Still scared!!

fleaman uk

I have completely moved away from the Wt teachings,i know they are wrong and i will live to Old age (hopefully!)and then Die of old age...But every now and again ,i feel a terrifying sense of dread (truly terrifying ),that Armageddon may just happen ,complete with strange Planetary phenomena etc....oh well i guess thats the 30 Years of constant,never ending Doom and Gloom,death and destruction starting from age 3.!..Being an English chap,i tend to dismiss therapy etc,but im having second thoughts....

Im probably not alone feeling like this?

Ps apologies if this thread has been covered before.

LittleToe

Have you actually seen the site of Harmaggedon?
It's a bit of a mess, really.
The fortifications were pretty cool though.

I'm glad they got all that out of the way, so we can get some peace

Valis

Hi fleaman...I just spent a lovely two weeks in your country and a very nice time around Glastonbury and Weston Super Mare. There are quite a few people around you that have gone through the same thing. Stick around and maybe you just need to talk. That's what we do best here and ya a lot of it...*LOL* Welcome to the board!

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Lehaa

Know how you feel, still get the dreads and am sure I will for a while yet. Would recomend a therapist if you think it would work for you.

Other wise, just hang in there and reason with your dreads. Easy to say, unfortunately hard to do.

Purza

Hey fleaman -- up until I read the book Crisis of Conscience (which I am almost finished with) I used to get anxiety attacks that I wouldn't survive Armageddon. I haven't had an attack in awhile and I think it is because I see the "Society" as being a human organization instead of a divine all knowing organization.

That book really helped open my eyes to see that what they teach is not necessarily from the bible. Andr me, that puts everything they teach in doubt.

I recommend reading the book and seeing a counselor -- that could be helpful for you.

Purza

Bubbamar

Fleaman - you are supposed to be scared because the JW's instilled an Armageddon Phobia in your mind! I read about that in Steven Hassan's book Releasing the Bonds. One of the ways mind control cults work is by instilling phobias - and it works. When 9/11 happened I had a JW flashback and that was like 15 years after I left. A few years after I left I was afraid of an apostate phone number line. But it does get better!

If/When Armageddon happens - I think god will look at the JW's and ask them about their failed prophecies that they made in his name and sell from door to door in the WT/Awake magazines. I think he will say "Is that the message of love and salvation through Jesus that I asked you carry?"

I think he will ask them about what happened in Malawi, in his name.

I think he will certainly want to know about their "2 witness rule" that has harmed so many children. I think he will say, was that the LOVING thing to do?

I think he will want to hear about the families that have been destroyed by their disfellowshipping doctrine - that is clearly unChristlike.

I could go on and on. If you are still thinking that the JW's are the one true religion that will survive armageddon - maybe you could do some more research. Have you read Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz? Are you aware that the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" story is a parable NOT a prophecy?

I am sorry you are going through this. I have just shared some of the things that convince me that the only way the JW's will survive Armageddon is because of GRACE alone. It is truly disgusting that they do this to people - when Jesus just wanted us to LOVE each other.

Hugs to you.

BrendaCloutier

Fleeman, I appreciate your anxiety attacks. I've had a few, too.

I was especially concerned with the Gulf War, 9/11, and now our war with Iraq. I vaguely recall something about the King of the North and the King of the South going at it just before the Big A. Seems like we were taught that the KoA was US and KoS was Arabia. (I may have my kings mixed up... I never did play chess very well ;)

One thing that has helped me was when I was over at my parents house several years ago. My dad was a MS, on the JC, blah blah blah, and of course he confronted me on no longer being a JW and my life as a worldly person. I was calmly able to tell him that I will stand before Jehovah and Jesus on judgement day and account for myself. It was the first time I ever saw my dad speachless!

(The other time was later that day when we were talking about my alcoholism and I explained that I don't process alcohol normally just as he does not process sugar normall - diabetic - he never thought of it that way before - of course it's always been a moral issue.)

I do believe that what we know as Armageddon will happen. The end of this world as we know it is prophesied in other cultures. Those prophesies appear to be "relatively" soon to materialize, as do some of the Bible's. And there's not one thing I can do about it. So I don't worry about it. *

I just hope it will be after 2031 when I'm 74 and couldn't give a rat's arse.

Hugs and love

Brenda

* Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The Courage to change the things I can

and the Wisdom to know the difference

- anonomous

* My version

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

and the Widsom to hid the bodies so they will not be found

LyinEyes

Fleaman I take it your are just making an exit from the WT teachings, so this is quite normal.

When I first decided that the WT was wrong,,,,,when I saw the light I was terrified. I had terrible Armeggedon dreams, I was so afraid I could be wrong, mislead,,,,,,and cause my children to lose their lives. I cried, I screamed, sobbed, got mad at my hubby for showing me the truth.

It took a good 6 months to get over the dreams.

I tried reading the Bible, I thought about going to another church, trying so hard to find a replacement for my religion. I received some good advice to take a year for myself, try not to rush into finding all of the answers.

Well, it has been two years now, and I am happier than I have ever been in my life. I still don't have the answers I thought were so important to me. Instead I have a peace ( most of the time ....lol) , and I am just trying to be the best person I can be, and that is good enough for me right now at this point in my life.

I still have dreams of going to meetings , being shunned, but my part them isnt like it was. I dreamed not long ago I was being shunned at a district convention....instead of crying like I did before in my dreams, I hooked up with some girlfriends of mine,,,,,( not JW's) got dressed up and went dancing. It is funny how in your dreams you have a change of attitude in time as well.

Best wishes, welcome to the board,,,,,,,,,I guess I am saying in time the fear will lessen.

Frannie Banannie

The highlighted issues from this thread ( http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/16/57203/1.ashx ) will help explain (below) what you're dealing with hopefully.... FB

Signs of Unresolved Trauma

A Pattern of out-of-control and self-injurious
behavior

Self-destructive addictions

Intrusive thoughts, images, feelings and
nightmares

FLASHBACKS

Extensive comorbidity/multiple diagnosis

Inability to tolerate feelings or conflicts

Intense self-blame and feeling unworthy

Staying stuck in the victim or perpetrator roles

Disorganized attachment patterns

Black and white thinking and other cognitive
distortions

Pathological dissociation

Suicidal ideation

The Process of Healing from Trauma & Loss

Acknowledging the loss

Telling the story and sharing the pain

Accepting support

Connecting current behavior with the original
wound

Separating the past from the present

Creating a new story; integrating the trauma into
the
context of one's life with new understanding

fleaman uk

Thanks for the feedback all,it feels good not to be alone in this problem!regards to all of you...!!

Lyin eyes:yes,the dreams are the worst i must confess! Im glad you are over it now tho.

valis:Glastonbery rocks!But i didnt say that when i couldnt get a ticket for the festival this Year!Glad you enjoyed your visit.

It is bizarre experiencing these feelings for the simple reason that i know it will NEVER happen!I get quite angry thinking about it really..the teachings never leave you really.Ive been out Physically for over a Year,but in my heart since 1995 and the ridiculous new generation teaching..i mean..how ridiculous was that!!??!!

Think i should calm down now tho . Lol......its Tuesday Night and instead of being bored rigid at a book Group,im off to the Pub later to down a few London Prides!

Still scared!!

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