In fact, if you are not a psychiatrist, it is impossible to help someone out of depression on your own, but you can do much harm. Only a psychotherapist knows how to get a person out of depression. Moreover, we ourselves can become infected with a depressive state. But there are some things we can do.

If a loved one is depressed

Before you help a person get out of depression, make sure it's not blues and try to understand how serious the disease is. Here are some of the most striking symptoms:

• The loved one has lost interest in what used to please;
• He is often overcome with sadness for no reason, which can last for a very long time;
• Problems with appetite and weight (gain or vice versa, weight loss);
• Lethargy, fatigue;
• attention problems;
• Either a constant desire to sleep, or constant insomnia;
• The person feels guilty or worthless all the time;
• indecision;
• Mood swings, aggression or vice versa, complaisance;
• Talk about suicide.

This state lasts at least a couple of weeks. May repeat and disappear. If this happened once, for example, after some kind of failure, or after a traumatic situation, then here a person can be understood, and this is generally not a clinical case. But a long stay in this state indicates a stay in endogenous depression.

How not to behave

First of all, you can not leave a person alone in such a situation. Well, if there is a constant "watch", but not too intrusive. Otherwise, a person can commit suicide if he has conceived it.

Also, don't play psychotherapist. So you can break a person even more, and also catch the depression virus yourself. Do you need depression?

Do not offer alcohol to the depressed. Firstly, it is harmful, and secondly, it is also a depressant. In addition, a person in this state easily becomes addicted to it, and since it is a depressant, the situation only gets worse. The same goes for the pills that helped you. They may not help a relative or friend at all.

No need to offer a depressed personality and ready-made solutions. Moreover, it will be your subjective vision, which may not be appropriate for your loved one.

Don't be aggressive with a depressed personality. No need to lean on a person and forcefully pull him to a psychotherapist. Well, how to help a person get out of depression if he does not want to? Also, don't be fake fun.

But it is in your power to pay attention to a depressed friend and relative. Talk to him and try to understand if he is aware that he has an endogenous disorder (and destruction) of the psyche and that this is an illness, and not just a senseless blues.

And further. You should never tell a person that his situation is the little things in life and that the decision is not difficult at all. So you're only making things worse.

What can you do

• Be always there so that the person does not feel lonely. It gets worse during depression. A depressed person should always be able to speak out.
• Create a Comfortable Environment for the Depressed. At the same time, try to do something to eliminate the cause of depression. If this is not realistic, you can do everything so that nothing can remind you of depression.
• Be sure to pull the man for a walk, preferably in the middle of the day and on the street, and not in clubs or cafes. Air and daylight are sources of happiness hormones. No need to offer a depressed personality and ready-made solutions. Moreover, it will be your subjective vision, which may not be appropriate for your loved one. Also, light and air should be in the apartment.
• Any change of scenery can help., whether it's a trip to the islands or just out of town. A picnic and fishing may also be needed in a state of depression.
• If no such opportunities are foreseen yet, you can simply rearrange the furniture in the room or change the curtains. A change in diet and new dishes will also help. It's good if the menu includes bananas, some dark chocolate and seafood.
• Engage a depressed person with active sports. Not for slaughter, but two or three times to the most positive fitness club in the city. This will also help develop the missing hormones of joy, and it will only positively affect self-esteem. And the ideal option is cycling in the company: here you will get endorphins, and air, and light, and the most pleasant physical activity.
• Try to pull out a depressed person in a cafe and sit with mutual friends. Well, if it will be some kind of party. However, if you managed to do such work with a depressive personality, well done.
• Another good option is to find a new fun company. Again, a change of circle of communication. And also new, unusual interests for a person.
• Try to captivate the depressed person with something new, perhaps unusual for him. A new public organization with interesting goals, a new game, at least psychological, at least intellectual, a volunteer project with interesting goals, amateur filmmaking. Today, all such events are advertised on the Internet, so finding the right one is easy. It's good if you know what your loved one was interested in before the depression. This will also help guide you. If nothing is found, organize a dream event yourself and involve someone who suffers from depression in its creation. Music or meditation will also help with this disease.
• There is another cardinal method - bring the depressive to aggression and anger just to the limit. Anger may well drive out depression, but just don't overdo it. This method is very effective, but will not help those who have depression manifests itself in the form of attacks of aggression.

Depression is a complete illness. All of the above will only help to cope with the symptoms. Real treatment should be offered only by a psychotherapist, and not just any one, but a talented and understanding one.

Sometimes it happens that people literally do not recognize their loved ones, who yesterday were cheerful and sociable, and life beat out of them in full swing. But today everything has changed. Instead of a native person, with whom it was so easy to talk on any topic of interest to everyone, some kind of zombie personality appeared in the house, walking with a detached look, speaking only quotes from the scriptures, and also constantly talking about God and about some new family. Of course, relatives seek to stir up such a person. They suggest going to the movies or meeting up with old friends. However, at the same time, he changes his face and begins to curse his surroundings for the devilish machinations, repeating something about hell.

Of course, seeing such a state of a loved one, it is easy to fall into despair. At the same time, an old friend, son, husband or other relative begins to be perceived as a dead man or a living corpse. This can only mean one thing, that he fell under the influence of the sect. In this case, you should not despair. We need to figure out how to get him out of there. It is necessary to act decisively. Only in this case is there a chance to protect the family from the impending threat and save the relationship.

Why do people become sectarians? How can they convey the danger of the situation in which they find themselves? How to pull a person out of a sect, and what steps can be taken to do so?

world religions

Modern religions are diverse, but only three of them attract the largest number of adherents. These are Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, which are considered world religions.

However, at all times there were people who broke with the official church and became members of sects. These organizations are something else, an illegal structure.

What is the danger of sects?

Freedom of religion is an inalienable human right. However, sectarians are people who are involved in illegal organizations, even if built in the manner of a church, but pursuing criminal goals.

What is the danger of sects? First of all, illegality. A sect is not a confessional church. Its sole purpose is not at all to organize the service of God. The current extends its influence to its members, cutting them off from society. The leaders of such organizations cultivate dependence in people, seize their property and funds.

What lure illegal communities?

In order to decide how to get a loved one out of a sect, it is necessary to understand what needs of an ordinary person such an organization can satisfy. The main thing that such communities trump with is the knowledge of some truth, which is available only to the initiated.

Of course, each person has his own need to know the world, allowing him to determine the meaning of life and expanding the scope, limited only by home and work. For some people, this need comes first. And it is precisely on the desire to know the truth that sometimes a person comes across the hook of a sect. Moreover, in order to retain a new member of such a community, information will be given to him in small portions, chewing on common truths.

Another of the most common baits is the creation of an atmosphere of trust, warmth and love of "brothers and sisters." Sometimes a person in a sect sees a sharp contrast in his family relationships and prefers to live with a sweet sense of self-deception, believing that he has finally found the intimacy that he so lacks.

Another reason why people get into such communities lies in the need to realize their own significance. This is especially important for an active and ambitious person who did not get what he wanted in other areas, but does not part with the prejudice that he was underestimated and not accepted into the circle of the elite. Once in a sect, such a person is unlikely to listen to the content of the sermons. The main thing for such a person is the prospect of receiving recognition, respect and honors in the form of exclusive knowledge and presence at closed ceremonies.

Signs of sect influence

How to understand that a close person or a good friend was involved in an illegal organization that preaches its own religion? To do this, pay attention to his behavior and statements. Such people disappear for several hours to attend events in the form of seminars and meetings. They bring the literature of the organization into the house, turn on special "spiritual" music, while burning incense in an oriental manner. A person who has fallen into a sect immediately has an extensive circle of new acquaintances, creating the effect of "entering the circle." He begins to tell his relatives about them, bring them to visit, and when calling, observe rituals unknown to everyone.

A person who has fallen under the influence of a sect adheres to posts unusual for all, educates and corrects his loved ones, accusing them of sinfulness, while making attempts to convert to his faith. The newly minted sectarian condemns the ignorance of others. He becomes closed, immersed in himself and refuses to communicate. Soon, valuables begin to disappear in the house. A person quits his job and leaves his family in order to live permanently in a sect. If at the same time he also turns off his mobile phone, then for relatives this can mean one thing - the organization has a very strong influence on him. At the same time, its demands on its members are dangerous and radical.

Return to normal life

How to get a person out of a sect, because each of them preaches their own ideas and has a specific focus? To do this, psychologists have developed general recommendations, the application of which will allow you to get the desired result. So how to get a person out of a sect?

1. It is desirable to do this at the initial stage of the recruiter's influence. A person who has already accepted a new idea can follow its dogmas for several years. During this period, the sect will certainly pay increased attention to its new member. If this has already happened, then it is better to leave your efforts and wait until the members of the destructive organization “leave behind” the person. The cooling of relations will give impetus to the first disappointment and give a chance to return to the family.
2. Don't cut off relationships. from a sect? To obtain the desired result, relatives should not lose contact with him, while at the same time finding out the methods by which the organization controls his mind. If the sect was able to attract your child into its ranks, then you should not put forward ultimatums to him. They will end the relationship. It is always worth remembering that as long as a connection is maintained with a person, there is a chance to influence him.
3. Express your love. Relatives and friends of a person who has fallen into a sect must constantly show that they continue to respect him, are interested in his life and do not refuse close relations with him.
4. Sure. When conducting conversations, you must remain firm. It is worth avoiding uncertainty in a conversation, a boring beginning. In addition, it is necessary to control your behavior, not allowing even the slightest disrespect for your loved one.
5. Use the effect of inertia. When persuading people to leave a sect, psychologists recommend starting a conversation with simple topics in which the opinions of the interlocutors should coincide. And only over time, gradually, should one move on to more complex topics that are unpleasant for a newly minted sectarian.
6. Don't dissuade. You don't have to rely on logic and common sense. Such a move will only lead to the sectarian withdrawing into himself. After all, the members of the destructive organization had already warned him about possible attacks. Criticizing a sect, one can only tear away a loved one from oneself, who will once again be convinced that the new “brothers and sisters” tell him only the truth.
7. Do not intimidate and do not use forceful pressure, but contact the nearest anti-sectarian center.
8. Stock up on patience. During communication, sectarians often show disdain for close people who, in their opinion, do not understand the truth. The new convert should be called to an open conversation, during which one should not show hostility.
9. Do not give the sectarian money. After all, he will definitely donate them to his organization.
10. Awaken a person to independent thinking. By this it will be possible to ensure that the formulas and phrases of “brothers and sisters” heard by the sectarian will be understood in a completely different way.

Consider those illegal organizations that are engaged in our country.

Pentecostals

This movement is the most common in Russia. The number of its members reaches 300 thousand people. They recruit new people right on the streets. Being a magical occult movement, Pentecostals proclaim the idea that a Christian should be rich, happy and healthy. Otherwise, he cannot be called a Christian. For the first time, newcomers come to this sect for a "wonderful party." Here people are explained that in order to acquire wealth, it is required to give money to this organization. Soon the sectarians become confident that, contrary to reality, they are successful and healthy. Sometimes their psyche can not stand it. In this regard, members of this trend often attempt suicide.

How to get a person out of the Pentecostal sect? In addition to following the general recommendations of psychologists, try to explain to him that entering a trance, which is used in the services of this organization, can have a negative impact on health and for the rest of his life.

Scientologists

This is a fairly powerful organization with an international scope. Its activities are aimed at introducing Scientology management into enterprises. This trend does not remain aloof from politics and medicine. Currently, Scientologists have managed to subdue large industrial groups, which, according to experts, allow them to receive daily income in the amount of 3 to 5 million dollars. According to these sectarians, our planet is doomed to destruction. However, in addition to the physical body, a person exists in a thetan - the basic element of every personality. Those who fall into a sect are able to learn how to operate with this element and become a superman. Scientologists conduct paid courses, the cost of which reaches more than one hundred thousand dollars. Members of the sect are aware of themselves as superhumans, considering the rest of humanity inferior. The organization exercises tight control over its members and demands their unquestioning obedience. Gradually, sectarians lose the ability to think critically, they gain self-confidence, but at the same time they lose the ability to write correctly. Despite the seeming harmlessness of such an influence, psychologists say that the former members of this movement require the most time for rehabilitation.

How to get a person out of the Scientology sect? It should be borne in mind that in relation to this trend it is impossible to maintain permanent neutrality. After all, anyone who refuses to cooperate with a member of this organization is immediately declared its enemy. How to get a person out of the Scientology sect? Regardless of the possibility of a breakup, do not allow yourself to be misled. At the same time, it is necessary not to lose contact, talking only about good things when meeting with a loved one who has become a sectarian. Scientology issues should not be raised.

Krishnaites

This movement was founded in 1966 by an Indian who lived in New York. The main purpose of this trend in those years was agitation among drug addicts and hippies. The ideology of the sect lies in the assertion that the creator of the world is the god Krishna - an effeminate blue-eyed youth. The main goal of its members is considered to be love for the creator, which will allow them to enter his heavenly chambers and become his concubines. Moreover, this belief is acquired not only by women, but also by men. In séances, these people drive themselves to ecstasy by rolling on the ground and uttering loud cries, considering it to be sexual contact with their god. Such actions negatively affect a person, sometimes causing him to develop mental illness.

How to get a person out of the Hare Krishna sect? Your loved one should bring the facts that in such communities there is a ban on ordinary married life, but at the same time, acts of violence presented in the form of ritual ones flourish. At the same time, narcotic drugs can be used to emancipate people.

Jehovah witnesses

This creed is based on the Bible, but differs from Christianity. Followers of this trend claim that paradise will come to Earth after the Day of Judgment. Christ will weed out sinners, who will then die forever. These sectarians urge to believe in and build good relations with him already in advance.

This organization is obsessive. Its representatives pester people on the street and go from house to house, offering to study the Bible. At the same time, they impose their vision of a society in which there is no politics and control, and everything is subordinate only to God. To achieve their goals, they do not deny the possibility of the destruction of the family, as well as the betrayal of loved ones who do not want to support their views.

How to get a person out of the Jehovah sect? To draw his attention to the history of the organization so that he realizes that its leadership is not directed by the holy spirit at all.

But if all the attempts made were unsuccessful, how to get a person out of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect? Enlightenment should come after realizing the fact that the "prudent slave" - ​​the leader himself constantly makes mistakes in his life. This will sober up the person and may help free him from the clutches of the sect.

Baptists

Adherents of this movement also preach the Bible, but the main thing for them is God's word. They are trying to convince the new member of their sect that he has embarked on the right path of salvation. At the same time, by deceitful ways, Baptists seize the consciousness of a person and his material means.

How to get a person out of the Baptist sect? Anyone who is already completely immersed in the life of this trend should be reminded that his family continues to exist. At the same time, one should not evaluate the world around only from the point of view of the sect, ignoring people close to him. It is better if such a conviction arises in a person through specific practical actions. It can be a trip to the forest with your family or an evening gathering of loved ones over a cup of tea.

Sannyasins

This movement is called Osho. Its main idea is permissiveness. Already on the very surface of the sect lies lust and greed, a thirst for power and vanity.

How to get a person out of the Osho sect? Try to make him understand that believing in God and doing what you want are not the same thing.

Amway

There are organizations in which there is no religious teaching. They glorify the cult of wealth and prosperity. At the same time, obsessive and loud promises of success are heard, which will certainly come after joining this community. Religious scholars classify such organizations as sects, calling them commercial cults. A typical example of such communities is the international multilevel organization Amway.

The main goal of its creators is to attract a large number of new people to the system who, having gathered together, chant verses from Scripture, while concentrating their thoughts on images of symbols of well-being in the form of yachts, cars, houses, etc. Members of this organization are invited to listen to inspiring audio recordings and attending motivational seminars where the leaders of the system vehemently denounce the immorality of today's world. In addition, members of this commercial sect must make donations to further spread the organization.

How to get a person out of the Amway sect? This will require gradually changing his mind, providing concrete facts that most people in today's economic situation in the country do not need products to reduce weight, or nutritional supplements. That is why members of this organization should not hope that this direction will provide an opportunity to firmly stand on their feet and be the master of their future financially.

Personal Growth Trainings

Such events are classified as subcategories of the same sects. The fact is that the techniques used by both of them are the same. At personal growth trainings, a person is instilled that he is a leader by nature and he can succeed simply by default. It doesn't even take effort to create wealth. Secret knowledge will help him in this.

At such trainings, each participant is promised millions, expensive cars and personal islands. Here emotional swings are arranged and special exercises are performed. All this makes a person leave the comfort zone, which breaks his psyche.

How to get a person out of the sect of personal growth? Let him know that he needs to take off his rose-colored glasses and objectively assess reality.

I continue my small mini sectarian (or rather anti-sectarian) series of articles. I think I have already written enough about what those are in general, their characteristic features and features, how you can see the real and so on. All this, of course, does not hurt to know, but here's what to do if your loved one (or just a good friend, comrade) has already fallen into some kind of sect. Next, I will share my humble thoughts on this rather difficult topic.

So, how to get a loved one out of a sect? The first answer that immediately came to mind was “no way”. Perhaps this answer will disappoint someone, but in some ways it is true - the more we try to get a person out of the sect, the more he will get stuck in it. If one of your loved ones fell into a sect, then any direct and frank criticism of the sect (such as “where did you go?”, “How can you not see - this is a sect!”, etc.) on your part will only cause aggression and misunderstandings on the part of that person and will only lead to a deterioration in your relationship. Although not everything is so bad and hopeless, you can still do something to help the other person “see the light”, but in this case you will have to act very, very carefully.

Let's take for example a widespread sect - Jehovah's Witnesses. Although this is a terry sect, on the other hand, they also do a lot of useful things for their members: they look for work for the unemployed, if one of the witnesses is in trouble, they collect funds to help this person, and so on. Therefore, many become witnesses not at all because their ideology is close to them, but because witnesses simply give support and understanding, which is so desired and necessary. (True, on the other hand, they then use their members to the fullest, forcing them to walk around with books and magazines, pester strangers, pay donations, etc.)

But as you can see, the reason for people being in a sect is not at all in one ideology or another. Because all sorts of theological disputes and discussions (in particular on the Internet) with witnesses like “either Jesus Christ is God (as all official Christian denominations claim) or only the son of God (as Jehovah’s Witnesses claim) look completely senseless and inappropriate to me.” Yes, and most people deep down do not care, the only thing they need is support and understanding, and it doesn’t matter if Jesus was God, or only the son of God. (In my humble opinion, Jesus was both at the same time, I see no contradiction in this). What matters is not this at all (for in general this is all empty theology, chatter covered with “spirituality”), what matters is what a person is, whether he is happy, whether he knows how to love (himself and his neighbors, as himself), whether he knows how to sympathize and understand other people, will help if asked for help.

Therefore, even if you upload some sectarian, logically prove all the wrongness of his "sectarian teaching", it will still not work, (except for inflating your ego, like: "that's how smart and advanced I am") he will just run away from you, after all, he is in a sect not at all because of ideology, but because of an elementary lack of understanding and support. Therefore, if you meet a friend of a Jehovah's Witness or some other sectarian on the street, do not argue, do not prove anything, but simply ask "how are you?". Not formally, but sincerely take an interest in his life, and maybe then he will understand that not only in his sect, but also among ordinary people there is understanding, support, care, friendship, compassion, and the world around is not as terrible as it seems. (and how the sect draws it, and as a rule, all sects of the outside world draw exclusively in black).

And in conclusion, I can say only one thing, in order to pull a person out of a sect, you will first of all have to understand him. Nothing without this. And also, if you want to be understood, then first try to understand others yourself.

P.S. Spirits broadcast: Whatever you say, but understanding is a great thing, and even the greatest people in the world, like the smallest people in the world, everyone, without exception, needs understanding.

In principle, Anna wrote everything correctly. It remains only to add a few things.

First of all, the very term "sect" is absolutely meaningless from the religious point of view; this is the name that religious communities use to criticize each other, and often this is mutual: from the point of view of the Moscow Patriarchate, the True Orthodox Church is sectarians, from the point of view of the True Orthodox Church, sectarians are the Moscow Patriarchate. From a religious point of view, there is no fundamental difference, for example, between Orthodoxy, Jehovah's Witnesses, Satanists, neo-pagans, Muslims or Taoists. These are all different religious groups, and they all have their own way of life.

Every time a person falls into some religious group, his way of life changes. If a person enters Islam, he will stop eating pork, if he becomes a Vaishnava, he will switch to a vegetarian diet, if he joins The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he will stop drinking alcohol, coffee and tea. Sometimes such restrictions may seem strange, but it is important to remember that "weird" is a very relative concept. Life in an Orthodox monastery, for example, may also seem strange to an unbeliever, but we perceive this choice of people with understanding and do not ask ourselves the question "how to get a person out of the monastery." Although an Orthodox monastery is a classic example of a social group that meets all the criteria of a "sect", as it is defined by Orthodox theologians (the so-called "sectologists"; the function of sect studies is to proselytize in favor of Orthodoxy by criticizing other religions, and not to study them, therefore sectarian writings have nothing to do with the scientific study of religion).

The choice of a religious group is the right of every person, protected by the legislation of both individual countries, incl. and Russia, and, more importantly, the norms of international law. In a democratic society, an adult is supposed to have every right to decide who to sleep with, who to vote for, and what religion (if any) to follow. Let's learn to respect this right of other people.

It is also important to understand that the psychological problems that members of the so-called. "sects", for the most part, do not stem from actual membership in "sects", but because of how society treats these people. All these stories, in particular, about the fact that "sectarians" are tearing their old social ties and so on. - they are partly justified, but the problem here is not in the "sectarians", but in the fact that society rejects them, is unable to show empathy and tolerance. For example, I knew such a case when a vegetarian woman of her "friends" secretly tried, knowing about her diet, to feed meat in a salad - for some reason incomprehensible to me, this idea gave them incredible pleasure that they make it "normal". Do you think this behavior contributes to the preservation of old social ties, or not?

Therefore, the conclusion is this: adults can decide for themselves what to believe in and how to live, and parents can decide in what faith they bring up their children. If you want to continue communicating with a person who has joined some small religious group, then, as a rule, this does not create any special problems, you just need to forget two words - "sect" and "pull out" - learn not to trust paranoid stories about " sects", as well as respect and support the other person, his beliefs and his choice.

😉 Greetings to new and regular readers of the site! In the article "How to get a person out of a sect" you will learn how to determine that your friend has fallen into a dangerous organization. And how to help him.

In our time, the number of organizations of dubious ideology is rapidly growing. They attract insecure and desperate people who have reached a dead end in life. In a previous article, we covered the topic:

How to leave a sect

Do not panic ahead of time if your friend or relative is interested in spiritual practices or is looking for God. There is an opinion that the Lord is one, but people of different worldviews go to him in different ways.

That is why there are so many religions in the world. It happens that someone moves from one religion to another, because the latter more closely matches his inner world.

Signs of a sect

By what signs can you determine that your acquaintance or friend has fallen into a dangerous sect?

• change in interests, behavior, manner of dressing;
• isolation or, conversely, increased activity and even aggression;
• change in speech and vocabulary, the appearance of memorized phrases;
• excessive devotion to some idea, absolute rejection of alternative points of view;
• indifference to relatives, friends, as well as to previous activities and hobbies;
• indifference to one's health and appearance;
• large financial costs (for example, takes or a bank loan for an unknown purpose).

Only one of these signs, of course, does not indicate that a person has fallen into a dangerous group. Only the combination of a few facts should cause you concern.

Additional information about the article in this video:

How to proceed:

• make sure this group is really dangerous. Gather as much information about her as you can;
• if possible, seek out former members of this organization to work together;
• try to find information about the sect that can be provided to law enforcement agencies;
• do not attack your loved one with moralizing and warnings. This can alienate you even more. Leave him the choice, but do not agree on everything. Make it clear that you respect his views, but have your own;
• do not show that you are against the activities of his group, otherwise you may become an enemy to him;
• ask him carefully about the spiritual leader (leader) of the group. How big is his influence? What he really is;
• do not give money;
• find a good psychologist or sect specialist, introduce him to your friend;
• if a person is missing, contact the police.

After leaving a dangerous sect, a person feels spiritual devastation, so he needs psychological rehabilitation and support from his relatives. And remember - people join such groups out of hopelessness and moral hunger.

Give your loved ones warmth and normal human communication, and then they will not look for dubious associations.