I know that many, possibly most, recent graduates are too Koolaid riddled to have perspective on the damaging cultic aspects on the program. I split and I still --I'm ashamed to admit-- held onto the false perception that CEDU was ultimately beneficial. Even though the evidence to the contrary was mountainous.
I gave up so much of myself, put in such arduous emotional work, that I had to believe that it was well meaning and purposeful. When I left, I had no one to discuss it with... in fact, most people now can't wrap their minds around it. They have a hard time believing this happens in the US. Thus, I held onto false beliefs for a long time, while simultaneously feeling enormously conflicted... There was an inner disconnect with the idea that I tried to self promote,that CEDU had its uses.
If it did, why did I have so any nightmares about it, ten, fifteen, years later? Why couldn't I specify exactly what was beneficial? Why did I still grapple with the same core issues that were never resolved because CEDU wasn't equipped to do so? Why did I feel a disconnect from "civilian" society that I never previously experienced?
In my graduate and child development studies, I began to realize that CEDU's practices were antithetical to any type of true social/emotional development.
But at the time I left, I don't know if I could have accepted consciously what I knew at my core: that CEDU was emotionally, spiritually, and socially stunting.
I just invested and divested too much of myself to accept it was not only all for naught, but inherently damaging. I couldn't also deal with the attendant anger toward my parents and referring therapists, as well as the certainty that people who were entrusted to help me, hurt me. That there were whole industries created to do this.
So, I don't know where Auntie Em's niece and Treatment Mom's child will be; but I do know to tread lovingly, but carefully. Because a lot of the time, it is too mindblowing to accept reality all at once... and when you do, you also feel a great sense of loss. A loss of innocence, trust, and self. You now have to deal with primary issues that preceded CEDU, dismantling the Stepford model you have become, and uncovering the muck to find out who you really are.