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Follow Up: The Social NOT-Media Campaign
For almost two months, my life has been Facebook & Instagram free. NOT missing it. I am calmer, have more time and mental clarity, and I’m playing more music , which makes me happy. Still, social media, trolls my brain. When I open a web browser, I start to check Facebook . I must remind myself that I can’t, even though I don’t really want to—something pulls on me. Such is the power of high-tech social engineering. Photo by Magenta on Unsplash This Stanford University Medi
Esther Ruth Friedman
Nov 13, 20252 min read


Emotional Self-Defense 101: Spotting Invalidation and Negging in Daily Life
Learn to self-protect against abusers, manipulators, and controllers.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Oct 21, 20252 min read


In Memory of October 7: Strange Blues
Like so many others, I’m doing the best that I can to keep faith that the current violence and madness will stop.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Oct 7, 20251 min read


Rest in Peace, Robert J. Lifton
Honoring Robert J. Lifton, pioneering scholar of cultic studies and author of Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. His insights into brainwashing and coercion transformed my understanding of cult dynamics and helped me heal from my own experience.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Oct 6, 20251 min read


Bye, Bye, Facebook – the Early Exit
So, I pulled the plug early. I deleted my personal Facebook account before my self-imposed September 30th deadline. While I still feel the pull to check Facebook every time I open a browser (which is an interesting study in how addictive these sites are) I don’t miss it. I am calmer. My mind is clearer.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Sep 29, 20252 min read


Social NOT Media: Real Time, Faces & Voices
Steering towards calm, clarity, and empowerment is the reclamation/recovery.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Sep 15, 20252 min read


Protecting Attention: Mitigating Attention Hijacking
Protecting time, space, and energy is recovery. Take it back. Protect it.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Sep 5, 20252 min read


Rage Bait: Attention, Attention Hijacking, and the Neuroscience of Protecting Your Life
Have you heard of rage bait, rage farming, and rage seeding?
Esther Ruth Friedman
Aug 25, 20253 min read


Defining Boundaries: "I Don't Agree With You"
The 3 word boundary I learned that stops people dead in their tracks.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Aug 13, 20252 min read


Want to understand the trad wife world? Read "Everyone Is Lying to You", by Jo Piazza
Fairy recently, I decided that I had to balance my life. For so many reasons, all cults, all the time is NOT good for my mental health....
Esther Ruth Friedman
Jul 20, 20251 min read


Reclaiming Authentic Voice – An Invitation to Free Speech
Many former cult members hesitate before sharing their experiences. I get it—there are good reasons! That said, I’m writing to encourage you if you are feeling the need to share and are constrained for whatever reason.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Jun 15, 20252 min read


The Gentle Art of Celebrating on Your Own Terms: Value Your Time and Safeguard Your Energy
Value your time and safeguard your energy.
Esther Ruth Friedman
May 24, 20251 min read


How Did I Let This Happen? Distinguishing Between Self-Reflection and Self-Blame
Victim blame seems embedded into human psychology and society. So, relational trauma survivors struggle with questions like, “how did I...
Esther Ruth Friedman
May 14, 20254 min read


Healing Through Creativity: Songwriting as my Therapy
Sometimes I wonder why I keep writing songs. But the songs show up.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Apr 24, 20253 min read


The Neuroscience of Empathy: What Elon Musk Gets So Wrong
Dear Gentle Souls, It’s interesting that—like Hitler—Elon Musk is afraid of empathy. Musk recently called empathy “the fundamental...
Esther Ruth Friedman
Apr 1, 20253 min read


Digital Detox: Why Unplugging Can Make You Happier and More Productive
Struggling to unplug? A simple digital detox can boost calm and focus. Try screen breaks, tech-free spaces, and mindful unplugging.
Esther Ruth Friedman
Mar 11, 20253 min read


What is a Gentle Soul?
At some point in my life, I started noticing a pattern of behaviors, beliefs, and traits that I shared with certain people. Over time, I...
Esther Ruth Friedman
Feb 25, 20253 min read


Love, Cults, and Self-Worth: My Journey to a Healthy Relationship
In 2007, my now husband (then fiancé) and I celebrated our first Valentine’s Day. I wrote (probably) my worst song ever. It was called...
Esther Ruth Friedman
Feb 13, 20254 min read


Calming Your Nervous System: Don’t Give Them What They Don’t Deserve
Well, folks, 2025 is already a firehose of bad news. So, I am returning to a message that I posted in November on my website’s blog. The...
Esther Ruth Friedman
Jan 23, 20252 min read


My Review of Cult Trip by Anke Richter—A Must-Read on Vulnerability, Influence, and Resilience
I've read too many books about cults, narcissistic abuse, con artists, and other selfish pathologies: memoirs, recovery guides, academic...
Esther Ruth Friedman
Jan 13, 20253 min read
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