Are JWs making themselves sick?

by Faithful Witness 5 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Faithful Witness

  I am reading Steve Hassan's book, Freedom of Mind. On page 120, he lists some ways that a cult member will elicit their authentic identity.

  1. Creating illnesses, such as skin problems, asthma, or allergic reactions, that give the cult member an excuse to sleep or take time off from work.

  My mom has had a mysterious rash, creeping and reappearing on her face and body, for months. The doctors can not figure out the cause or find a good remedy. She has other health problems that flare up under stress, but this one is new for her.

  Anyone else have any observations of this type of response? I know the JWs I knew locally, seemed to have many health issues. Many don't have good insurance plans, due to their chosen line of work, so I always chalked their problems up to lack of self-care. Now I see it could have another root cause, or at least an irritating factor to an existing condition.
• 

  outforever

  Yes I do think that many JW bluff and or create their own illness - so that they do not have to go out on field service or go to many of the meetings - and yes stress also plays a major part in their lives - because they just cannot get up with all the meetings / so it has to come out in some form of illness.

  Know my friend when I was a JW (15 years ago) (she has passed on now) she had this terrible skin allergy - and little did I know but she was sexually abused by her father / (she was adopted) this father was an elder as well - she only told me 2 or so years before she died / (the then elders did nothing about it) awful!!

  So yes if you are unhappy about something or just unhappy in the borg then it has to come out somehow - and this could be so in your mom's case.
• 

  roscoe

  I can remember the inner stress I had in my early 20s- I was a servant and newly married and as someone that voluntarily became a witness (none of my family were witnesses) in my teens. Once I was married(at 22), to a witness and saw and lived it, the inner turmoil was horrendous. I wasn't having any grand light about TTATT, but as I Compared it to my very normal and happy non-witness upbringing , I can relate to the physical strain of life as a JW.
• 

  snare&racket

  I would also argue that religions/cults cause illness too, many health issues are induced by stress, home life and beliefs.

  The JW's live an unnecessary burdensome life, It suits the religion because the people feel oppressed and blame the 'world'....oh the iromy.

  Then there are financial and family/social stressors Of being a WT. i would not underestimate the affect of heavy drinking as is VERY common in JW's. It bothered me as a JW, now so more than ever after some distsnce away. It is all they do to relax, that is an issue and has consequences to heslth.

  Many JW's have diseases associated with stress and depression such as m.e, fibromyalgia, polymyalgias, irritable bowel syndrome etc etc. many 'burn out'.I remember one m.servant that was ill for over 12 months with a viral disease, it was legit.

  of course there are health benefits to being in a cult.....keeping the mind busy and all that walking is good for you, note it is also good for you without the suit/dress and fundamentalist beliefs.

  snare x
• 

  Julia Orwell

  Absolutely! I know of many who have had all these strange stress related illnesses and psychosomatic symptoms, myself included. I still suffer even though I've left, but it's better on the whole.
• 

  Legacy

  Hi,

  Yes, they start a medical record when they first start. This way when you are missing from a meeting, you will always get the benefit of the doubt. Here's how the dialogue goes...You know, I didn't see sister or brother so & so, I know BUT, you know they suffer from....( a laundry lists of illnesses). There you got it...now you can stay home & nobody will question you...When they come back, they say, you know my so & so was acting up...then the other friends join in talking about all their illnesses. I think someone on this site had a topic on "Do Witnesses Complain alot"...so they do. They were complainers before they came in the truth, they have a complaining gene. Nothing is never ever right...the system stinks, this body is just wasting away, sure will be glad when the new system comes...it can't last much longer (now from a young person, that's an ok statement, but someone that is 75, they have been waiting a long time & still hanging in there).

  I noticed this when I first started studying & going to the hall...I work so on my meeting nights at times it's hard to go...full day of work, then go to the hall, & still have your thinking cap on, because you just can't sit there & listen...so when I noticed the illness card, I decided to just say when I didn't come...I was just exhausted...(in reality, I just didn't want to go, but that wouldn't fly). I take care of my elderly mom, so I'm always on this treadmill, so they cut me some slack.

  Another reason that they are making themselves sick is because they see the misinterpretations, yet they know they can't say anything, so they surpress, & if you don't let it out, your body will turn on it's self....Why is the Dead Sea Dead....NO OUTLET, same as the body...

  I could get sick with all the new stuff they are dishing out, but I come on this site to let it out...deep in me I want to shout to the congregation..Go to JW.net & let it out...bet you there are some of my congregation on this site. I also go to different sites, just to check my pulse to make sure I really understand the bible. Also, I like to see what the Society really is about. I am there not because I don't know how the society operates. I like my congregation, most of us/them are misfits...so we fit. They are very down to earth, & mostly focus on the field service activity. Most of them are kind, some of them have personality hang nails, but that's wherever you go..I enjoy what I'm doing...I don't drink all the kool-aide, I take what I need & spit the rest out.

  Hope I don't get sick...Maybe the World should send the worldwide org. a big ole GET WELL CARD.

  Legacy