I agree. Being a jw causes mental illness. Too much cognitive dissonance, moving the goalposts and you can never be good enough.
Do You Know Of Anyone That Has Seen A Therapist Because Of Being A Witness?
by minimus 29 Replies latest jw friends
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minimus
I don’t think I can agree that being a Jehovah’s Witness causes mental illness. Plenty of Jehovah’s Witnesses are not mentally ill as well as ex witnesses.
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hoser
I will restate. I don’t think it is mentally healthy being a witness. Maybe it aggravates a pre existing condition. Being kept on the jw treadmill and the unrealistic expectations are not healthy.
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john.prestor
I agree with that rephrasing, hoser. JWs are under a lot of stress and are routinely shamed by the Governing Body and the elders more directly.
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minimus
I find it hysterical when someone realizes not only was I raised as a JW but that I was an elder for years. Most people will say, I would never have believed you were a Witness! You seem so normal…. Lol
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john.prestor
You seem alright to me minimus :P
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Ding
I think the real challenge would be to find a therapist that understands how cults operate and how they affect a person's mind, will, and emotions.
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minimus
John u r a very wise man!✅
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Rivergang
At the risk of sounding disrespectful, I would have thought this a rather obvious question.
Turning matters around just a little, I once knew a therapist whose clientele included a number of active JWs (ie ones who were at least physically still in).
This therapist observed that amongst her JW clients, abuse of women was a common theme.
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Vidiot
I remember when I first realized that the JW lifestyle and worldview might not be the most conducive to mental and emotional health.
Fairly early in my fade.