Gretchen956

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Posts by Gretchen956

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  11

  I Snapped at a Witless Today

  by Gretchen956 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  you know i'm not usually the type to do this, i really didn't even think i had it in me.

  i was waiting for the bus, it was time for it to pull up, i was chatting with a co-worker and standing right in the middle of a whole bunch of other people, and here come two men in suits with briefcases, one looked to be in his 20s and one older, maybe late 30s or early 40s.

  the younger one tries to hand me the magazines, the new way, by shoving them in your hand.

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  Gretchen956

  You know I'm not usually the type to do this, I really didn't even think I had it in me. I was waiting for the bus, it was time for it to pull up, I was chatting with a co-worker and standing right in the middle of a whole bunch of other people, and here come two men in suits with briefcases, one looked to be in his 20s and one older, maybe late 30s or early 40s. The younger one tries to hand me the magazines, the new way, by shoving them in your hand. As he is doing this he says, would you like the Watchtower and Awake magazine?

  I snapped and crazy Sherry came out. I said, "Why don't you just go protect some more pedophiles?" The young one just kept moving but I looked up at his co-hort, and he was actually smirking at me. Bastards. I wonder how many other people bring this up to them after the newscast?

  Oh well, one of these days I'll get to talk to one of these people that aren't being pushy and smug and maybe I can even have a conversation.

  btw, my co-worker knows I used to be a JW and just thought the whole thing was funny.

  Sherry
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  29

  funny thing about being sad...especially now of all times w/ snow & NBC

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have to get feeing better soon.

  i don't mind some ups and downs, but staying low for days at a time just ain't right.

  somebody here was talking about snow the other day and how the elders would almost never cancel the meeting.

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  Gretchen956

  Ooompa, I don't have any earth shaking advice for you except to say that I'm sorry that your down. You know I really think that some of us experience a bit of post-traumatic stress syndrome upon leaving the WTS. It really sounds like you are experiencing some of that too. Our whole world was wrapped up in that religion and when we found out they were lying to us all of this time it really ripped the carpet out from under our feet. Its not surprising we experience depression and confusion and anger and fear and all sorts of other even conflicting emotions.

  But here's one thing that is important, IMO, is that we live them, understand each part of that grief cycle, get through them, and not rely on crutches like alcohol, food or drugs, and come through healthier and happier people.

  Its hard when you still have people inside, especially a spouse. I never experienced that, I left mine and the religion at the same time, but then mine was never a JW. I can't even imagine how difficult that must be for you. Sounds like you are experiencing the fight or flight reaction, I know that well, its so tempting to run. I do know one thing, though, you can't run from yourself. I have learned that lesson soundly and well.

  Now I'm rambling. I just wanted to tell you that I hear you, I empathize with you, and I send you my best wishes and a hug. Knowing you aren't alone helps, talking about it helps, getting therapy helps. You are doing all the right things. Hang in there.

  Sherry
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  36

  Babies get shunned

  by Crooked Lumpy Vessel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my sister was recently disfellowshipped and she told me that she was eating in a restaurant yesterday when the elder that disfellowshipped her was seated at the table next to her.

  of course they would not breathe a word to her.

  but her son (4 years old) had kept saying hello over and over to the elder and his wife and they both refused to acknowledge him, smile of even say hello back.

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  Gretchen956

  This happened to my son too. He was 10 when I left. I was not disfellowshipped either. Suddenly none of his witness "friends" would talk to him. I never found out about that until years later. They really are evil.

  Sherry
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  20

  Pedophile in the hall

  by martinwellborne in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  there's a pedophile in our hall i aint going back, i've had enough.

  why wont the elders disfellowship him, or tell him he aint welcome anymore?

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  Gretchen956

  Might be helpful for you to look at this website:

  www.silentlambs.org

  You'll find your answer there, I think.

  Sherry
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  87

  I dedicate this video to Brother Apostate, and Vinny

  by 5go in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this guy says it better than anything i could type here.. .

  .

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  Gretchen956

  Interesting.

  Sherry
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  24

  Who here is straight?

  by Mrs Smith in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well this thread has been a long time coming.

  i'm straight.

  my sister's not and i love and respect her.

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  Gretchen956

  it's just another way for some people to connect with others they have something in common with

  BINGO

  Sherry
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  35

  Important! My mother before Elders re marriage problems with Elder husband

  by Guest with Questions in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  if anyone can help me understand what goes on in the mind of elders?

  is there a buddy mentality to protect each other and the flock and sacrifice those who make waves?

  ive gathered coming here that may be true.. the reason im asking is because my mother has found herself in a very difficult situation and im really worried for her.

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  Gretchen956

  When I was "in" I went to the elders about my verbally abusive husband. Granted he was an unbeliever. However what I was asked by them as well as my elder father was, "What have you done to cause him to treat you this way?" If they act this way about an unbeliever, you can bet they'll circle the wagons for one of their own.

  Sherry

  btw - that casket/chicken thing, that is not JW at all and would probably be a disfellowshipping offense.
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  32

  Pictures from The Paolo Nutini concert Last Night!!

  by misanthropic in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  went to the paolo nutini concert last night and i was right up front!

  the lady next to me took tons of pictures and emailed them to me, i'll post mine up later after i can retrieve them from my phone and upload them.

  the concert was great and he sounded even better live.

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  Gretchen956

  I'm another American that has heard about Paolo for quite some time. I used to have his New Shoes clip on my myspace page months ago. Hes great. I'm jealous of you two getting to see him in concert, I'd love to see him live.

  Sherry
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  13

  Neti Pot??

  by noni1974 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone ever used one before?

  ?i just got one because i've been having alot of trouble with my nose being very dry and the back of my throat felt sore from it.i heard about them from tv.the oprah show i think.i also was had a sinus headache today.. i'll tell ya it was a strange feeling when i was doing it.i felt kinda like i was almost drowning but i could still breath through my mouth.my nose feels better it's not dry any more and my sore throat is gone and my head still hurts a little but not as bad.i think i'll try using it again later today after i wake up to go to work tonight..

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  Gretchen956

  I too have chronic sinus problems. I do a saline rinse of my sinuses as well, though not with a neti pot. I've heard a lot of people talking about the drowning sensation with it. I use a nasal aspirator (a bulb like you use with a baby), fill it with saline solution, then sniff as I deflate it into my sinus. Gets it way up into the upper sinus.

  This used to be the "home remedy" but it's one that now the doctors themselves will advocate. I at least have had more than one recommend it to me.

  Sherry
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  12

  Open Response to Gretchen956

  by Junction-Guy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thought i would post this in response to your thread.

  i know i may seem very anti-gay from some of the posts i have done over the past 9 months, but i think i will give you some more background.. .

  somehwere in my middle teen years ( cant really remember) i started having some odd feelings toward other guys, it wasnt sexual, just some kind of attraction.

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  Gretchen956

  Dave, I know that I don't know your past or if it in any way mirrors my own. But I want to share something anyway. My parents were very abusive people. My mom was loud and controlling and beat us, my dad was shy with no self esteem, always depressed, with a slow temper - but when he blew he could hurt us badly. During my childhood my dad never went to the meetings because he felt such a failure as a witness. We always heard it at home, though, it didn't make him less pious. My mom was a fanatic. They both raised us in a home full of fear. Fear of reprisals at any time expected or unexpected, and fear of the reprisals to come from Jehovah because no matter what we did it would not be good enough in the end. And the end was fearful and dire - we were reminded of it constantly.

  I hated my parents. As a kid I counted the days until I could get away from them. I remember setting my jaw and looking my mom in the face when she beat me. She was set on beating me until I cried and I was set on not crying.

  I did get away from them, but that hatred stayed with me for a long time. After all, what kind of parent does that to their kids?

  But along the way I realized that my parents were both from abusive families too. That they were uneducated, and they were in a religion that encouraged them in that path. A religion that told them that they should not spare the rod lest we be spoiled. They thought love was painful. Because that was their experience of love.

  Because I could understand where that all came from, I forgave them and let it go. I don't hate them any more. My parents aren't capable of knowing that unconditional love exists. Its a very sad thing, really. They are to be pitied, if anything.

  I don't know what your history is with your dad. I told you this story because your dad may not be capable of what you need either. That is outside your control. But you can understand it and you can free yourself. Sometimes JW parents are exactly like the god they worship, impossible to please.

  I could be way off base, if so I'm sorry, but your last post with Amanda brought that to my mind and I felt like sharing.

  Sherry