The things that once made them feel like themselves slowly disappeared. This is especially relevant to individuals who re recruited as young people or adults. This doesn't happen all at once. It's not obvious. But piece by piece, the music they loved, the friendships they kept, the hobbies that lit them up, the books they read, the moments of private peace — all of it came under attack.

When people think about harm in high-control groups, they often imagine dramatic scenes: public confrontations, extreme beliefs, or overt abuse. But some of the deepest psychological wounds are inflicted through something far quieter. Silence. Withdrawal. The slow erasure of belonging. Isolation and shunning are among the most psychologically devastating tools used in coercive, high-control communities — and they remain among the least understood outside of them. This article

Very rarely do you hear anyone speak about the Stolen Generation's links to Christianity — and how that same ideology extended well beyond our Indigenous population and is still happening today.

Maybe you've said it to yourself. Maybe someone else said it to you — a family member, a friend who didn't understand, a voice in your own head that wouldn't quiet down."How could you fall for that?"It's one of the cruelest questions. Because buried inside it is an assumption: that what happened to you was a character flaw. A failure of intelligence. A sign that something in you was broken or lacking. Or even worse, that you joined a cult because you were 'weak'. No. You were

Having two days to draw attention to the same issue may seem excessive to some. But to me, it’s no different from how we mark both ANZAC Day on April 25 and Remembrance Day on November 11—two distinct moments to reflect on the havoc and heartbreak of war, each with its own emphasis and meaning. In the same way, awareness and recovery are not the same thing, and they deserve to be held separately.

Cults and high-control groups often rely on systematic strategies that work precisely by undermining the three psychological needs of SDT (autonomy, competence, relatedness) and by usurping self-determination both individually and collectively. Some of the key tactics include:

CONTENT WARNING: THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES SEXUAL ASSAULT. Seek support if this blog causes distress. In April 2026, an investigation by CNN exposed what’s being described as a global online “rape academy”— digital communities where men share tactics, encouragement, and footage related to the drugging and assault of women, often their own partners. The scale is confronting, with some platforms drawing millions of views and entire forums dedicated to targeting women who are

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, Australia has been sitting in shock. Grief like this doesn’t move in a straight line. It fractures. It disorients. It overwhelms our sense of safety and order. And in that psychological chaos, people reach for explanations that make the world feel less frightening — even if those explanations aren’t true.

High-control groups and conspiracy ecosystems are often discussed as separate phenomena. One is framed as cultic or extremist. The other as political, cultural, or “just opinions.” But when you look closely, they frequently rely on the same psychological architecture. That doesn’t mean everyone who believes a conspiracy theory is in a cult. It means that similar methods of influence can produce similar outcomes — especially under conditions of fear, uncertainty, and grief.

Survivors repeatedly describe how these groups initially present as welcoming, supportive, or even beneficial. They speak about positive experiences that drew them in—friendly peers, shared interests, or community support. What distinguishes high-control groups is what happens next: the coercion escalates. Gradually, members experience manipulation, pressure to conform, isolation from family, and exploitation.

If any group objects to the Victorian Inquiry into cults and fringe groups by crying “freedom of religion,” I’d honestly bet money that whoever is saying it is either a cult leader or a member of a high-control group.

Recently, The Catholic Weekly published an article claiming that the Victorian Inquiry into Cult Recruitment might threaten religious freedom. Their framing of issues immediately raised red flags — because when someone starts arguing about definitions instead of behaviours, it’s usually a sign they’re trying to divert attention from accountability.

When practiced safely and voluntarily, fasting can indeed offer spiritual and even physical benefits. Short-term fasting can improve insulin sensitivity, support cellular repair processes, and heighten self-awareness. Many people find it brings calm, focus, and a deeper connection to their values. But context is everything. When fasting is done freely, it’s a spiritual or health practice. When it’s used as leverage, it becomes psychological warfare.

The NSW Government’s is in the process of reviewing it's Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. It's a well overdue spring cleaning of half century old legislation that is as out of date as wearing floral printed flairs. For decades, Australia’s legal framework has protected recognised religions from discrimination—but in doing so, it has left glaring loopholes that allow high-control groups (cults), to weaponise “freedom of religion” as a shield for abusive behaviour.

When Noble Values turn into Cultic Control PART 3 OF 4 Every tree is known by its own fruit. – Luke 6:44 Judaism, Christianity, and...

From ISIS to Christian nationalists to hardline Israeli settlers, extremist movements across the three Abrahamic faiths share something disturbingly familiar: A belief that they alone are chosen by God, and that this divine status grants them the right—sometimes even the duty—to dominate others. This isn’t just religious conviction. It’s totalistic thinking, weaponised. And when you peel back the sacred vocabulary, what’s left looks an awful lot like a cult. The Core Claim: “

In truth, what cults call freedom is just a carefully rebranded system of its own—with its own hierarchies, unspoken rules, and consequences for disobedience. You’re not escaping control; you’re trading one structure for another. Only this new one doesn’t come with legal protections, social safety nets, or the option to question authority without punishment. It’s not freedom from the system—it’s just entry into a new one, cloaked in spiritual language and enforced through emo

If you’ve ever come out of a relationship with a narcissist — whether a parent, partner, boss, or cult leader — you may find yourself...

When people see my cult ranking system, they sometimes assume it’s a trauma scale. It’s not. My rubric doesn’t measure the emotional pain a group causes—though many do cause immense suffering. Instead, it measures coercive control: the tactics groups use to limit a person’s agency, autonomy, and freedom.

So, I’ve been stepping into the spotlight lately, sharing what it’s like to be a parent who has watched their child get pulled into a...