I'm glad to hear you've reconnected with your family! Read Banished way back in 2015 and it was so sad to hear the way you were separated from your loved ones. I pray you all can find healing and restoration!
Lauren will always hv a special place in my heart..I read her book Banished while I was living in Milwaukee in a homeless shelter & I would spend time at the library..I cried while reading the book 4 her & for me & when I think of how far Lauren has come, it’s jst so amazing to be able to see her now!! I know she doesn’t know me but that book was my friend, I took it everywhere & read it as I lived thru my trauma & Lauren felt like a friend to me during that time…
I've been quietly following you for years because I also lost my family after leaving a Reformed Baptist church. I didn't know you had C-PTSD, which I have and which has really made my life a lot harder. What I don't understand is how you've still managed to be successful. I'm 33 and from ages 22 to 32 I was basically in and out of mental hospitals. I feel like I lost the prime of my life. I'm trying to rebuild now after finally getting treatment that helped, but I'm way behind in life. I wish I had been able to keep it together enough to not have my life look like a failure to everyone around me
I'm a big fan of yours. I, for lack of a better word, became kind of obsessed with not only your family but the Phelps family. I read your book, Megan's book, and I have libbby's, but I have yet to read it. I watched all of the documentaries, I'm sure it's super weird for me to tell you this i don't mean to sound like a stalker. My heart broke when I saw you girls in the most hated family in America and just started following your stories. All that being said, I'm so excited about your podcast and you speaking in depth about what you went through. It's also a surprise knowing how the wbc is that you're able to communicate with your parents, but I am so happy for you! I'm sure that was a massive push towards your healing.
Although WBC is unique in its publicity, your experience is so relevant to many of us ex-cult members/older siblings of dysfunctional religious families. It’s humbling to hear your compassionate description of your father’s early influences. Your curiosity is a gift that freed you from WBC ideology and continues to guide you. And thank you to the other person in the podcast for letting her talk!
Wow! I finished reading a book yesterday that referenced your book because of the ‘cult’ aspect. So I checked out your book and read it within 24 hours. Great read! I live in Topeka and my church is regularly picketed by WBC. I have always felt such compassion and pray for them. I too grew up in a very strict environment, went to BJU for 1 year, never saw a movie until after I graduated high school nor went to a dance. Anyway, I related and love how you ‘told’ your story. Thank you for sharing!😊
I just read banished these past couple weeks. Surprised to see this podcast made so recently! I wanted to know more about what happened to you and I'm so glad you reconnected with your family. Super curious to hear more about that
I can definitely relate to you on COVID triggers! I also did not start having real trouble with my PTSD until COVID started. I was alone with only my dogs for contact for what felt like forever. My body would uncontrollably shake due to lack of human contact and I began to get bothered by things I did not feel previously bothered me. I later found out I had PTSD before that, it just didn't really start coming out until the lockdowns triggered it. I finally accepted I needed a therapist for it when I was on a date and had to shield my eyes from a cartoon we were watching as the cartoon triggered me. Glad to hear I'm not alone in regard to COVID bringing on PTSD triggers!
Maybe they reached out to her. Personally although I am curious myself I do want to respect their privacy and let them heal… I’m sure if they want to tell people they will.
I really want to know that as well, but I don’t think we’re going to ever find out. Since she’s reconnected with her parents, she wants to be respectful and not put too much out there. That’s literally just a guess. I must say this - even though she has PTSD from being with the Westboro Baptist Church, her experiences made her a much stronger and better person. Its likely none of this would’ve ever happened if her dad never did that documentary, but then again, she wouldn’t have had the PTSD. I would love to know which life she think she would choose.
I honestly never believed it was possible… for them to reunite… her father I thought would be running WBC after Gramps death… if it’s possible for Steve… it’s possible for Shirley
No, Shirley was born into that cult, Steve chose to join. Before that, he'd been exposed to many different ideas. Hopefully, he's woken up to how destructive the WBC is. Shirley cannot ever admit she was wrong for the last 60 odd years.
@@JewishKeto Not necessarily. Shirley was treated with exceptional brutality by her vile father, and each of us reacts differently to sustained violence and verbal abuse. In order to make herself safe, Shirley had to go along with Phelps's putrid beliefs and become as mercilessly abusive and delusional as he was. Once she won his approval, she was spared the bashings. It's impossible for some people to admit that their parents were abusers and enablers, and that they were treated worse than convicted criminals in their own home. Phelps didn't confine his ill-treatment to bashings with a mattock, he forced his children into gruelling marathons, forbade them to have any outsider friends, denied them food, and endlessly assaulted their spirits with God's hatred and threats of eternal hellfire. Theirs was a most abnormal upbringing and we should be thankful that we weren't born into that insane cult.
Psalms 118:8 [8]It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Thats what happens when people follow man and trust men and not Jesus or who dont know the word of God. Hopefully she still seeks God. Just because a place is called a church dosent mean that God dwells there. Jesus is the way, truth and life. God bless.
Your story on your Dad is not entirely correct. Steve Drain was mothers boss and 21 years older than her, that she had an affair with. My mother was not married at the time of the affair. They married 2 months after she got pregnant…after he was divorced. Your father has step siblings from our mother’s last marriage, but he has 3 half siblings, one is passed away. I’m happy you have reconnected with your family.
I'm glad to hear you've reconnected with your family! Read Banished way back in 2015 and it was so sad to hear the way you were separated from your loved ones. I pray you all can find healing and restoration!
Lauren will always hv a special place in my heart..I read her book Banished while I was living in Milwaukee in a homeless shelter & I would spend time at the library..I cried while reading the book 4 her & for me & when I think of how far Lauren has come, it’s jst so amazing to be able to see her now!! I know she doesn’t know me but that book was my friend, I took it everywhere & read it as I lived thru my trauma & Lauren felt like a friend to me during that time…
I’ve been following you for 7 years!! You don’t even know how pumped I am for this podcast 🥹 We love you 💕
I've been quietly following you for years because I also lost my family after leaving a Reformed Baptist church. I didn't know you had C-PTSD, which I have and which has really made my life a lot harder. What I don't understand is how you've still managed to be successful. I'm 33 and from ages 22 to 32 I was basically in and out of mental hospitals. I feel like I lost the prime of my life. I'm trying to rebuild now after finally getting treatment that helped, but I'm way behind in life. I wish I had been able to keep it together enough to not have my life look like a failure to everyone around me
I'm a big fan of yours. I, for lack of a better word, became kind of obsessed with not only your family but the Phelps family. I read your book, Megan's book, and I have libbby's, but I have yet to read it. I watched all of the documentaries, I'm sure it's super weird for me to tell you this i don't mean to sound like a stalker. My heart broke when I saw you girls in the most hated family in America and just started following your stories.
All that being said, I'm so excited about your podcast and you speaking in depth about what you went through.
It's also a surprise knowing how the wbc is that you're able to communicate with your parents, but I am so happy for you! I'm sure that was a massive push towards your healing.
Although WBC is unique in its publicity, your experience is so relevant to many of us ex-cult members/older siblings of dysfunctional religious families. It’s humbling to hear your compassionate description of your father’s early influences. Your curiosity is a gift that freed you from WBC ideology and continues to guide you.
And thank you to the other person in the podcast for letting her talk!
Loved your book!! Such bravery! Thanks for sharing your story!
Wow! I finished reading a book yesterday that referenced your book because of the ‘cult’ aspect. So I checked out your book and read it within 24 hours. Great read! I live in Topeka and my church is regularly picketed by WBC. I have always felt such compassion and pray for them. I too grew up in a very strict environment, went to BJU for 1 year, never saw a movie until after I graduated high school nor went to a dance. Anyway, I related and love how you ‘told’ your story. Thank you for sharing!😊
Finally subbed to the channel as a sign of peace
I love to hear that you and Meghan are good friends ❤.
And so glad some of your other family members left.
Hey! Welcome back to TH-cam! Thanks for the upload and can't wait to listen to it on the drive home
Great Podcast Lauren! I am excited for more, a few things really resonate with me and I feel like you speaking helps me as well. Thank you!
I’m here for the ride!
Much respect to you 🙏 for being such an accomplished woman.🙂
I just read banished these past couple weeks. Surprised to see this podcast made so recently! I wanted to know more about what happened to you and I'm so glad you reconnected with your family. Super curious to hear more about that
I can definitely relate to you on COVID triggers! I also did not start having real trouble with my PTSD until COVID started. I was alone with only my dogs for contact for what felt like forever. My body would uncontrollably shake due to lack of human contact and I began to get bothered by things I did not feel previously bothered me. I later found out I had PTSD before that, it just didn't really start coming out until the lockdowns triggered it. I finally accepted I needed a therapist for it when I was on a date and had to shield my eyes from a cartoon we were watching as the cartoon triggered me.
Glad to hear I'm not alone in regard to COVID bringing on PTSD triggers!
Her book is sooooo good. Such a smart woman.
Is it possible we could see your brother/sisters/parents on the podcast since you've reconciled w/them? I think your siblings would be awesome guests
Hello,very good video I got a lot out of it.thank you🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Maybe they reached out to her. Personally although I am curious myself I do want to respect their privacy and let them heal… I’m sure if they want to tell people they will.
WBC- YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET MARRIED!!
Lauren: Okay, wait what!?
I want to know more about having contact with your parents again. I heard they were actually kicked out of wbc
I really want to know that as well, but I don’t think we’re going to ever find out. Since she’s reconnected with her parents, she wants to be respectful and not put too much out there. That’s literally just a guess.
I must say this - even though she has PTSD from being with the Westboro Baptist Church, her experiences made her a much stronger and better person. Its likely none of this would’ve ever happened if her dad never did that documentary, but then again, she wouldn’t have had the PTSD. I would love to know which life she think she would choose.
They way westboro behaves is so much like the celestial dragons in one piece
I honestly never believed it was possible… for them to reunite… her father I thought would be running WBC after Gramps death… if it’s possible for Steve… it’s possible for Shirley
No, Shirley was born into that cult, Steve chose to join. Before that, he'd been exposed to many different ideas. Hopefully, he's woken up to how destructive the WBC is.
Shirley cannot ever admit she was wrong for the last 60 odd years.
@@ThePlataf Megan and many others left… if they can leave… anyone can.
@@JewishKeto Not necessarily. Shirley was treated with exceptional brutality by her vile father, and each of us reacts differently to sustained violence and verbal abuse.
In order to make herself safe, Shirley had to go along with Phelps's putrid beliefs and become as mercilessly abusive and delusional as he was. Once she won his approval, she was spared the bashings.
It's impossible for some people to admit that their parents were abusers and enablers, and that they were treated worse than convicted criminals in their own home. Phelps didn't confine his ill-treatment to bashings with a mattock, he forced his children into gruelling marathons, forbade them to have any outsider friends, denied them food, and endlessly assaulted their spirits with God's hatred and threats of eternal hellfire.
Theirs was a most abnormal upbringing and we should be thankful that we weren't born into that insane cult.
@@ThePlataf "abnormal upbringing"
What's normal to you?
Can you plzzz tell us how you got back in contact with with your family? ❤
her dad was kicked out
i have question, would you reconnect with Jael or Shirley if they left the church one day?
I hope so!!!!
She would- she was very close with them and now that her dad is kicked out, she will surely reconnect with them
She already reconnected with them.
WHy was your father banished from the church?
wasn't your sister engaged to a member?
Psalms 118:8
[8]It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Thats what happens when people follow man and trust men and not Jesus or who dont know the word of God. Hopefully she still seeks God. Just because a place is called a church dosent mean that God dwells there. Jesus is the way, truth and life. God bless.
Your story on your Dad is not entirely correct. Steve Drain was mothers boss and 21 years older than her, that she had an affair with. My mother was not married at the time of the affair. They married 2 months after she got pregnant…after he was divorced. Your father has step siblings from our mother’s last marriage, but he has 3 half siblings, one is passed away.
I’m happy you have reconnected with your family.
Very confusing. Are you saying that Lauren's dad is divorced???
Please elaborate. Are you saying that Laurent's mother (Lucy) is not his first wife??