THE TOXICITY OF THE VULNERABILITY
I am sure that many of us have walked blindly into a situation, at our weakest point, where we thought that someone was helping us when actually they were taking advantage of us.
When we are feeling vulnerable we seek a solution. We can sometimes find ourselves talked into situations by people we would normally disregard, as we feel broken and lost, and our goal is to find peace of mind hence why we can be easily led astray.
A decade ago, a few weeks after being discharged from hospital, after a failed suicide attempt I was approached by a guy who was handing out leaflets on behalf of the religious cult where he was the leader. He actually told me that I looked lost and needed to find comfort and after listening to my distress invited me to attend his meeting for healing.
Just to make you aware I was brought up in a Baptist Church from when I was a baby this is why I found their practices very odd. There were body guards dressed in suits and bow ties. There was no preaching just one verse from the bible was repeated over and over again. The guy then spoke about tithes and how by donating ten percent of your monthly income to the church you would be cured from your distress whatever it may be.
These leaflets actually advertised depression, homelessness, poverty and even getting your stay in this country. How on earth could this be true. They also had a night for exorcisms of demons of which I attended. I will not mention the name of this organisation in question only that through investigation this church was responsible for the death of a eight year old child in 2000 where they tried to exorcise her from a evil spirit.
The main focus for this organisation was that ‘if you did not get what you came for even after giving tithes, it is because you do not have enough faith’
The reason why I used this example is because I was lost and at my weakest point but luckily not taken in by this cult. I only attended for a month and when I stopped attending they were contacting me nonstop for the next three years. I never answered any of their calls or messages.
I had a friend back in the 90’s she was single, broken and down in the dumps, she met a handsome smooth talking guy who took advantage of her weakness, he dated her and spent time at her house . He constantly told her he loves her and insists they were made for each other.
Once he got his foot in the door that is when the disrespect started. but within two months he had managed to move all his belongings in and started dominating her life. She did not voluntarily ask for him to move into her home, it started with a few items of clothing and escalated. So it turns out that he had not only manipulated her but has benefitted with a rent free accommodation which he treated like a hotel.
She came to me feeling at a loss as she now was his cook and his cleaner . She wanted her life back and was by then afraid to tell him to leave. In the end she ran away from her own flat and went back to live with her parents.
Growing up in the 70’s and living a sheltered life does not prepare you for these situations but my elders always made me aware of the kind of predators that were out there. When you are young and naive you can easily be led up the garden path this is why I became wary from day one.
Young people who have run away from abusive guardians or have been kicked out of the family home are vulnerable when they are on the streets and can be introduced to alcohol and drugs, prostitution or become involved in criminal activities to keep themselves alive. The worst case scenario could result in quite the opposite.
There are many men and women in that situation today and they are blackmailed into keeping their mouth shut.
My advise for anyone who finds themselves in a situation that could lead them to being in the hands of any of these predators is that they seek professional help as the consequences are traumatic and can end up as a fatality whether by the hands of the victim or the perpetrator.
There are many men and women of all ages that are living this kind of hell or its been too long that they are too blind to see it. That is why we need to work through the pros and cons of any kind of relationship. If the cons outweigh the pros then you need to really think about whether you really want to be happily living or just existing.
IN EVERYTHING THERE SHOULD BE A BALANCE
The Scripture Of Balance
Natalie Bleau
