Ep 89 How Cult Indoctrination Mirrors Addiction

Sobriety Bestie Podcast

How Cult Indoctrination Mirrors Addiction (with AA as the Case Study)

👇 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro Cult Indoctrination + Addiction

02:01 1. Dopamine-Driven Reinforcement

04:33 2. Withdrawal When You Question or Leave

08:12 3. Intermittent Reinforcement + Trauma Bonding

10:17 4. Identity Fusion = Neurological Compulsion

11:26 5. Rituals Become Self-Soothing Addictions

In this first episode of our Addiction Science series, we explore how high-control systems like Alcoholics Anonymous mirror the brain patterns of addiction — from dopamine-driven rewards to trauma bonding, identity fusion, and ritualized self-soothing.

If leaving AA felt like withdrawal, you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy — it’s neurological.

This video dives into how cult indoctrination hijacks the brain’s reward systems, creates emotional dependency, and wires obedience into your sense of safety. We break down the science, the psychology, and the lived experience of what it’s like to leave a system that felt like your only lifeline — and realize it was an addiction in disguise.

Whether you're deconstructing AA, leaving another high-control group, or simply curious about how cults mimic addiction... this one’s for you.

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