Has anyone turned to Scientology to help their struggle with PTSD?

2017-06-01T22:06:30-04:00

I can well imagine that some may have turned to non-traditional treatments out of desperation especially when those who are supposed to help fail. Has anyone tried Scientology? If so, what is your experience?

[Note: This is not a recommendation nor a condemnation. I ask purely in the spirit of curiosity and concern]

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 1 at 2017 10:12 PM

2017-06-01T22:12:33-04:00

That would be like turning to NyQuil to cure your insomnia...

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jun 1 at 2017 11:09 PM

2017-06-01T23:09:03-04:00

I saw this the other day, when one of the people who wrote about Scientology made the claim that they were going after Vets with PTSD. I hope if any Vet is approached, they run the other way. I had a family friend that was "recruited" after their parents died. Amazingly enough, soon after the inheritance was given to the "church" he called the rest of his family weeks later asking for more money. Everyone asked about his 1/2 million dollar inheritance, he got upset, and called everyone suppressive people. Haven't heard from him in 30 years...

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 1 at 2017 11:42 PM

2017-06-01T23:42:04-04:00

No....

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 2 at 2017 12:14 AM

2017-06-02T00:14:25-04:00

CPT Jack Durish, NO! PVT James Strait said it perfectly!

Response by LTC David Brown made Jun 2 at 2017 6:53 AM

2017-06-02T06:53:02-04:00

When I lived on St Thomas Scientology became popular. I looked into and read about L Ron Hubbard. Later found out about the volcano where all the thatens (sp) are stored. If you do a little reading it doesn't long to figure out it was a scam by L Ron ( if you want to get rich start a religion) Hubbard, former science fiction writer whose books are still for sale on Amazon.

Response by Alan K. made Jun 2 at 2017 8:08 AM

2017-06-02T08:08:46-04:00

No....

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Jun 2 at 2017 3:40 PM

2017-06-02T15:40:47-04:00

My own personal experience with Scientology has been second person hearsay only. One very close brother was taken by the original message he heard from Scientology. He was financially ruined and it felt like at that point Scientology no longer had an interest in him. He was only $5000 +/- into debt by that time. That was in the mid 1970's. Even at that point in time, long before PTSD became the buzzword it is today, Vietnam Veterans (all era vets actually) were "targets" of the Scientology movement. I was never at all interested. But, my buddy learned the lesson for me. I also knew a woman in AA that had become financially, spiritually and emotional ensnared in Dianetics. Eventually she withdrew from active participation. I no longer am in contact with her but only remember that she had a very difficult time in getting away from their program. This was in the late 1980's. I grew up attending Catholic Schools including high school and had no interest in Scientology because of my Catholic belief system, although today I am a die hard Pentecostal (Assembly of God.)
One thing the Leah Remini series, twice actually since it is being run again with at least one new program, talked about was the one machine they use with the cans you hold in your hand. My buddy from the 70's spoke of that machine to me on many occasions. The "tests" that were administered by that "machined" scared the s..t out of him. When he knew well in advance that is all he would talk about. I was never able to dissuade him from Scientology, that was taken care of by Scientology itself. I can only than my God that my spiritual belief system had the strength to withstand the pressure to take a look. In Sacramento during the late 1970's and early 1980's Scientology had a huge presence with all their promises. The gaff was the "free" book "Dianetics" which in the long run will cost many thousands of dollars. Of course no one goes in wide eyed fully knowledgeable of what the future with Scientology holds.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 5:28 PM

2017-06-02T17:28:49-04:00

Interesting that there is a crucifix on top of a scientology building.

Response by SFC Scott George made Jun 8 at 2017 1:12 PM

2017-06-08T13:12:21-04:00

I'm far from a religious person and not a Scientologist by any measure but I did take a course that I think was beneficial. I believe it was called "ethics, morals & values. It was a self paced workbook or workbooks and at some point you do an exercise where you write down everything you believe you've done wrong your entire life, after I got started it took days to complete. You would
be surprised what you remember when you start writing things down and from one event how others pop up in your memory. I kept my notes and destroyed them when I finished, it felt like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders. I wrote it down, acknowledged the events and destroyed them, it was like they were taken off my plate. I felt like I was walking on sunshine when I left the building. I'm not saying this would help everyone and I'm not endorsing Scientology but it was beneficial for me and my journey.