Raw Minds S2 Ep. 9 - Escaping the Cult, Defending the Law: A Man's Fight for Freedom

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In this deeply moving and powerful episode of Raw Minds, Laverne courageously shares his story of survival, pain, and eventual hope. Raised in the tightly controlled environment of a cult, Laverne was subjected to sexual abuse that haunted him well into adulthood. Despite escaping the cult, he found himself trapped in emotionally abusive relationships, and although he built a career in law enforcement, his path took a devastating turn when a psychological injury ended his career.

During this dark period, Laverne faced a prolonged mental health crisis, struggling with suicidal thoughts for months, too terrified to speak up. When he finally gathered the courage to confide in the one person he trusted, their response—“I know”—before walking away, left him feeling abandoned. But the love for his young daughter, who crawled into bed with him each night, and the thought of her and her brother, became his anchor, giving him the strength to keep going, even when he didn’t know how.

Laverne has since turned his pain into purpose, publicly sharing his story to expose the stigma around mental health and to offer hope to those still struggling in silence. His journey from darkness to light is a testament to resilience, courage, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child.

Follow Laverne’s journey and support his work to inspire others:

• Facebook: Laverne Friesen
• Instagram: ⁠@trueemotioncoach⁠
• TikTok: ⁠@trueemotiondad⁠
• Website: ⁠www.trueemotion.ca⁠

Call to Action: If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with bad apples, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at ⁠[e-mail]⁠. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

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1. Raw Minds S2 Ep. 9 - Escaping the Cult, Defending the Law: A Man's Fight for Freedom (00:00:00)

2. Raw Minds (00:00:18)

3. Escaping a Controlling Cult Culture (00:06:08)

4. Escaping Cult Grooming and Abuse (00:21:41)

5. Childhood Abuse (00:29:52)

6. Journey to Mental Health Recovery (00:36:18)

7. Struggling With Mental Health Silence (00:43:38)

8. Struggling With Mental Health Stigma (00:52:44)

9. Untangling Trauma Through Healing (01:01:25)

10. Men Leading Mental Health Movement (01:16:56)

11. Healing Generational Trauma Through Forgiveness (01:26:03)