How Many Had Chronic fatigue syndrome?

by OnTheWayOut 43 Replies latest jw friends

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  OnTheWayOut

  Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.

  Did you have many congregation members, particularly pioneers, that said they had " Chronic fatigue syndrome" ?
  That's their "get-out-of-jail-free card." They were free to cancel anything at anytime and it was their legitimate reason for not doing anything that didn't involve field recruiting. And if they didn't make their time, it was due to chronic fatigue syndrome.

  "Help clean the hall? I have this chronic fatigue." "Work with the C.O.'s wife on Thursday. Sorry, my chronic fatigue is getting to me."

  It seemed to make the person feel that they were special- See "Munchausen Syndrome" at [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchausen_syndrome ]

  I am not saying that the actual CFS is not real. But it seems that it was popular with JW's that did not understand that their cognitive dissonance and depression over being a Witness could cause depression and lack of energy.
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  designs

  Hypoglycemia was all the rage at one point. You weren't really with it unless you had hypoglycemia.
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  KateWild

  Yes there are loads in our circuit. They also call it ME ( Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) http://www.meassociation.org.uk/about/the-symptoms-and-diagnosis-of-mecfs/

  Of course cult members are going to get it if they are on a hampster wheel participating in endless rituals achieving nothing what so ever. I never suffered from it, I had loads of studies and built friendships with great non-JWs that are my saviors today now that I am out. Kate xx
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  Xanthippe

  Apparently my sister has ME, also known as CFS, OnTheWayOut. Or so my non-JW cousin tells me. I agree with you that her cognitive dissonance is making her ill. Oh how I just wish she would leave. My other sister has type 2 diabetes and is very overweight. My brother is also getting very large. Funny that I have to find these things out from my cousin. I'm fine, by the way , much healthier than when I was in my twenties and pioneering.
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  blondie

  I think jws feel they will be hounded less by the meeting police if they have a mystery illness. Not necessarily true, but they can feel more comfortable with not reaching the unreasonable goals set before them.

  I don't feel being a jw causes it but it makes it worse. It's a case of balance between mind and body.
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  galaxie

  Sorry I'm too tired to think about it, maybe tomorrow...Yawn I'm off to bed nite nite
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  OnTheWayOut

  Thanks, Designs. Yes, there are other illnesses that are/were popular.

  KateWild, thanks for further info. It seems that you also think the JW lifestyle magnified such feelings.

  Xanthippe, I am glad you are fine. I got better awhile after fully leaving too.

  Blondie, great thoughts.

  Galaxie, LOL.
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  Magnum

  Yes, I heard the term often. Many cases of self-diagnosed CFS.
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  Julia Orwell

  I've had it. I'm still recovering from it. It's incredibly debilitating because it really just lays you up. I'd have to lie down after a basic light chore like washing the dishes or sweeping the floor. I spent ages going to doctors and specialists as and had every blood test under the sun.

  Nothing physical turned up in any test. It was unbelievably frustrating to be constantly tired and sore with no apparent explanation. Finally a cause was found and this is what the experts said, that it was 15 years in the cult that frazzled my mind, which weakened my body.

  Now I've been out for over a year but the damage is done. I'm recovering though, but not as fast as I like. Cfs sucks.
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  LisaRose

  I have fibromyalgia, which is similar. I am not saying some don't use it as an excuse to skip things they don't want to do, but the reality is many in this religion cannot be honest and say they just don't want to do all the things that they are supposed to do. I agree there is some element of cognitive dissonance that may be contributing to the problem for some people, but this is a real illness. They don't know the exact cause, but recent research indicates it is a nervous system issues, that pain signals are being amplified somehow.

  May people assumed that because I looked healthy that I must just be a hypochondriac or a slacker. Or they would see me on a rare good day. They don't see me at the end of the day, when every muscle hurts, when I am so tired I can't think straight. I lived in pain, still do. The last few years I was a JW, I worked full time in a stressful job, I had a mentally ill child, and my husband at the time got sick and almost died twice, he didn't work for years. The stress of it probably contributed to me developing fibro, which then made everything that much harder. So, evening meetings became impossible, although I was consistent at the Sunday meetings. I would see how people looked at me, I heard the comments, it hurt. I finally just stopped caring what people thought, I didn't have the energy to do so. It was freeing in a way, once people think the worst of you, you can stop worrying about it and just live your life. It made it easier to walk away in the end, I had already been written off.