i ran away in 07, lost my friends, roommates, therapists, mentors, chosen family were all gone overnight. they controlled who i could date, live with, where i could work or go to school, tracked my money, took my car keys if i was acting “unhealthy”… i came to them feeling broken and i did start to heal, but they wouldn’t let me run my own life after that. they said if i left (stopped paying or conforming) i would unalive myself. Community shouldn’t need fear to stay together. 👀 I had a LOT of turmoil & rebuilding ahead, a lot of travma processing and ugly cries. but today I’m deeply happy, trust myself, am my own boss, I’m in long term relationships & friendships of my choosing (polyamorous 12 years), my new people actually ARE a community, theres mutual aid & autonomy, not authoritarian power. and i get to help other people trust themselves more, live and love on their own terms. Feeling so grateful. 🙏🤘🔥 #cultsurvivor #cultrecovery #healingjourney • Photos by @noheroes.jpg @Oyèmi Noize 🎉