joel, this is a question that hits close to home for me. i have one brother (19 yrs old) with bipolar. as a kid he was AD/HD and at 17 (i think) had his first pyschotic episode which landed him in the hospital. this is when the doctors diagnosed him with bi-polar. he is on all sorts of medication now, still living at home and not working. i have a sister (32 yrs old) experiencing panic attacks now. i'm not sure what is causing these since i only hear about her thru my mother. but i can guess.... she is married to an elder and was always (in my mind) the perfect jw. that leaves my 24 yr old brother, i have no idea how he is doing, haven't talked to him in a few years and mom hasn't passed on any news. and then there is my 16 yr old brother. he is into his music and recording, i hope he will turn out as normal as can be. we were all raised in da troof and all of us have turned out differently.
i don't blame da troof on my brother's mental illness, alhtough i think in some ways, da troof and all that goes with it (fear, guilt, FEAR, GUILT!) definately makes it harder for him to realize what "normal" feelings are and what "psychotic" or even just irratioanal feelings are. for example, he has been banned from using the internet at my parents house for looking at porn. (which i understand- christian home, parents rules etc..) but he gets the lecture how porn AND masturbation are BAD BAD BAD. feel so sorry for the guy, here is he, 19, mentally unstable and he can't even release some frustration w/out feeling GUILTY and SINFUL. this makes me crazy!
btw, one nice thing my parents have done is allow him to stay home from meetings without the guilt trip. i thanked my mom for this and have scolded her that guilt is that last thing dave needs, especially guilt over missing the damn meetings! but she agreed with me. oh well. sorry for the rant....this just makes me so angry.
still dying to know, "Does being a Jehovah's Witness drive people insane or are insane people attracted to being a Jehovah's Witness?"
love
harmony
Most people think, Great God will come from the skies, Take away everything And make everybody feel high. But if you know what life is worth, You will look for yours on earth: And now you see the light, You stand up for your rights.~~Bob Marley