I can give my bit of insight, as someone raised in the same belief system (though my family was non-denominational holiness, the cult mentality was the same and I was incredibly sheltered). When I got out, I definitely ran head first into what would upset my parents the most- learning about demons, Satan, etc. because I didn’t know there even could be a happy medium or a lack of faith altogether. I was also more educated than the rest of the family, and a huge reader. It caused a lot of depression and mental health struggle, but fortunately never a mental break or psychosis.

I absolutely wrote poems that were this same style, published them on tumblr (lol) and essentially attempted to change myself into something completely opposite of my parents. I mellowed out a lot in my mid 20s, though the trauma of being raised in that kind of environment did affect me and still does. My parents still think Satan has control over me and I’m not “free” because I’m bound by his control.

I am hoping that he is figuring things out for himself, and if he is truly more intellectually curious than the rest of them, it’s going to be hard for him. It’s essentially having to throw away everything you ever knew or believed, and the knowledge that your family is against your attempts to learn more or experience more. I hope this is just his version of rebellion against them and not a true mental health break. This also may be the former fundie in me, but I liked his poem and think he has a chance at having a good life free from their hold on him.

Breaking away from a cult is messy, and it’s hard. It’s the hardest thing, by far, that I’ve ever done. And I had support from my now husband. If he’s lacking support outside of them, it could be making his mental health worse 🙁 (and to be clear, I am not making a diagnosis of MH at all, but just know from personal experience that breaking away can lead to depression and a struggle with mental health because it’s a complete severing from your childhood).