Dr. Bergman (page 8)

DannyBear

Dr Bergman,

I guess all of the naysayer, wanabe intellectuals, have no response. Could it have been that your credentials and opinions were intact all along? Go figure.

Danny

Edited by - DannyBear on 30 August 2002 11:24:29

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have a lot more to add and will do so soon. Is there any feedback on my response to Richard above?? I am not perfect and must have made at least one mistake. Also I would like to do a survey of those on this site as to their mental health concerns in the JWs. lets assume all the past studies are flawed so how many people are on this group and how many had a family that had problems? I will start. I went through a severe depression when I left the JWs (it also broke up my family) which lasted for about 7 years (Prozac helped). OK how about the rest of you. We need a population, not a sample. Be honest.

Farkel

Jerry,

: Is there any feedback on my response to Richard above?? I am not perfect and must have made at least one mistake.

I promise to take the time to study the sides. I may not be educated, but I'm fairly savvy. My only criticism about your work was on your original paper on Mental Illness. I apologize for not addressing your rebuttal to my initial criticism, but I'm glad you are back and participating, and I will follow-up to the best of my abilities.

I appreciate this expression about your own humanity. For some strange reason, that gave me a glimpse at the human side of you that I never got to see in your dry, erudite papers. Or maybe I didn't want to see it, or forget that I SHOULD look to see it. I don't know. I have to keep reminding myself that humans are more than what we see in a two-dimensional snapshot of their expressions of themselves on a computer screen or in a book.

I apologize to you.

Farkel

larc

Farkel, I have met Jerry and I found him to be a very genuine, sincere person. While we have differences of opinion does not mean that I do not like Jerry. I like him very much. I have an audio tape of Jerry discussing the unhappiness amongst the JWs. It is absolutely brilliant. Yep, Jerry is a real person, and one that you would like as well.

larc

Jerry, I just read your very long essay, and I have to say it was very good indeed. I was going to write you privately, but I am in the writing mood and I decided to put it here.

If you go back and reread my preface to your book, you will find my major objection. You assert that psychosis is more prevelant in the Witness culture. I do not believe that at all. I think that Schizophrenia and BiPolar disorder are genetic. I could give reasons why if you want. Now regarding depression, anxiety disorders, and other environmemtal, stress related illnesses, yes I agree the Witnesses have them in abundance. I have your tape where you describe the life of a JW. To keep it short and sweet, it is life that is never good enough, and that it the perfect formula for mental illness.

Trauma_Hound

Currently my Cousin is disfellowshipped, she is trying to get re-instated, I believe it was because she tried to kill herself, by slashing her arms, up along the viens, she has been diagnosed as bi-polar, but she is very depressed. She wasn't even allowed to attend the reception of her brothers wedding, only the wedding itself and this I believe has made her even more depressed. Talk about loving eh? I wish I could be there to encourage her, I may try to give her a call at least, as she lives in Indiana and I live in Washington state.

Edited by - Trauma_Hound on 2 September 2002 4:13:0

larc

TH, I am sorry to hear about your cousin. My mother was bi-polar, and believe me, it was hard to take as a kid. My mother eventualy got on Lithium and she smoothed out. I certainly hope your cousin gets the proper treatment.

DannyBear

Farkel,

I don't know what has happened to you lately, but I must say, your humanity is showing!

My opinion of you has taken 180 degree turn for the good! Not that my opinion means much to you or anyone else, but it does to me.

Thanks for setting a good example for us all.

Danny

Jerry Bergman

Since I taught abnormal psychology several years ago. new research may have modified what all the textbooks concluded (which does not make it correct but does not make it wrong either), so I am having the person who teaches the course now (a Ph.D. in psy) check on the literature and will report her findings, but when I taught it was clear that a component was genetic but a critical factor was the environment. We concluded this because of studies of identical twins, one would become schizo, the other not (although there was a greater chance that a person would become psychotic when one's twin did, indicating a genetic compound, but genetics was not destiny! When I review the literature I will report back

Dr. Bergman

Share this