Hi, Jeremy-just saw your post and wanted to just wish you luck and happiness. For someone who has been through an experience much like yours, It can take time to retrain your body and thoughts, just as it took time to force the feelings away in the first place. I’ve learned, too, that people going through traumatic events can also experience this.

You might find that catching up on funny movies, watching comics or comedy shows a bit of relief from all the stress you’ve been under. Taking a guided tour of an art museum, or going on a hike or seeing a sunrise or sunset might give you a lift. Watching the stars at night, or relaxing with good music or cooking or volunteering might also give you some space to just be free. Helping a kid’s sports team or reading books to kids in a classroom or library-you never know what interests you until you try it.

Good luck to you. You’ve got many fans here, and I’m sure that any of the former members would be more than happy to help with better ideas, from those who have been through what you’re going through. Or drop Tony a note right here.

Wishing you all the best.

Hi Jeremy, and welcome.

If it has not yet been suggested, you might try a few basic, very simple, breathing techniques, the crucial ingredient of which is to direct your attentional focus on the sensations of breathing and becoming physically relaxed: Sensations that are already occurring in you nervous system. There is a more to it than that, but the focused attention on sensation seems to be one of the core or basic principles of the approach. You can read more about it here: http://www.freemindfulness.org/, where they also have a range of recorded instructions that you can listen to. Here are two others guided breathing practices that I think are also very good http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/mindfulness-meditation. Sam Harris has several other articles on meditation that you might find helpful as well. Good luck!

This is truly good news….I understand it can take years to come through an experience like this, and for some people, this blog is a little too blunt to take in all at once. We are not easy on our Hubbard jokes here! So the fact that you’re coming along, reading, commenting, and hopefully finding some laughs here, well, that’s pretty amazing.

Good luck with your family. And if you ever want to share your story, drop Tony a note.
It is never too late to start things over again.
Wishing you much joy.

Aquaclara, thanks so much. I have come a long way since coming onto Tonys site. Main thing is my view of Hubbard.

Gracias, muneca(?)

xo

Beautiful! Thanks and nice gabbing with you. ; )

I have had to first become aware of, then work to moderate my own willingness to be overly-direct with others, a “skill” I learned in Scientology. It is one of those behaviors that “works” just often enough to encourage more of the same. Unfortunately it pisses people off beyond belief, even if they give in at the moment.

I made an observation some time ago about Hubbard’s propensity (as well as that of his henchman) for explosive outbursts and draconian “handlings…one can sometime “win” in the short run with that kind of crap, but people never forget it. It is like a bully beating up on others when backed up by his own gang…he can get away with it for a while. But the people that get beat up bide their time until the moment is opportune and they usually return the favor when the bully least expects it.

There are so many ex-Scientologists ganging up on the church now that the tide is turning and it is the now the church that is in flight. Funny how that works.

And of course the coward Hubbard is not even around to reap what was sown when he was in charge, but wee Davey will do nicely instead.

BTW – greatly enjoy your writing….thanks for doing the hard work of deconstructing Scientology…it has been immensely helpful to me and many others.

Bob’s suggestion is a good one.