EP: 70: Playing Follow The Leader: Red Flags of Cult Mentality in Sobriety, Friendships & Business

What if the problem wasn’t just alcohol…but the way you were taught to stop thinking for yourself?In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something bigger than recovery culture.Deprogramming from AA dogma forced me to confront a deeper pattern—cult mentality—and how it shows up everywhere: sobriety spaces, religion, spiritual healing circles, coaching communities, friendships, and even romantic relationships.We’re not talking about extreme, fringe groups.We’re talking about everyday environments that:reward obediencepunish questioninguse fear, shame, or belonging to keep you in lineslowly disconnect you from your own voiceI break down the actual psychological characteristics of cult-like systems, including:thought reform and control dynamicsloaded language and black-and-white thinkingwhy questioning gets labeled as “resistance” or “ego”how doctrine can override your lived experienceand how self-trust quietly erodes over timeWe also go deep into something that doesn’t get talked about enough:spiritualized gaslighting.You know the vibe:“you’re not manifesting hard enough”“your energy is off”“you’re low vibe”“you’re blocked”When everything becomes your fault, even your pain.I share honestly about why I was vulnerable to this—early sobriety, early business, high school (yikes), and relationships where I needed validation because underneath it all, I didn’t trust myself.This is not about blaming groups or shaming people.It’s about understanding how smart, capable women lose themselves in systems that promise healing, certainty, and belonging.And more importantly—how we get ourselves back.If you’ve ever:felt afraid to question something you were told was “the answer”noticed your mental health decline in a space that was supposed to help youfelt like you had to perform, comply, or stay quiet to belongor realized you were outsourcing your identity, intuition, or worthThis episode is for you.Because recovery isn’t about following the leader.It’s about learning how to trust yourself again.⬇️ READY TO GO DEEPER?Rewired Sober 1:1 Coaching Spots Are Open (But Fill Up Fast) Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance from Kate designed for women in sobriety. Book a discovery call to inquire: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kateConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Email: [email protected] AA Tools w/ Kirsten: https://www.sobrietybestie.com/