How many of you have been in therapy after leaving the jws? Did it help ?
Therapy after leaving the Jws
by boy@crossroads 16 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
1VTHokie
I'm just finishing up therapy after a few years of it. It changed my whole life for the good. It saved my life, actually. I used to hate the Witnesses for what they did to my me and my family. Now, i can honestly say that i don't hate them any more; i feel sorry for them. I have no more guilt or shame, and I know who I am. I cannot say enough good about therapy.
Rita
-
cruzanheart
I went into therapy and, yes, it did help. After I left I started having panic and anxiety attacks, and my therapist helped walk me through the big emotions and see that there was something sane and balanced at the other end. She said I would gradually feel as though a great weight was lifted off me, and that's exactly how it felt.
Unfortunately, as soon as that weight was lifted I started menopause, which really sucks! I do encourage therapy, though -- it's great to talk to an impartial third party, sometimes just to hear yourself verbalize your feelings and make them real.
Good luck! (I can say that now -- yay!)
Nina
-
Lady Lee
Best thing I ever did besides leaving the Borg
-
Wild_Thing
Yes I have and it helped tremendously! I was very resistent at first because of the stigma attached to it, but it was one of the best things I ever did! I wish I could afford to go back!!!
-
LoverOfTruth
It took me five years to get up the courage to go. I only had to go one time; that's all it took to get me onto rebuilding my life. I
-
Purza
I am in therapy right now in order to deal with all the feelings and emotions that come with leaving. I am trying to figure out who I am since I am no longer defined by a religion. And I am also trying to learn how to trust my own judgment and decisions. Its not easy, but I think that therapy is a step in the right direction. I would recommend seeking help if you can.
Purza
-
wheres caleb?
A brother admitted to me that he was seeing a therapist. It was ok because the therapist was a witness. I became aware that there were some elders that were not pleased that so many were seeing this person because his cliental included both JW's as well as exJW's. Business was very good.
Sadly, I knew some that would not get help because of the appearance of problems at home. (Elder's wives; yes, more than one)
Some were seeing the therapist to resolve issues with leaving the org, marital problems, and some would decide not to go and live with the burden of keeping up appearances. The decision to 'keep up appearances' is so sad because it demonstrates arrogance and immodesty. I don't think that therapy would do much good for people in denial.
I agree with all the previous posts, therapy is good.
-
myauntfanny
I went into therapy about ten years after I left, when I was 25. I was still just so angry with my parents for raising me that way, and with the religion for all the nasty things they did to me and my family, and I was still suffering the effects of a basically psychotic childhood. JW religion wasn't the only reason for that, but it was a major contributing factor. I really think it's worth doing, and next month I am starting my own therapy course and thinking very hard (long-term) about specialising in people who have belonged to cults. But that's quite a ways down the line.
-
Corvin
After 11 years disfellowshipped, I decided to go. During the time I was out, I had read many books and I was able to see something more beneficial to my mental health other than the WT publications. Therapy was shortlived because I discovered I already had many of the answers, but there was a problem I was not counting on. Clinical depression . . . had it since I was around 16. I started taking an anti-depressant and the results have been nothing short of miraculous. I am not the same person.
As for my kids, the have all gone. The eldest is extremely resilliant and her visits were shortlived as well. The middle child was evaluated a few months after coming to live with me and her counselor deemed her fit to carry on without anymore sessions. She is coming along fine.
The youngest, 12, was recently diagnosed with Post Tramatic Stress disorder and is currently undergoing treatment and taking meds for depression.
There is something to be said for the negative effects growing up in the org has on a person.
Corvin