To Whom This May Concern:
I suffer from chronic osteoarthritis and have had one hip replace-
ment surgery and am waiting a second next month. From reading found
that arthritis (with all the chronic pain) causes depression in the
mind. Couple that with menopause and I ended up having to be taken
to our local mental health facility here in town. My children, who
are 17 and 18 and unbaptized contacted local police almost seven
months ago, who tried conventional methods to reach me - all to no
avail. I had become paranoid and extremely untrustful. Finally, I
was taken to the hospital by force, although there was no struggle.
My oldest son, baptized at 14, now 27, has strayed from the truth
because he left home at 17, fascinated by "worldly ways," while I
continued raising my other two children alone. Point is, while the
other two children, unbaptized, are very much into the world, they
were raised in the truth and although do as they please, remember
their upbringing. Being ill, I'm crippled, and have been away from
meetings at the hall for over a year, although I keep in touch with
our presiding overseer and he is aware of my condition.
While undergoing the mental breakdown, thinking I was losing my mind,
I had some doubts about my faith, brought about by my mental condition
at the time. The "voices" in my head, have subsided somewhat, but
built up all kinds of situations I was constantly thinking about as if
they were actually happening. There were nights when I was so "crazy"
in my head, that I prayed to Jehovah to help me to sleep and he did.
I was on "committment" with the hospital and doctors staff, but am now
off and although on disability, and off medication, I still have some
ill effects and experience some hallucinations and irregular thought
patterns, but for the most part, I am now fully aware of my surroundings and know what is going on. My neurologist says I have at least a 60 percent change of making a complete recovery. I never
even knew I had arthritis until age 44 or 45 when the pain set in. Mine is congenital, inherited and if I pursued it could possibly be on
disability for life. Many family members on my mother's side are afflicted with various osteo and rheumatoid too. It is discouraging
to say the least. Surgery will cure my hips but my mind needs time.
It is hard to concentrate on WT lessons when I read them, but easier
to do so than last summer, when I suffered migraine headaches (for the
first time in life), which became so severe, they resulted in a seizure episode (first one ever). It scared me to death because I had
no idea what was happening to me.
Would appreciate corresponding with other arthritics - sisters and
brothers, who understand what it is like to have to deal with pain and
the job uncertainties. Nothing is certain, except my reliance on
Jehovah. Even my young children had sense enough to get mom help and
no one knew what was going on, except they knew I was not responding
as I normally would.
Jehovah God, thank you for helping me raise them in the truth, even
though they are not baptized. They are old enough to make their
own decision, when I return to meetings, perhaps they will accompany
me. I owe you my life and sanity...
Hope this helps anyone out there to remain faithful. It has certainly
helped me.
Need assistance. Forgot what UserName
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valued information. Please help!!