Jehovahs Witnesses and mental illness (page 2)

oompa

According to the World Health Organization, at least 86 percent had problematic issues in 2004, but that is all i could find............oompa

RR

I think it safe to say that the majority of the JW's are dysfunctional. The Society not only breeds dysfunctional individuals and families, theyattract them also.

RR

CandleSurgeon

I think it safe to say that the majority of the JW's are dysfunctional. The Society not only breeds dysfunctional individuals and families, theyattract them also.

Well said RR

CS

palmtree67

In my experience:

I know WAAAAAYYYYYY more Jw's with fibromyalgia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc. than worldly people.

The nurse I work with and I were just discussing this the other day, that almost every JW patient we have has one of these 3 problems. At a greater percentage than the average population.

Tonight I was with 25 wordly people and NONe of them have any of these problems. If I had been with JW's, I'm sure at least half would have at least one of them.

Bizarre.

I gotta be honest and say that alcohol was my "medication" as jw (hardly drink at all now). It numbed the nagging questions and as Nath says, that "stomach feeling", that this wasn't the truth at all.

And yes repressed sexuality...Man those halls are seething with pent up unexpressed sexuality. Funny looking back at it now with eyes open.

Didn't Freud say sex and power are our base drives?

jabberwock

...and according to her going to a psychologist, therapist and medicate today is just totally fine and totally accepted by the WT

Witnesses are allowed, and sometimes encouraged, to seek professional help for mental and emotional problems. In fact, for some time now Watchtower articles have made it clear that Witnesses are permitted to see a mental health professional when facing a serious issue.

In my experience though, there is still a bit of distrust and prejudice toward psychologists and psychiatrists among many Witnesses. Most Witnesses wouldn't think twice about seeing a doctor if they broke a bone or came down with the flu, but I think very few consider, or are even aware of, what is available to help deal with their mental and emotional problems.

The Watchtower literature also seems to emphasize a medical approach rather than "talk therapy".

The July 2009 Awake featured a cover article on depression. Notice this quote:

"Many may be helped by their family physician, but some need more specialized treatment. The doctor might prescribe antidepressant medication or recommend some other form of assistance. Some people have experienced good results with herbal medications, dietary adjustments, or a controlled exercise program."

It seems that this article is careful not to mention seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, but it also doesn't rule it out. To me the focus is on seeing your non-specialist family doctor who can write you a prescription rather than a qualified specialist.

hamsterbait

The claim that things are very different now is only partially true.

Mental illnesses such as depression are seen as medical problems,and as such can be treated with pills.

However the witleses arestill discouraged from therapies which attempt to find the root cause of the problem, if that is not organic.

Couselling andanalysis are discouraged still, because they might get advice against their "christian principles", or evenrealize that the religionis the problem.

I know three elders who had severe nervous breakdown. One gave up da troof. One is popping prescription drugs by the fistful. The other started going for proper psychiatric help. He went for a few weeks, and hit a crisis and stopped going. He was worried that the therapy would make him "lose Jehovah" He now takes the anti-demon pills too...

I think a lot of the oldtimers are affected badly by the sweeping doctrinal changes, which pulled the rug from under their feet. Dissent, and even deep questioning are considered disloyal, and the org is tightening its control over peoples freedom to even think.

I am convinced that the prolonged stress this brings about can erode the mental and physical well-being. Especially the elderly who have seen their hope of paradise without dying ripped up in front of their face. They now are having to cope with fear of death and the fact of their own mortality. I think if you are 90, and realising this after alifetme of deluson, it must be as distressing as being told you have only a few weeks left to live.

I look at the grey lives of the average JW and think "my God!!! Who wouldn't be depressed?"

HB

Nostromo

Yes, though they admit now that these are real illnesses and can and should be treated maybe with pills - they would never admit that the illness has something to do with the Jw religion.

I have seen a therapist and told her how the "spiritual conflict" is continually causing me severe anxiety and depression and she totally understood me. Another one said that I'm not the first Jw who she has seen who has this kind of issues. I wonder what some elder would have said if I told him the same things?

And the suppressed sexuality, yes! That can really make you go nuts. After all, isn't sex one of man's (I mean both sexes here) basic needs? I'm pretty sure that many Jws who suffer from depression etc suffer it because of this issue - or at least its one of the main factors.

Jehovahs Witnesses and mental illness