Ya know, the sad thing is, that JW's still in the Org. would look at the person on the 'outs' (now having pysch problems) as coming from something that originates in that person--and not in the insane situation created/ perpetuated by the Org. and its Borg followers. It's the same thing with dysfunctional family dynamics: The rest of the family-borg wants to believe that the person manifesting internal conflicts means the person has a problem, not the family system of operating. ["There's nothing wrong with me...I'm not doing anything wrong...so-and-so just needs to straigthen out their act, get their s*** together."]
anyone else out there land on a psych ward after being df'd???
by Messy 47 Replies latest jw experiences
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LoverOfTruth
I saw a Professional Only Once, From there on it was a Healing Experience. She advised me to stop punishing myself for the Bad things others do. I think I just needed a reminder.
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Crumpet
Hi Messy - I've narrowly avoided it, but I am really grateful i found this amazing support group online which has helped keep me sane - (no wisecracks please!)
Welcome to the board and I hope you can find comfort and empathy and explanations here.
crumpet
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AuSet
While I was working as a counselor in an inpatient mental health unit, my supervisor asked me to give an hour long presentation about JWs at the staff meeting, since we had so many of them admitted into the program, and most staff had no knowledge of the cult or its destructive practices. Any of you ever tried to explain your former religion to a counselor??? They can't help you, because they have no idea what kind of forces, internal and external, you're dealing with. I hope my small attempt at educating them made some difference as to how they were attempting to help JWs.
About a year afterwards, a co worker who was a mormon approached me and wanted to talk about some things I had spoke about that were still floating around in his mind, he admitted that he had invested a lot of time into his religion but wasn't sure if he really believed in God. I remember being amazed that he was still thinking about this over a year later, he must've had some lights go on in his head somewhere...
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anewme
No psych ward for me, but after my dfing I got a job at a major retailer and wound up having two huge surprise anxiety attacks at work which left me nearly blind and in tears and I fled the store in panic. I had no idea what was happening to me! I was fired for fleeing the store without permission.
A Municipal Judge later in a dispute between me and the retailer over unemployment money said the retailer should have listened to me when I asked for time off due to extreme stress. He awarded me the unemployment.
Thankyou Judge Munoz!
Those months post dfing were very confusing, and terrifying and my emotions were out of control.
Shunned by everyone, I had no where to turn.
Can you believe it, worldly neighbors I'd known for 20 years (while being an elders wife on their block)
took me in and gave me a bed and rest.
Just as others found, I could no longer live and shop in my home town, so I moved where I was completely unknown.
Here I have found the solitude and rest I needed to heal up in this remote canyon cabin.
And here I found JWD three years after dfing
Yes, its understandable that someone would end up in a psyche ward post dfing. It is a total cascade of your mental, emotional and spiritual structures. Dfd people need alot of love, not hate and shunning!
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mcsemike
Hi Messy and welcome:
I think many, if not most ex-JW's feel like they are one step from a psych ward at times. I have a degree in Psych and it affects me too. Many are suicidal.
I have a few friends out West in Psychology work. One nearly has her Doctorate and told me every JW patient she has is severely mentally disturbed. Another almost has her Master's and said the same thing. All they encounter is fright, dysfunctional families and paranoia. It comes with the territory. JW's have about the highest rate of mental illness of any religion or national group (meaning the general population at large). They have one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
Yes, most of us want to write books. There seems to be this need to get our feelings out. In my case, my daughter was raped by a JW and it was not handled right. I quit and my wife left me and took my child. I'll probably never see her again. I had to move over 1,000 miles away.
Another reason to write a book is to warn others. But that's a large task. Contacting local columnists for newspapers can get some nice articles published. You can also visit churches and post your story. Every little bit helps. Whatever helps you heal works.
As far as the elders stalking you, I'd call the police. The ones in my case left me alone, but they had been warned that I'd kill them if they didn't. Since I truly would have, and they knew it, they wisely stayed away. They still do. I guess they think they'll survive Armageddon and that's preferable to being resurrected.
I wish you well and post here all you want to. We've all been badly hurt. My best to you.
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truthsetsonefree
My God, its great to know that I am not alone. They are stalking us, and I have seen mental health professionals who had NO cooncept of the mind control. JWD is the place for me right now. Getting the elders off over the missing meetings though will be tough. Its just one really but he is persistent.
tsof
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mcsemike
TSOF: I hope you do okay. If any elder bothers you, tell the authorities or if appropriate, take care of him yourself. Most elders are cowards when you really get in their face and demand your rights.
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truthsetsonefree
We may very well have to do something if he doesn't take the warnings to leave us alone. It amazes me how many inactive who want a call never get any. I can't get this one character off my back. As for JWs ending up with severe problems and breakdowns, I just met another JW who after df'ing had a nervous breakdown. I honestly never realized how many people end up severely hurt by this policy. The extent of the pain is what sickens me. To read these snippets of all of your experiences...one reason why I did a slow fade was to avoid this. But what if I had no choice due to judicial action? I just wish there were some way I could make WT pay for all this unnecessary hurt. I do take comfort though in the fact that I managed to get many people who could have been df'd them off on silent reproof. Several of them faded right afterwards. But at least they were able to take their time doing it. Others I got reinstated, and they faded as well. But to think that at least they may have been spared more severe hurt is very comforting.
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rose petal
Hi, Messy, I'm a newbie, too. Been out of the Borg (love that term) for ages. I did a slow fade. I honestly don't know whether I was df'd or not, don't really care! I was also accused for being psycho by my ex to justify the split. I did have a diagnosed pituitary tumor, but I was the one that had held down the same job for 10 years!
Before the diagnosis I did think I was going mental, but an abusive husband will do that to you. They have this knack for making it all your fault! Kind of like the Borg, I guess!
But, it's true about the ones inside being psycho. My ex has been df'd a number of times. Once he threatened to shoot an elder! He pops painkillers like lollies (candy to our American friends), still goes into rages, and has threatened lots of people. Unfortunately my eldest son is just like him, using displays of anger to get what he wants.
My youngest son hated going to the meetings when he was little. But now he's going back to the meetings! He got engaged when he was 18, they broke up when he was 20, and he was suicidal, and never got help. I can't see the Borg giving him the help he needs. Needless to say, he doesn't talk to me.