Question:
"Scott C." wrote:
"C> Yikes !!! What on earth (or heaven for that matter) does "C> ex-Jehovah’s have to do with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ?? "C> Don’t ya "C> love these brain-dead announcements. Scott, no offense but, what makes jehova’s witnesses any different from other cults? Breaking away from such a group can be very traumatic and *can* cause PTSD. When you try to leave you are humiliated and treated as garbage by them for the rest of your life. Getting kicked out is even worse. They make you feel so bad that what ever little selfesteem you had left is taken away from you. This is not from my own experience but I do know people who were kicked out or tried to leave on their own. They aren’t in therapy just because they enjoy the attention. Abuse is not only physical. Bye! Ingrid Dekker, Internet: i…@babysoft.xs4all.nl
Response:
Coca Tica wrote:
CT> I am glad you asked what PTSD has to do with being an ex CT> Jehovah’s Witness. Having survived the abusive cult I will be CT> maore than happy to take the time to tell you and anyone else who CT> is wondering. It is traumatc to leave a cult and lose all CT> friends and family members still involved in it. JWs shun those CT> who leave. The JWs are a total mind-controlling cult who use CT> extreme fear in keeping their members inline. They do not CT> believe in blood transfusions, so many have watched their CT> children suffer and die because of it. The elders often hold a CT> vigil to make sure the parents don’t give in to their emotions CT> and love for their children and allow the transfusions. CT> Spiritual abuse is just as traumatic as physical and emotional CT> abuse. It is attitudes such as Scott C.’s that shows the need CT> for a meeting place for exJWs. I have been suffering from PTSD CT> symptoms most of my life and have been under a doctor’s care and CT> on meds for the past five years because of my involvement with CT> this cult. That plus the physical/emotiona/sexual abuse CT> implicitly condoned by the members of this cult,gives me the CT> right to post here…….as brain-dead as it might seem to some. CT> FYI, I am on another mailing list for trauma survivors and that CT> list does contain other exJWs. As a lurker here for sometime, CT> and only now finding the courage to post, I want to thank Scott CT> C. for his sensitivity. Hi Coca Tica, normally I don’t quote that much but I can’t decide what to snip out and what to leave in. I’ve had my dealings with JW’s in the past. It was only because of luck and my mother’s persistance than I didn’t get involved any further. I was only a child in elementary school. The way they try to recrute youngsters is repulsive. Catch them at a vulnarable age when they are confused already because of all the changes they are going through. Ironically, if one of the elders is ill and in need of a transfusion, they *WILL* go through with it. To believe that jehova will take care of your heath personally and saying "if you die, it’s because He wanted it" is barbaric. IMHO, your announcement just as much belongs here as our posts do. Bye! Ingrid Dekker, Internet: i…@babysoft.xs4all.nl
Response:
There is a new mailing list for exJehovah’s Witnesses. It is mainly for singles to meet, but all are welcome. It is a non-threatening coffehouse atmosphere, with no preaching. We want to meet others who have experienced life in the society and understand the effects. exjwmeetingpl…@onelist.com
Response:
I am glad you asked what PTSD has to do with being an ex Jehovah’s Witness. Having survived the abusive cult I will be maore than happy to take the time to tell you and anyone else who is wondering. It is traumatc to leave a cult and lose all friends and family members still involved in it. JWs shun those who leave. The JWs are a total mind-controlling cult who use extreme fear in keeping their members inline. They do not believe in blood transfusions, so many have watched their children suffer and die because of it. The elders often hold a vigil to make sure the parents don’t give in to their emotions and love for their children and allow the transfusions. Spiritual abuse is just as traumatic as physical and emotional abuse. It is attitudes such as Scott C.’s that shows the need for a meeting place for exJWs. I have been suffering from PTSD symptoms most of my life and have been under a doctor’s care and on meds for the past five years because of my involvement with this cult. That plus the physical/emotiona/sexual abuse implicitly condoned by the members of this cult,gives me the right to post here…….as brain-dead as it might seem to some. FYI, I am on another mailing list for trauma survivors and that list does contain other exJWs. As a lurker here for sometime, and only now finding the courage to post, I want to thank Scott C. for his sensitivity.
Response:
hmmm… Several religions exist which are conducive to both mental and physical abuse. I’ve known JWs who were disfellowshipped upon being accused by two members for a slight infraction, such as smoking. When a member is disfellowshipped (or leaves voluntarily) the remaining members of the congregation are instructed to shun the person. A disfellowshipped JW who is a member of a strong JW family may not even be allowed to eat at the same table. To leave the JW religion is in many cases to loose all of your friends, as well as your wife and family. Suicide is all too common. JWs also don’t beleive in blood transfusions. They beleive that it’s better to die than to consume blood. As a result, JW families frequently stand by and watch their children dies needlessly as they struggle between thier faith and their love of their child. The elders of the hall put trmendous pressure on parents who waver under these circumstances. They’ll even post a watch by the childs bedside to insure that blood is not given. If people who have shared experiences like this wish to get together on a mailing list, I support them. That they should post an announcement here is, in my view, entirely appropriate. Cocatica, good luck with your mailing list. Feel free to post here for any reason. I’d like to hear your experiences. welcome out of the shadows.
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