Yeah, that belief is very controlling. As a kid I was really scared of them. They were everywhere according to the society. Voyers. I suspected demons of just about everything until sometime after my divorce. It was really scary living alone, way back off the street, lotsa trees, very dark at night. Then I got a dog,and a gun and everything was ok. Now I like nights best.
Even now I still suffer from Demon-phobia at night anyone else?? {Bump??}
by Witness 007 28 Replies latest jw experiences
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Eyes Open
I can understand that, Witness 007. Our knowledge and behaviour due to conditioning are two very different things. Give yourself time, laugh at yourself if you can, and view it as a challenge.
Eventually you'll be playing Doom 3 whilst filling the room with cries of evil laughter like nobody's business. -
nvrgnbk
Even now I still suffer from Demon-phobia at night anyone else??
Not anymore.
Snow Patrol fan, Eyes Open?
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Hellrider
I had to sleep with the lights on till I was in my mid-twenties. And I left jw-land at 16...so you have nothing to be embarassed about. I still feel uncomfortable when I`m alone at night. The jw-ism is hard to shake off completely.
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LisaRose
It takes time to re-program the brain. For now when you hear noises and fell anxoius, you associate that with demons. You know in your mind that is not the case, but jw brainwashing remains. When I think something like that I try to replace it with an alternative, but less scary thought. For example when I have turbulance on a plane, instead of freaking out, I think of it as God rocking me to sleep. It's all in how you think of it. I think of the noises my house makes as it's way of communicating with me. Silly, but less scary than buglars or demons. I still don't like the wind blowing though. Can't think of anything to make that acceptable to me.
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momzcrazy
I did in our old home. We've been here a year and we built it. Even though I hear "Mom" sometimes, clear as a bell with no one there, I'm not afraid anymore. I sure was as a kid though. But our house was haunted, so i guess it was well founded fear. I just don't fear the unknown as much anymore.
momz
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serendipity
Just last night, as I was falling asleep I heard a voice that sounded like my daughter's. I looked at the door and around for her. She wasn't there. I wondered "was that a demon? ....of course not".
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nvrgnbk
I sometimes "hear" my cell phone ringing, when it's not.
LOL!
The brain is a wondrous place.
The power of suggestion is...well...powerful.
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B_Deserter
Oh god yes! Not so much anymore, but sometimes I would sweat myself to sleep.
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R.Crusoe
I used to suffer from fear of darkness when say I went into a cellar alone in the dark and had a raised heartbeat until I could find a light. This is most likely from horror films as a youngster, plus mum having the house exorcised when dad had died after some JWs had studied with her and she was convinced demons were on her in the night. I have no fear of darkness or being alone now apart from a sometimes raised awareness that I am alone. That itself used to propmt me to start thinking of evil spirits of some sort. Now I just think if one is there I'll ask it what it wants because I'm really confused about its presence. I began to be able - or should I say realise - that evil is not evil after reading Desmond Morris book on The Human Zoo and The Naked Ape. I realised that humans are just another species and we behave in sensible ways or aggressive ways for reasons to do with conflict - psychological, emotional or physical - in the same way animals would. And people who've been brought up from babyhood within an environment that helps them be everything a human enjoys being will turn out pretty much ok so long as everyone around them thinks along the same lines or accepts the differences as ok. So I can walk into a dark place now with a calm heart and feeling like that of a natural historian - if any creatures are there I'm intrigued - apart from lions of course!! - The good/evil stuff torments humans so much it makes many live a psychological torture which creates suppressed aggresion/fear which I consider bad for them and others. But if I have people in a house with me I will investigate a noise in case of intruders - that's about it!