Great posts Potato ! I can relate and I bet a lot of others can too. That learned helplessness that TWI followers acquire kept everyone in check...I agree with what the therapist said about it taking a few years for one to feel comfortable actually being in the driver seat again....terrible thing to let those decision-making muscles in our brains atrophy - but there's no better therapy than getting to take charge once again!
OS, coming to the GSC has helped me understand why I left TWI. I got out in 1988, and never looked back. I enjoyed most of my time in, but always felt that something was off. If I had known all the dreck that happened in Way World, I would of left sooner.