XJW's and Mental Health Disorders

by ColdRedRain 32 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  ColdRedRain

  As many of you now know, I was in the mental ward for a breif period. After I got out of the mental ward, I was placed in group therapy where I am today. I talked with my therapist today and he mentioned a very interesting fact.

  Alot of XJW's have mental health disorders. In fact, I've met 2 people already who have had a history of being in the JW's, and alot who have had friends that were JW's and they went off the deep end after they left.

  Maybe it's just me, but the JW church leaves you screwed up in the head after you leave.
• 

  czarofmischief

  I had bipolar disorder.

  Now I'm coping without medication. Thanks to my wife and the lack of demonic pressure from the borg.

  CZAR
• 

  ColdRedRain

  I have a friend that has Bipolar disorder and his mom first thought he was being affected by the deeminz!
• 

  avishai

  Maybe it's just me, but the JW church leaves you screwed up in the head after you leave.

  No, it's not you, an o, it's not just "after" you leave, they just discourage psychiatric help. Also, who would'nt be screwed up after losing EVERYONE you ever called family or friend?

  (((((coldredrain)))))
• 

  czarofmischief

  Well,

  One of the side effects of untreated bipolar disorder is grandiose delusions. Paranoia, dreams, hallucinations, ideas of being spectacularly important or superhuman.

  To the poor, superstitious, abused dubs, it must seem like demons.

  I presume she tried to cover his head with pages from the Watchtower? That keeps out the deeminz.

  CZAR
• 

  Sirona

  ColdRedRain

  Some theorise that more people with mental health problems join the JWs. It provides a simple environment where they're told how to live their life and they just look to the mags for the answers to their problems. Also, some people with mental health problems like the collective JW delusion of grandeur (we are the only true Christians -specially chosen by Jah - we are special - you are not idea). Also those with obsessive tendencies may feel at home with JWs.

  I think the high rate of mental health problems within JWs is a combination of both those who are joining and those who are in developing problems. It has been proven that environmental factors can contribute to the development of certain mental illnesses, even though the illness is also genetically predisposed. Therefore, you might be mildly predisposed to be Schizophrenic, but given the pressure of trying to live up to the religion you end up developing the illness (whereas you may not have developed it in a calmer more accepting environment). I would suspect that those raised in the JWs would be more likely to develop such problems because of the constant influence since birth (and all the abuse we hear has been happening in the org). Those who join without any mental health problems may be forced to develop them when things go wrong (e.g. disfellowshipping or marking).

  So this is how EX JWs may have more difficulties with their mental health - they've either had them before joining and that is why they did join, or they've developed them inside the JWs.

  I have never had any serious mental health issues, but I have had serious periods of depression whilst in the JWs. I also recognise that I got to a pretty desperate state when I was "in" and I could have benefited from some outside help. Nowadays, I don't have those feelings and I feel very lucky to have gotten out.

  Sirona
• 

  blondie

  Remember though that bipolar and schizophrenia are genetic illnesses and are not caused by being a JW. People who have these conditions may not seek the proper medical treatment due to bad advice from JWs. There is such a stigma about mental illness in the human community in general, that many people hide their situation.

  I have known many people who are not JWs who are bipolar, schizophrenic, clinical depression, etc.

  One misconception about mentally ill people in general is that they are more violent or apt to commit criminal acts. Studies have shown that is not the case.

  In a recent study by the NIMH Epidemiological Catchment Area Study, it was estimated that 90 percent of persons with current mental illness are not violent.

  http://www.healthieryou.com/vvmi.html

  http://www.psych.org/public_info/VIOLEN~1.cfm
• 

  dustyb

  well my girlfriend's mother is bipolar, her brother is bipolar, her uncle. her grandma suffers from depression or something (she was abused by her JW husband when she was young, a pity that she's still JW). My mom suffered from nervous breakdowns, but i think that was because of my dad. i know a lot of people who would just burst if they found out the real truth too....
• 

  dustyb

  well my girlfriend's mother is bipolar, her brother is bipolar, her uncle. her grandma suffers from depression or something (she was abused by her JW husband when she was young, a pity that she's still JW). My mom suffered from nervous breakdowns, but i think that was because of my dad. i know a lot of people who would just burst if they found out the real truth too....
• 

  Joysome

  It sounds genetic. Depression is genetic it isn't something that is connected with the religion you are in. It's a disease. You can't catch a disease from religion.