{"id":5186,"date":"2026-04-15T20:50:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homecares.net\/?p=5186"},"modified":"2026-04-15T20:50:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:50:49","slug":"ashleigh-didnt-know-she-was-in-a-cult-at-first-heres-her-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/?p=5186","title":{"rendered":"Ashleigh didn’t know she was in a cult\u2014at first. Here’s her story."},"content":{"rendered":"

The prevalence of high-control organizations, colloquially known as cults, remains one of the most misunderstood and underestimated social phenomena in contemporary society. While general public perception often relegated such groups to the fringes of the mid-20th century, modern research indicates a persistent and pervasive threat. According to a 2022 study by Casta\u00f1o et al., approximately one percent of the global population is involved in groups characterized by psychological abuse and coercive control. However, experts and survivors alike suggest this figure is a conservative estimate, masked by the inherent secrecy of these organizations, the hazards of leaving, and the profound social stigma that prevents survivors from disclosing their experiences.<\/p>\n

The complexities of this issue have recently been brought to the forefront by Ashleigh Freckleton, a survivor who has transitioned from a victim of spiritual exploitation to a vocal advocate for psychological awareness. Her story, which serves as the centerpiece of the three-part AppleTV documentary series "Twisted Yoga," highlights the subtle, often invisible mechanisms of emotional manipulation. Freckleton\u2019s journey from a young woman seeking peace to a captive of a high-control yoga school underscores a critical reality: anyone, regardless of intelligence or background, can be susceptible to coercive control under specific situational circumstances.<\/p>\n

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