Is it unhealthy for JW's to be so negative?

JH

We often hear that we have to be postive in order to remain healthy.

Are there more negative people than the JW's? The end is close and just about everything is bad and from Satan they say.

Considering all this, is it healthy to be a JW?

It's a very strained and unnatural way to look at the world, an innocent quality that the WTS has turned into something really terrible. How many worldly people would harm the dubs? Some even help them. Breaking all real connection with the world around us is negative, it creates a sense of isolation and despair.

choosing life

It is very unhealthy to feel like you are never good enough and that everything in the world is totally falling apart. I remember feelings of great anxiety when the public speaker would go on and on about the horrible things in the world.

I ended up with general anxiety disorder. I wonder why? Things are better without the stress of the jws in my life, but I still have not completely conquered those feelings of impending doom. It is a shame because I used to always be a very positive person.

Tyrone van leyen

Sometimes the negative is the reality. If the negative doesn't kill you first you can learn a lot by facing it. If one fills there head with anything other than reality, then there are no tools to use in the real world. I don't see advancement as possible if you don't analyse the negatives as well. It's a part of life. I don't see the JW reality as a healthy or balanced worldveiw . Therefore the resulting negativity is unhealthy because they are not learning from there life experience.

Hortensia

"It is very unhealthy to feel like you are never good enough and that everything in the world is totally falling apart."

True, and even now, 25 years later, I still have anxiety attacks. It's not healthy for anyone to be so negative, cynical and fearful. As the previous poster said, their world view isn't realistic, therefore they can't use the "gift of fear" in a healthy way. I remember having dreams about Armageddon - dreams where we were all at a big convention in San Diego, and when Armageddon started, everyone turned to watch me shrivel up like a leaf and die because of course I wasn't good enough to be in the new world.

Arghhhh - so glad to be out of that awful horrible organization - but the effects linger on. However, I have to say that I am much much happier now - so don't think of me as a JW victim, just the graduate of a JW boot camp.

MinisterAmos

When you analyze the situation, it's not the Dubz who experience persecution, it's the Dubz who make it a point to persecute and criticize everything around them.

Brothers end prayers saying "and please end this dirty, vile stinking system so we may leave the wickedness behind", Dubs don't speak with neighbors bwcause they will "die soon", shun their own kids who enterd into baptism before they were mature enough to even enter into an agreement to get Columbia House CDs delivered.

It's sick and it messes them up over time

jaguarbass

In more ways than one, it is not healthy to be a JW. Psychologically and physiologically.

avidbiblereader

It is one thing to be negative and another to be a realist, but I agree with the comments and always being so negative to all

It is very unhealthy to feel like you are never good enough and that everything in the world is totally falling apart.

You can never do enough as a witness and that in itself makes you feel you will always die when Armageddon starts. No matter if you are a pioneer, elder, MS, Bethelite you can never do enough. It takes it's toll on you and no matter what the religion the constant badgering mentally puts you down as worthless.

abr

mia_b

When you analyze the situation, it's not the Dubz who experience persecution, it's the Dubz who make it a point to persecute and criticize everything around them.

lol that is SO true. my hubby's outlook on life is SO refreshing - he cares for everyone and is willing to let people believe whatever thay want as long as they don't tell him he's wrong and theyr'e right.

i was so depressed as a dub and not just becasue of what my dad did to me but also becasue i felt i could never do enough, never be good enough.

now i dont get depressed... the only thing that is different is that im not a witness anymore.

Sad emo

Wouldn't it depend on how much it is balanced with a positive outlook?

For example, the JW could look at all the 'negative' things happening to the world, armageddon etc, but they might balance this with the 'knowledge' that a better world is coming. The argument could even go the other way and say that being a JW causes a positive outlook and is therefore healthy.

Also the performance/being good enough depends very much on the individual and how much criticism they will actually take on board, although prolonged criticism can wear down even the most resilient person, given enough time.