823: Daniella Mestyanek Young | How to Disengage from a Lifelong Cult

Escaping

Daniella Mestyanek Young recounts her journey of escaping the Children of God cult, highlighting pivotal moments that led to her departure. From a young age, she questioned the cult's practices, and by 14, she realized the extent of its extremism, especially after witnessing the 9/11 attacks and the cult's reaction to them 1. Her determination to leave intensified as she approached 16, the age when girls were expected to become pregnant 2. Daniella's escape involved a calculated plan to get excommunicated, which she achieved by defying the cult's strict rules 3.

I was like, I need to get out of here. And I realized if they think they can save you, they will try. And exorcisms are not fun, so you have to do the worst thing.

--- Daniella Mestyanek Young

Her story underscores the complexity of leaving such an environment and the courage required to break free.

   

Healing

Daniella's journey of healing from the trauma of cult life is ongoing, as she navigates the challenges of dissociation and self-harm tendencies. She describes how she initially disconnected from her experiences, viewing them as happening to someone else, which was a survival mechanism 4. Her coping strategies included self-harm and pushing her physical limits, which she now recognizes as forms of self-punishment.

I did a lot of self harming kinds of things, things that we would consider actually self harming. And then things, I think, for me that were doing it to myself.

--- Daniella Mestyanek Young

Daniella continues to work on staying present and connected to her emotions, a crucial part of her healing process 5.