Experiences After Leaving

by Freeatlast2024 30 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Magnum

  Don't feel it is necessary to have them understand what you went through.

  Yeah, as DesirousOfChange wrote, they wil not be able to. I've tried talking to many about it, and I finally realized that their religious experience is going to church for one or two hours per month, maybe playing on the church basketball team or going to singles night, and having their religion have zero influence on their daily lives. That's all they can relate tol They simply will be incapable of comprehending what being a JW is like.

  It takes years to get a complete feel for the JW religion, the JW lifestyle, etc. It's impossible for somebody to truly understand unless he's walked in the shoes for a significant amount of time.

  
  
• 

  LongHairGal

  MAGNUM:

  You are right that people outside the Witness religion cannot comprehend what it is like.

  I was raised Catholic and I went to church on Sunday. I would have never been able to understand what a Witness went through if I had not lived it myself.. The Witness religion is all or nothing and insinuates itself into your life and your mind. The Catholics and other churches do not do this (not talking about other high control groups).

  When I was a JW I felt as though I had a target painted on me. In the Catholic church they didn’t bother me. They also didn’t try to interfere in my life or shun me for having a decent job. They also promoted and loved higher education.

  We were really put through the wringer by being in the Jehovah’s Witnesses.😮.. What a Life Lesson learned!
• 

  Freeatlast2024

  Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences! This was a scary subject for me to bring up, but I’m glad I did. I agree that growing up as a JW is a totally unique experience. Also, thank you, jwundubbed, for suggesting therapy. I totally agree that therapy can help! I am so thankful to have everyone’s support. It makes me feel like I’m not alone.
• 

  jwleaks

  Try here: https://saysorry.org/support/

  It was developed based on the personal experiences of many who left.

  Support for those seeking to leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses

  
  
• 

  KerryKing

  Being a jw is what it was like to be a catholic in Ireland 40/50 years ago, just without the countrywide infrastructure.

  If the GB could get away with magdalene laundries, workhouses, and corporal punishment at meetings they probably would.
• 

  Ron.W.

  👍

  I totally agree with that!
• 

  peacefulpete

  Not to sound contrary but while every sect/religion/cult is unique is some ways, in many others they are similar. In our circle of friends are former Baptists, WELLS Lutherans, and nuns and even a sex cult. They all went through a process to get their footing in the larger world and faced losses in doing so. They are all better for having left their high control settings.
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  resolute Bandicoot

  "You can check out any time you like,

  but you can never leave"...

  RB
  
• 

  Phizzy

  "You can check out any time you like,

  but you can never leave"...

  That is how the J.W Org. makes it feel, and tries to enforce, and of course it is true what we went through, both good and bad, more bad, will always be in our memory.

  But if you expunge every J.W teaching, and every emotion they forced us to feel, from yourself, you then become the real "you", all fears and negative emotions are gone, one emotion I keep alive is my total disgust and hatred for what the org. is and does, as I find that keeps me motivated to oppose their nonsense and evil machinations wherever I come across them, in the hope that some J.W may find the Road to Freedom.

  But please do the work to prove to yourself that everything they taught, including what they want us to do, and not do, in our lives, is False ! if you don't put that work in, you will never be emotionally free.
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  Phizzy