUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Affect Regulation

PTSD as a disorder of affect (emotional) regulation

Cornerstone of good mental health

Affect dysregulation the basis of mental illness

Re-experiencing

Intrusiv

e

thoughts

Nightmare

s

flashback

s

Avoidance

Hyperarousal

RemindersHyperarousal

Angry outburstsStartle response

Lacks concentration Insomnia

THREE PRONGS OF PTSD

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD

Alteration in regulation of affect and impulses a. affect regulation b. modulation of anger c. self-destructive d. suicidal preoccupation e. difficulty modulating sexual

involvementf. excessive risk taking

 Alteration in attention or consciousness a. amnesia b. depersonalization c. transient dissociate episodes

Somatization a. digestive system b. chronic pain c. cardiopulmonary symptoms d. conversion symptoms e. sexual symptoms

Source: van der Kolk, B. & Fisler, R. (1994). Childhood abuse and neglect and loss of self-regulation. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic. 58(2)

               

Alteration in self-perception a. ineffectiveness b. permanent damage c. guilt and responsibility d. shame e. nobody can understand f. minimizing

Alterations in perception of perpetrator a. adopting distorted beliefs b. preoccupation with hurting perpetrator c. idealization of the perpetrator

Alterations in relationships with other a. inability to trust b. victimizing others c. revictimization

 Alterations in systems of meaning a. despair and hopelessness b. loss of previously sustaining

beliefs

Affect Regulation

Ability to calm oneself downAbility to enliven oneselfMother first acts as psychobiological

regulatorBrain sprouts axons and dendrites within a

secure attachmentBaby takes on the self soothing and enlivening functions for herself

Brain Development

Optimal Brain Development

Strong connections up and down between higher and lower cortical regions

Thinking + feeling = good judgment

The Cult Parent

Pre-occupied with cult activities

Children hinder their cult-defined goal

In child-like position vis a vis cult leader

Parents as “middle management”

Hebian Axiom

Neurons that fire together wire together.

Donald Hebb

The Stress Response

Faced with immediate danger Cortisol and Epinephrine are released

HPA Axis Feedback loop Danger is over – return to baseline

“Toxic stress caused by significant adversity can produce physiological disruptions that undermine the development of the body stress response systems and affect the architecture of the developing brain ….” (www.developingchild.harvard.edu/library)

Effects of Chronic Stress

Impaired stress response

Hippocampal damage

Dissociation Cults practice dissociative techniques

Chronic Sympathetic Arousal

Anorexia IBS

SensitizationKindling Hippocampal

Cell Death GI Tract

Respiration Skin

Headaches Pain

Lewis, Kelly, Allen (2004) Restoring Hopeand Trust. Baltimore, MD. Sidran Inst. P.57

Other Emotional Consequences

Guilt and ShameSpiritual abuseMoralitySelf-fulfilling prophesyThe spousal relationship

Attachments threaten leader Reparation Identification with the aggressor (leader)