Recognition of how we have been manipulated is an excellent first step. Hardest is finding out how to respond without feeling guilt or fear or recognising not everyone is out to manipulate us.
A narcissitic mother, an abusive husband, conversion into a high mind control cult and then being attcked in my own home by a masked intruder has left me fearful of people and the outside world. I always feel "not good enough".
Three years on I take 2 steps forward and 1 step back and am back on meds again. Articles like this really help me see there are many ways people and society manipulate us and knowledge like this is empowering in helping people like me take those steps. I always felt I had to make myself into what other people wanted me to be and not be who I actually was.
Thankyou