Nothing's been diagnosed, but I probably have depression. It does run in both sides of my family, though I can say it really only manifests itself in the dub members of my extended family. I know my mom and dad both have it, and so does my grampa on my mom's side. If other members of the family have it, I don't know because we aren't allowed to spend time with them...
Were YOU Depressed When You Were A Witness?
by minimus 61 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
minimus
Sir, that's depressing.
-
silversurfer1
Thanks. Now that I got my feet wet, I'll jump into the conversations more often. Reading this board over the months have been enjoyable.
-
Virgochik
Welcome, silversurfer1, would like to hear more of your story!
-
minimus
SS1, WELCOME!!!!
-
silversurfer1
it's a long story. I guess I'll add to the story as time progresses. I would like to say that when it comes to the depression that I saw being suffered by so many in the 4 congregations that I served in, as an elder body we where not equiped professionally to help. There were deep seated problems with many from marriage and sexual problems to alchohol, dealing with abuse both physical and sexual to down right mental problems. At the very least human compassion and a real desire to help or encourage these individuals should have been there, but often times it was not. From ignoring these JW sheep at the KH to never shepherding them in there homes more often than not these ones were left to fend for themselves. It was to much work. The self sacrificing love that was suppose to set the JW apart from others and was suppose to identify JW's as the only true org. was simply not there on the scale you would expect. It took growing up in one cong. and then moving through 4 others as a servant and visiting friends in various states in the mid-atlantic area and then finally in Florida for me to realise the trend towards neglect by the elders and the ever growing problem of individuals with the varying degrees of depression was not a local phenomena but a glaring reminder (that I'd ignored to long) that this was not "God's org."
-
serendipity
Welcome SS1!
-
VanillaMocha73
Wow - you took the words right from my fingers! I was just thinking about this over the past week.
From my early teens I was suicidal, suffered from eating disorder, and basic feelings of low self-worth. Always trying to measure up - do more, and it was never enough. Living among the most critical bunch of people, who would look down their noses at people of other religions, anyone who was "worldly", or slightly imperfect. Being critical myself, because that was how I was raised. I remember the feelings of guilt because part of me would try to think up ways to miss meetings and the other part of me would chastise myself - gotta sit through every meeting, sit still and quiet (I can't sit still to save my soul), make the kids sit still and quiet. Yes, I felt that an unusually large percentage of JWs were alcoholics and/or depressed. But I never put it together until I left and got over the DF treatment.
Now, I realized that I am eager for Sunday and church. I am eager to read my Bible, because it tells of a God of grace and love. The JW God just is not in there. I have not had suicidal thoughts for some time - no sitting and bawling without reason. Amazing!!
Vanilla Mocha
-
kilroy2
I have seen the same types of things, and more, I have seen MS and elders doing things that back in the day [20 years ago] you would be booted out on your ear for. I was visiting a person who is still in the borg, and she gets a call from one of my relatives who is big in the hall, He is a m.s. He calls from Las Vegas, to the elders wife I am talking to, she answers and says don't bother me go gamble. I mean in the day you did not even give the impression of walking into a casino for a cheap dinner or you were out your position.
I have seen the education thing tossed by the R&F into the trash heap. My wife's niece just graduated and it was open knowledge that she is going to college, The dubbers seem to have the attitude that they are sick of toeing the line, and will call themselves dubbers but do what they want also.
I must know of at least 5 different dubbs on Prozac or some anti dep. and the marriages are splitting faster than I can count, You ever thought when the dubbs had a divorce rate less than the national average it was due to hovas help and clean living, now that they are divorcing at or more than the national rate, Satan is working overtime to break up marriages? tails I win heads you loose.
-
SirNose586
Sir, that's depressing.
--minimus
Yeah, I gotta get out of the house. But don't worry, we all learn to deal. I feel bad for other kids in my hall who have a lot more issues on their plate than...getting the blues every so often.
On the plus side, my family has a really good sense of humor. Depressed people make the best comedians.