Leaving Scientology can be notoriously difficult. We hope you can take comfort from the many who have left before you. The ex-Scientologists at Leave Scientology put together a practical guide for getting out based on what they found helpful. We've adapted their full list into eight basic steps:

1) Remember you are not a criminal. You may be told you have CI, or that you need to get your O/Ws off. You may be told your petty complaints are not as important as saving the Universe. A desire to leave does not mean you have overts. It does not mean you're a coward. What it means is that you are choosing your own way, and keeping your integrity in. And that is a brave, brave thing to do.

2) Remember you do not have to justify your decision to anyone. You are absolutely within your legal and human rights to refuse sec checks, route-out processes, and other procedures. 

3) Reconnect! If you have family and friends that aren't Scientologists, give them a call or get in touch. You don't have to talk about Scientology with them, but it does help to have some outside commlines.

4) Fade out slowly. The easiest way to actually begin the leaving process is to simply start fading out of the org environment. Fading out slowly will also help ensure that you will not be presented with an SP declare, and ensure that family members still inside will not be asked to disconnect from you. Stop showing up to the org as often, and avoid events and reg cycles. If you are a staff Scientologist, become a public Scientologist again and then fade out slowly. Be adamant about your personal decisions and your integrity.

5) Remember Scientology has no legal basis to keep you for "routing out." You should know (and probably already do know) that if you originate an intention to leave staff, the org will be extremely reluctant to let you go, and you may be kept there for months routing-out. It's worthwhile to note that the routing-out procedure, in many cases, is designed to make you question your decision to leave. 

6) Blow if you need to. If routing-out is unacceptable to you, or if you want out fast, you can and should blow. We understand you have been told that blowing is a high crime. We know because we've been through it ourselves. You may find this statistic very interesting: There are currently an estimated 5,000-7,000 people in the Sea Org. On the other hand, there are around 25,000 EX-Sea Org members. If you have friends and family who are non-Scientologists, call them. If you have parents who will come get you, call them. Leave however you can.

7) Do not sign any legal documents. If you do you are signing away your own rights. Don't sign any non-disclosure agreements not to discuss your life in the Sea Org. It's much better to refuse to sign anything until you're out and can go over the documents carefully, or with representation.

8) Also, know:

• The freeloader bill is legally unenforceable. They're not going to charge you for it. It's just a piece of paper.

• The Sea Org contract is legally unenforceable. Any Scientology lawyer who tried to take you to court for not fulfilling a "billion-year contract" would be a laughingstock.

• The routing-out process is designed to degrade you, make you wrong for wanting to leave, convince you that you have overts, and convince you to finally decide to stay. The way that the SO route-out is often administered is illegal.

• If anyone tries to physically restrain you, they are guilty of kidnapping and wrongful imprisonment. Be Tone 40, and don't put up with it.

• No one has the right to not give you vacation time, especially when promised.

• No one has the right to open your mail and monitor your phone calls home.

• No one has the right to force you into session.

• No one has the right to tell you that you cannot receive gifts from your family if you want them.

Most importantly, know there are people you don't even know who love you, and care about you, and will give you unconditional support, a shoulder to lean on, and even a place to stay if you need one.