I thought it was ritual abuse. It wasn’t.

2026-02-19 · Source: NLP on Medium · Field: Health & Wellbeing — Mental Health & Psychological Support, Psychological Manipulation · Depth: Novice, extended

Summary

The author recounts a two-year period of psychological manipulation by a friend, referred to as "Screwtape," which led to severe paranoia, panic attacks, and a fractured sense of reality. Initially misdiagnosed as Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) by a deliverance ministry, the author later discovered the true nature of the manipulation through therapy and research into Dark Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). The manipulation involved Screwtape faking marijuana use while the author was under the influence, employing chess and music to create a state of heightened suggestibility and cognitive load, and utilizing hypnotic techniques like conversational hypnosis and anchoring. The experience, exacerbated by LSD use, resulted in complex trauma (C-PTSD), leading to a decade-long struggle with misdiagnoses and mental health issues before a correct diagnosis and ongoing healing journey began in 2025.

Key takeaway

For individuals grappling with unexplained psychological distress or a fractured sense of reality, understanding the mechanisms of Dark NLP and complex trauma is crucial. You should seek professional therapy, especially from practitioners specializing in C-PTSD, to correctly diagnose and address the long-term effects of psychological manipulation. Do not attempt to navigate these complex issues alone, as external validation and expert guidance are vital for healing.

Key insights

Psychological manipulation can induce complex trauma, requiring targeted therapy and understanding of dark NLP techniques.

Principles

• Cognitive load enhances suggestibility.
• Deception builds manipulative advantage.
• Trauma responses can be delayed.

Method

Manipulators use techniques like faked drug use, cognitive load (e.g., chess), emotional priming (e.g., music), and conversational hypnosis to bypass critical thinking and implant suggestions, creating heightened suggestibility.

In practice

• Recognize "Dark NLP" tactics.
• Seek professional trauma therapy.
• Be wary of altered states.

Topics

• Dark Neuro-Linguistic Programming
• Psychological Manipulation
• Complex Trauma
• Substance Abuse
• Trauma Recovery

Best for: General Interest, Domain Expert

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by NLP on Medium.