new level of family nuttiness, need advice, help

by innout 12 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  innout

  hopefully someone out there can help me with some advise or direction

  I was raised JW and disassociated 30 years ago. my family all remains JW so I'm very used to all the usual "world is ending, you're going to die" rhetoric I've gotten from them over the years. But now they have reached a new level of distorted reality....

  My 23 year old niece left the JW's about 4 yrs ago ,inactive status, and "fled" to another city to start a new normal life. I've been there for her to support her along in the de-programming needed and to help her feel that she really is good person,etc. having been through it all myself.

  She went home to visit her two JW parents this weekend, my sister and brother-in-law, and she was extremely disturbed by their behavior.......

  My brother-in -law is one of the remnant and claims that he is getting messages from an angel that says that my niece is pregnant and that the child, a boy, will be raised by them and then go to heaven to rule as a cherub. They also say that religion is going to be abolished by Bush and the world is ending this week and that angels will be here to help us run to the hills.
  They said some other things that my poor niece can't even remember because she was in a state of shock and shaking from these illogical things her own parents were saying. Who WOULDN'T be freaked out?

  If you ask me, my BIL is having audio hallucinations (he does have a family member who is schizophenic- is it genetic?). Why in the world my sister is listening to this, she used to be very level -headed, is anyone's guess. Maybe she is just tired of waiting all these years for the end of the world.

  My niece also reports that a few other JW's drop in several night a week to "discuss prophesies". Sort of a cult in a cult type of thing.

  My mother, a JW, is in the care of my sister and living with her as she has serious health problems. I wonder if she is "in" on this or if I should be concerned for her safety.

  In California you can't involuntarlly hospitalize someone unless they are a danger to themselves or others. My neice is "safe" physically but not mentally in another town.

  Should I call his congregation elders? would they tell him he's nuts and counsel him?

  what should I do?
• 

  Gopher

  I have no qualifications to say so, but my thought is to let "the blind lead the blind" and let them fall into their own pits.

  The prophecy about the "world ending this week" is intriguing, and should be easily disproven by next week! As for the rest of it, what drugs are they taking?

  Your primary concern seems to lay with your niece. Keep watching out for her welfare. Is there any reason for her to continue to visit these people of outlandish behavior (trying desperately to avoid name-calling here)????

  I don't know that as an outsider you'd be taken seriously by the local elders. Who knows, the wacky family could deny everything and make you appear to be the fool! It's a hot iron, leave it alone.

  -J.R.

  Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.--Will Rogers, 1879-1935
• 

  detective

  Well, I'm no expert in this area but i'd seriously think about calling the elders. I don't think they'd necessarily care that your bro-in-law is talking crazy but I'd bet they'd care about the extra cult-within-a-cult meetings. Even if they are just motivated by a need to squash any further thought, it might be helpful in shaking things up a bit. From a mental health perspective, though, this guy needs to be monitored. Maybe you could call the elders and say that he's been saying crazy things (and holding additional meetings) and you want them to keep that in mind when they call him up to put a stop to his prophecy parties.
• 

  Elsewhere

  Uh Oh!!! He's in trouble!!!

  Deuteronomy 13

  1 "If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him, and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and cleave to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God

  "As every one knows, there are mistakes in the Bible" - The Watchtower, April 15, 1928, p. 126
  Believe in yourself, not mythology.
  <x ><
• 

  MarchOn

  <If you ask me, my BIL is having audio hallucinations (he does have a family member who is schizophenic- is it genetic?

  This is a genetic condition-but I would'nt call the elders, they won't "help" him. Your niece would probably be the only one close enough to get help for her parents. (Professional help)
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  LeslieV

  If your mother is living with them I would be concerned. You might not have a right to any mental health treatment for your sister and brother-in-law but you certainly can intervene for your mothers sake.

  You are correct when you say that your brother-in-law is exhibiting schizophrenic behavior. And yes it has a tendency to run in families. I would be concerned if he begins to have command hallucinations. These hallucinations tell him to do things.

  As a suggestion you could call Adult Protective Services, it should be listed with the Department of Social Services and ask them to check on your mother. Also call The Office of the Aging to make sure that your mother is not in danger.

  For your brother-in-law you could call a mental health hotline and explain to them what you have been told. The unfortunate part is your neice is the one that would have to call to get any real information. If your neice hears that they could possibly be a threat to themselves or others she needs to call 911 or the local hospital for treatment.

  My thoughts are with you and your family.
  Leslie
• 

  ThiChi

  As a gift, I would buy her Ray Franz' two books and ask her to read them, pronto.......
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  BluesBrother

  The response ,or lack thereof , would be entirely dependant on the level of of common sense shown by the elder you called.

  i once had a sister in our group who had a phisical illness and during that time I was pleased to deal with her d/fd daughter. i reasoned it was a tempory necessary arrangement for the good of the old sister.They might have noticed already some stange behaviour.

  I do not see what harm it could do, although you may get a rebuff.

  Keep thinking about any medical/social agency that might help in your area

  Best wishes for the family.
• 

  SYN

  Sounds like these people aren't running on all cylinders! If I was you, I'd move to the other side of the country, seriously...

  "Vaccination has never saved a human life. It does not prevent smallpox." The Golden Age, Feb 4 1931 p. 293-4 - The Sacredness of Human Blood (Reasons why vaccination is unscriptural)
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  bboyneko

  It very likely is schizophrenia, and this is how most religions started.