Despite breaking free from her "cult-like" upbringing, Jinger Duggar continues to struggle.

Jinger Duggar Vuolo and her husband left their strict household in Arkansas, but they didn't find salvation in Texas.

"The 31-year-old, who had spent two and a half years in Laredo, Texas, shared with Planet Chronicle Digital how one of the women in their community had expressed regret about not getting to know them better before they left."

"I had been so guarded due to fear of people's judgment, so I kept up a performance to hide my hard days. I was afraid that if they knew I struggled, they wouldn't like me. Perhaps they thought I was insecure because of my upbringing in a tight-knit community where it was cult-like in many ways."

A woman with two children, who is pregnant with her third, has authored a new book titled "People Pleaser: Escaping the Weight of Unrealistic Obligations."

Her 2023 book, "Becoming Free Indeed," served as a follow-up to her decision to leave her former church.

"The former "Counting On" star revealed that they exposed the harmful teachings they were raised under, but then they realized that their fear of losing their community, friends, family, and loved ones prevented them from speaking on the topic."

"I believed that speaking out against them would put everything at risk," she admitted. "As a people pleaser, I was most afraid of facing their disapproval."

Bill Gothard, a renowned Christian evangelist, established the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP) in 1961. Through its Bible-based seminars, the organization has taught various subjects, including conflict resolution and financial success, across the country.

Jinger Duggar discusses her experience of escaping her parents' control over their religious beliefs.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, devoted IBLP followers, raised Duggar Vuolo with the belief that women should submit to their husbands and avoid activities such as dancing, dating, and engaging with pop culture, as previously reported by People magazine.

Neither IBLP nor Gothard responded to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment on Duggar Vuolo's first book.

In 2017, Duggar Vuolo left the church and relocated to Texas. However, her decision to publicly discuss her experiences in "Becoming Free Indeed" was not met with approval by all.

"Although it was challenging, I realized that I had to speak my truth, even though I faced criticism from friends and loved ones," she said.

"Despite the challenges, a majority of them were assisted by what I said. They realized that they had not considered the accuracy of these teachings."

"Sharing my story and helping people escape the cult-like teachings I was raised under has been the most rewarding thing," she stated. "In hindsight, I could have remained silent as a people pleaser. However, many individuals would still be trapped in those teachings. It has been more encouraging than anything to witness the number of people who have been helped by my openness."

Dugger Vuolo stated that leaving led her to new anxieties and difficulties. She felt an unyielding desire to be the ideal spouse for her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, after their marriage in 2016.

"I was so deeply influenced by Bill Gothard's teachings that I struggled to express my own thoughts and opinions. I found it difficult to think independently and often prioritized pleasing others, including my spouse, as per those teachings. This was done to avoid conflict and maintain a harmonious relationship."

Duggar Vuolo said Jeremy, 37, was dumbfounded.

"She remembered how he reacted with, 'This is insane,' when she expressed her opinion. She was always afraid to voice her differing views, big or small, as he wouldn't tolerate it. He demanded to know her thoughts, beliefs, and inner workings, and she felt like she couldn't be a carbon copy of him. It was only then that she realized that disagreements didn't mean rejection. In fact, if she disagreed with her spouse, it wasn't a negative thing."

She continued, "I realized I needed to be independent in my thinking and express my opinions openly. Jeremy supported that in our relationship and created a safe environment for me to share my thoughts."

"I believe that being able to speak up and share my experiences with people-pleasing ultimately led me to a place where I could expose the teachings of Bill Gothard. When we are given the freedom to speak up, we can be more loving because we can protect the most vulnerable and speak out against bullies."

Postpartum depression from her first pregnancy prompted Duggar Vuolo to open up about her anxieties to others. The couple have daughters Felicity, 6, and Evangeline, 3.

""I was unaware of the extent of my workload until I started discussing it with Jeremy and my friends," she admitted."

"As I peeled back the layers of my former church's teachings, I came to the realization that they were not based on the Bible, but rather a man's perspective. These teachings were rooted in fear and superstition, keeping me trapped in a state of paralysis. I realized that my inability to love others around me was a direct result of my own fear.

"I yearned for solitude... My upbringing in the public eye from the age of 10 imposed a unique kind of pressure on me... I was terrified to express myself because Bill Gothard believed we must always maintain a flawless smile."

Duggar Vuolo and her family relocated to Los Angeles in 2019. Since then, she has experienced a sense of liberation and has formed many supportive connections. Additionally, she has embraced new adventures.

Even though it contained drums, we were prohibited from listening to it because it could be harmful to us," she stated. "My children enjoy dancing... That was disapproved of. But I came to the realization that God has given us numerous wonderful things to enjoy. And yet many of those things were deemed inappropriate.

"Seeing my kids brings me freedom and joy. One of my little girls wants to do 'princess ballet.' I wouldn't have been motivated to do any type of dance. But now, I witness their individualities flourish."

One of the biggest challenges for me was distinguishing truth from falsehood," she emphasized. "I no longer feel the need to adhere to strict rules, such as avoiding pants, listening to music with drums, or going to movie theaters. My desire to live a life that honors God is not driven by fear.

"I now view God as a loving, heavenly Father rather than a domineering taskmaster. This allows me to fully appreciate the gifts and blessings in my life. If I had continued to live in superstition and fear, this clarity would not have been possible. Now, I can see God as I should."

Duggar Vuolo shares a strong bond with her mother, which is why she dedicated her second book to her. On the other hand, her relationship with her father is complex.

Family relationships can be challenging," she stated. "Having a large family means dealing with diverse personalities, which can be difficult to manage. I've come to realize this after some time. We may have different opinions, but that's okay.

"Despite not always agreeing on things, I still want to maintain a good relationship with my loved ones by showing them love and respect. This may involve being honest and having different viewpoints."

Duggar Vuolo's life is not ideal, but she wouldn't change it for anything.

"Ultimately, you desire to live a life that fully expresses your true self, as God intended you to be," she stated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.