Rabbit

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Posts by Rabbit

• 
  26

  What do you believe in?

  by Joysome in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i mean when it comes to life, death, god, the universe etc.

  have you gone and learned about other religions.

  what do you feel is the purpose of life?

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  Rabbit

  Sassy sez:

  Like many, I don't know what to believe either. I quit being a JW because I just couldn't live the life any more but I did think when I quit it was still 'the truth' and thought I would die because of my choice. So everything I was taught to believe, all the answers I thought I understood, now are erased. . It is as if the rug has been pulled out from everything I ever believed in..

  I haven't found my answers yet.. but I do still believe in God. I do still believe the Bible is his word. Beyond that, I am still searching. I am just taking things one day at a time as I am finding the strength to be decentized/brainwashed/etc

  Hi Joy and Welcome, too. I've only been here about a month after 3 years of inactivity, (no JW meetings) I fell away. There were lots of reasons. I am glad I found these guys & gals. Everyone seems to believe a little well, sometimes a LOT differently! For about the first time tho'...that's OK with me...before ...like most of the others here, I was very judgmental -- people were SUPPOSED to conform...to 'stay and think INSIDE the box'. There is a new found freedom to 'live and let live'. It seemed like I used to have this knot in my stomach whenever I was judging someone's actions -- on the JW scale, of course. It's a nice feeling to feel that knot relax, when it comes up... and I say to my self...to each their own. Whew...what DO I believe...damn? Cussing is Ok, 1st off, I guess. lol Well, I STILL believe in: Love, the Bible, (although now I have more questions than answers) creation, ONE God, the story about Jesus, Eccl. 9: 5-10...no hell-fire or eternal damnation, don't think I'll ever see heaven. I WANT to believe: That God's purpose of 'paradise' will come about -- somehow...but, not the WTS theory. The basic goodness of mankind, I DON"T believe: That ANY type of SHUNNING done on a organizational level shows the type of love Jesus or Jehovah really had in mind for us to emulate or practice. There are so many nit-picking little rules, so many normal words that can't be used, so much crap that is based on the flimsiest scriptural references! SHUNNING --> to me that is the worst of all >>> it makes a mockery of the WT's own "Family' book, the family is supposed to be the most important basic unit of mankind >>> it's our 'glue' and yet as almost everyone on this board can attest to: At least 10's of thousands of family member's that we know personally, have been torn apart. In fact with the 'Catch 22' nature of it all -- I wonder how many really faithful Witnesses there really are...or how many are so fearful of losing their families...that they...just stay...? I wish a poll could somehow be taken among JW's, yeah...right > against their religion!! < Jst2Lws > that' s one of the members alias here. It took my thick head a while to figure out what that 'stood' for, then it came to me, Just Two Laws. Simple, clear, uncluttering. Suddenly, as if I had not seen that scripture that qouted Jesus in the last 40 years, it became very clear -- all the nit-picking, all the crap, all the flimsy rules that I've been afraid of for so long -- did not matter anymore (although they still eat at my soul because of family issues) ! The WatchTower Society would crumble...if they tried to follow those two simple commands Jesus gave us -- to Love our God with all our heart and Love your neighbor as you love yourself...that's all. Joy: Thanks for this good question...made me think...! Jst2laws -- thanks for the reminder... Sincerely, Lee
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  28

  What's Wrong With AOL Anyway?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yeah!.

  c'mon, you computer whizzkids, tell me why you rubbish aol!.

  obviously, it's a dumb name to give to the uk sector.

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  Rabbit

  As Singing man mentioned, AOL seems to put things somewhere that screw up new IP programs you try to use.

  I've had AOL's stepchild -- CompuServe for a long time, they have almost no SPAM protection. I would get 70 - 80 SPAMS everyday, I finally gave up & changed to EarthLink two months ago. I like it better, but, I'm having a lot of problems with pages not fully loading or not found on IE(6), I have XP-Pro. Another thing is images...I keep getting the little red X in the white boxes ALL over the pages. I have to RT clk and 'Show Picture' on everyone. I've spent hours with EarthLink techs who helped a lot and were very nice, they groaned when they found out about AOL/CS and said AOL 'changes' things on your computer which causes a lot of problems.

  Is anyone familar with this...? Can any of you puter geeks tell me what to do or what to ask the techs...?

  Thanks, Lee
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  49

  Why Depression Sucks.

  by shamus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  because you can make jokes and appear "happy" at the drop of a hat, meanwhile, you're being chewed up from the inside out.

  because you can't learn to take one day at a time because your good days are always overshadowed by knowing that you're going to just slip back down again.

  it's inevitable.

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  Rabbit

  Shamus you said,

  I can't think right now. I can't control my rage. I'm slipping. My words typed out on posts above make no sense to me. I can't concentrate enough to understand what they or what other people's posts mean.

  I'm in a hard place right now, but you've given me strength now. Thank you so much. I can't say that this episode will not end up with me going into a major depressive episode right now, so I am very very scared right now.

  I've got to say...I am worried about you, too. Everyone has given some good advice and their experiences to you. I wish 'one size fit's all' was true, it'd be a lot easier, huh?

  It scares me 'cause I recognize your words -- they came randomly tumbling out of my own mouth...

  I wanted to ask you some things: Think...was there something that happened -- just before 'all this hit' you? It could be a trigger or triggers. You haven't mentioned...are you alone...? (Not really my bid'ness) I think from experience, if you are, it might not be a good idea. Maybe your're with someone who doesn't...understand...*sigh*

  The other thing -- are you seeing a doctor who has the training to help you with this...? Rx's...?

  Please...do not delay. What I think I see is a call for help...everyone (well, nearly...) will call out for help when they get to a certain 'point', I did, but, the person that heard...did not listen...did not understand. Happily, yes happily...I managed...somehow to save myself, by attracting attention of passersby in a park...who summoned help.

  Yes, if you hadn't guessed...I tried to commit suicide by OD'ing.

  Shamus, do not let this get out of hand, out of control...please...?

  Something else: Did you know that most 'successful' suicides are -- 'accidental'? W-T-F...? Yeah...

  This is what the kind lady from MHMR told me later that night. She explained it this way: Most people who 'start the ball rolling', made this terrible decision, with of course a cloudy, hurt, confused mind. But, along the way...their good sense comes back, they decide 'NO!. They are too late -- most of them... what they started, they could not stop!!!!!!!!!

  So, when she said I was 'lucky'...I did not believe. I do now..!!

  You would not believe ONE of the things I was thinking when she said, 'lucky', I almost said, We're JW's and we don't use the word 'luck', cause...blah,blah, blah...! Sad, huh...?

  By the way...the non-understanding person I was with who missed all the 'signals' -- my straight-laced, now X, good JW wife. I am lucky...I have a real wife now!

  Shamus,

  I am not trying to be morbid, talking about and saying that terrible word 'suicide' that introduced itself to me one day. Instead, I'm trying to follow what I've learned a person should do...when they see the 'signs' and hears someone's calling out. I hope I am wrong and have my head up my a$$ on this one.

  But, I cannot look the other way...like it happened to me. But, I was lucky, I attracted a stranger who saw my note, held my hand, I never saw him...he left after help was there...we are all kinda' sorta' strangers here, too.

  The difference is we want to look after our brothers & sisters...

  Listening,

  Lee
• 
  49

  Why Depression Sucks.

  by shamus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  because you can make jokes and appear "happy" at the drop of a hat, meanwhile, you're being chewed up from the inside out.

  because you can't learn to take one day at a time because your good days are always overshadowed by knowing that you're going to just slip back down again.

  it's inevitable.

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• 

  Rabbit

  Shamus you said,

  I can't think right now. I can't control my rage. I'm slipping. My words typed out on posts above make no sense to me. I can't concentrate enough to understand what they or what other people's posts mean.

  I'm in a hard place right now, but you've given me strength now. Thank you so much. I can't say that this episode will not end up with me going into a major depressive episode right now, so I am very very scared right now.

  I've got to say...I am worried about you, too. Everyone has given some good advice and their experiences to you. I wish 'one size fit's all' was true, it'd be a lot easier, huh?

  It scares me 'cause I recognize your words -- they came randomly tumbling out of my own mouth...

  I wanted to ask you some things: Think...was there something that happened -- just before 'all this hit' you? It could be a trigger or triggers. You haven't mentioned...are you alone...? (Not really my bid'ness) I think from experience, if you are, it might not be a good idea. Maybe your're with someone who doesn't...understand...*sigh*

  The other thing -- are you seeing a doctor who has the training to help you with this...? Rx's...?

  Please...do not delay. What I think I see is a call for help...everyone (well, nearly...) will call out for help when they get to a certain 'point', I did, but, the person that heard...did not listen...did not understand. Happily, yes happily...I managed...somehow to save myself, by attracting attention of passersby in a park...who summoned help.

  Yes, if you hadn't guessed...I tried to commit suicide by OD'ing.

  Shamus, do not let this get out of hand, out of control...please...?

  Something else: Did you know that most 'successful' suicides are -- 'accidental'? W-T-F...? Yeah...

  This is what the kind lady from MHMR told me later that night. She explained it this way: Most people who 'start the ball rolling', made this terrible decision, with of course a cloudy, hurt, confused mind. But, along the way...their good sense comes back, they decide 'NO!. They are too late -- most of them... what they started, they could not stop!!!!!!!!!

  So, when she said I was 'lucky'...I did not believe. I do now..!!

  You would not believe ONE of the things I was thinking when she said, 'lucky', I almost said, We're JW's and we don't use the word 'luck', cause...blah,blah, blah...! Sad, huh...?

  By the way...the non-understanding person I was with who missed all the 'signals' -- my straight-laced, now X, good JW wife. I am lucky...I have a real wife now!

  Shamus,

  I am not trying to be morbid, talking about and saying that terrible word 'suicide' that introduced itself to me one day. Instead, I'm trying to follow what I've learned a person should do...when they see the 'signs' and hears someone's calling out. I hope I am wrong and have my head up my a$$ on this one.

  But, I cannot look the other way...like it happened to me. But, I was lucky, I attracted a stranger who saw my note, held my hand, I never saw him...he left after help was there...we are all kinda' sorta' strangers here, too.

  The difference is we want to look after our brothers & sisters...

  Listening,

  Lee
• 
  49

  Why Depression Sucks.

  by shamus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  because you can make jokes and appear "happy" at the drop of a hat, meanwhile, you're being chewed up from the inside out.

  because you can't learn to take one day at a time because your good days are always overshadowed by knowing that you're going to just slip back down again.

  it's inevitable.

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• 

  Rabbit

  Hi Shamus,

  We talked in another thread a little about depression. I found out I had Clinical (Major) Depression about 10 years ago...right after...a suicide attempt. It may sound like a cliche' -- 'unless you have depression' a person cannot truly understand, but, you and I and ALL the other posters who suffer with it know it to be true.

  I can't talk much right now (time), but, I can say my neurologist told me about 80 - 90% of people who develop Epilepsy later in life also end of with Major Depression. This goes along with other people's experiences of developing other disorders and then...depression, too. There are triggers. Part of mine was JW stress, my head injury that started the epilepsy and I think the 'soup' of Meds they had to experiment with to get the seizures under control. My emotions and physical side effects ran the gamut from zombie, to sleeping all day, to hyper-activity to space-cadet. It was hard on my family, too, it was scary to them.

  Pyscho-tropic (sp?) drugs, by their very definition, affect your brain chemicals, I had bad sexual side-effects and even a seratonin syndrome 'event' once, very long sad story.

  I too, lost my family, divorce, etc., etc. lots & lots, just like you guys. These JW caused things don't help at all when you're also depressed. It makes me angry to see so many others with these same experiences. Now I find you guys...some with depression others with epilepsy, too. THAT gives me hope...I really did think I HAD to be the only person in the world to have ALL these 'things' on my shoulders. I am glad I met ya'...!!

  Now I want to try and be encouraging...

  Within the last year...I finally took myself off anti-depression Rx's. I do have times when I feel it creeping back into my daily life...the good thing -- like some of you said -- YOU RECOGNIZE IT...that's important. If you've learned some coping skills...you can say to yourself...I know why I did THAT or thought THAT way...this is your power base.

  In my case, I was wisely advised to see a good psychologist for 'talk therapy' along with drug therapy. I went thru 3 doctors, some just 1 or 2 visits, before I found a compassionate doctor who I trusted. If you feel uncomfortable with talking to a particular Dr. , FIRE 'em. Move on...I did and really got help. My Doc helped, even with all the unreasonable 'guilt' I had as JW baggage. The people who are most successful in coping with this disease do it with both therapies -- together.

  This helped me to get on with my life. It took awhile. I'm still working on it. I was on Anti-Depressants until I was engaged...I've remarried to an open-minded, wonderful woman who is not a witness. She's had depression most of her life -- she's off the Rx's, too! We still have our 'ups & downs', one of us sees the 'downs' and props up the other. One of the things we like about NOT taking the Rx is...we are not monotone, we can HAVE emotions again! That is to many, the very worst side-effect of all...agree?

  * Even tho' we were able to stop the Rx's after so many years -- there is a risk, it is very, very dangerous to just 'Stop' the meds, I had a very bad experience years before, you must talk to your Doc. *** And, if it ever gets to much to handle again -- we will be back on Meds, in a 'New York' minute!

  Make your life the best you can, it may not cure you, it sure will help you want to see that next sunrise.

  Shamus, a lot of people here understand you, me and themselves. We all care, brother!

  Add this: That was a heart-felt 'brother', the very first time I used that in a really meaningful way, in a long, long time! I did not realize it until I typed it -- and sat here starring at that misused word.

  Sincerely, Lee
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  80

  All the JWD Maps in one place (except the UK)

  by Lady Lee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well i have redone the maps.

  it was helpful to have them separated before while i was trying to make them all.

  but now i think it is easier to have them separated.. ballistic has done an amazing job with the map of the uk you can find it at.

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  Rabbit

  Lady Lee:

  Thank you -- Please add me to this LOL 'Great Crowd' in Texas!

  'preciate it ma'am,

  ~ Lee ~
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  28

  I am having seizures.

  by avishai in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i hope i am not sounding like a whiner.

  i just started having them in earnest a few weeks ago, & have had funny little tremors for some time.

  i am going to the neurologist on monday, & want to get on disability, because working @ a group home w/ severely emotionally disturbed kids gets me hit in the head a lot, which can cause adult onset epilepsy.

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  Rabbit

  This is an older thread i thought I'd revive -- We got back on this thru "Why are there no Mentally Challenged new JW's?"

  I have EPILEPSY, too! And enjoyed reading about others that are affected by this -- there is a 'kinship.'

  SO-o, who else has this problem...??

  ~ Lee ~
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  39

  WHY are there no mentally challenged new JW's...?

  by Rabbit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering -- why so many churches (even with all there own faults) seem to have social programs, where they help support the poor, and homeless?

  many -- welcome mentally slow or retarded people into their churchs...why not witnesses?

  i once got an answer that, "jehovah knows their hearts and will keep them safe in the end.

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  Rabbit

  Mrs. Rocky said:

  For what it's worth, I don't think forgetmenot was trying to hijack the thread into a discussion on political correctness..I think she was trying to indicate that focusing on the person and what their needs/desires are is important. We all just got hung up on the terminology. There have been some excellent points made about WT's behavior towards what might be considered the needier persons of society.

  "Hi-jack" may have been a harsh word -- it did seem like it though, because she was so intent on showing me 'how wrong I was' to disagree with her way of 'wording' things. I wish I had not said that...I did not want to argue or hurt feelings.

  I still feel my original question ( which you understood well) was focusing on the person, the problem, the terminology was the fartherest thing from my mind. I know that I was not being insensitive, but, felt as though she thought I was...

  I do believe, as I told her -- that I thought her heart was in the right place...it was obvious that she cared about these people, too. I guess I got a little irritated...because she SEEMED to imply, that if myself and others would not conform to her descriptive words -- we were not as caring or understanding. I do have a problem with that.

  Because: I too, have a disability -- Epilepsy. I don't get too upset if someone uses the 'wrong' words.

  Technically, I can be said to 'BE' an Epileptic, that, to some may seem like that term defines me, others want to say I HAVE epilepsy, whatever...! As long as they don't REALLY get it wrong and think I'm (a) drunk, druggie or think I am 'mentally' dangerous or something...I don't really care. If they see me have a seizure...and are frightened...I understand this is something NEW for them. People tend to fear the unknown. I take this opportunity to try and calm them and educate them.

  *

  When people have seen me have a seizure, they usually have no idea what to do. I get to help them understand how they can help someone. I get on my soapbox and they are somewhat glad for the experience. They know why it happens and why they shouldn't fear me (whew...!) and how to keep someone safe -- with different types of seizures.

  So, I've experienced some bad things from some people and very good treatment from others with my 'problem', but I don't get upset about the words -- I too, just want respect.

  Rocky and others -- Thanks again for answering my query.

  And I've gone on too long...

  ~ Lee ~
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  12

  WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

  by moses in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  can a baptized witness attend a wedding or a funeral of a relative or loved one if it is in a place of worship other than a kingdom hall,is there a penalty for that?

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  Rabbit

  I don't have a definitive answer on weddings, but, I do have an experience.

  I had a unscriptural divorce forced upon me, I was left with no way out. I was told I should just remain celibate or Ha, ha-- 'marry only in the Lord'. I could not do either. I remarried anyway and NONE of my JW relatives, about 25 - 30 would not attend. It was not in a church and was performed by a JP. I am not DF, just inactive 3 - 4 years.

  The only answer I ever got was from relatives was I was doing wrong by marrying a non-witness.

  So-o-o, me thinks sum-tin is v-e-w-w-y, screw-w-w-y...!

  ~ Lee ~
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  39

  WHY are there no mentally challenged new JW's...?

  by Rabbit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering -- why so many churches (even with all there own faults) seem to have social programs, where they help support the poor, and homeless?

  many -- welcome mentally slow or retarded people into their churchs...why not witnesses?

  i once got an answer that, "jehovah knows their hearts and will keep them safe in the end.

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• 

  Rabbit

  Blondie Said:

  Just as drug addicts, the homeless, the mentally ill are ignored, so is this group of people. The elders will hardly reach out to the "normal" people without problems in the KH. The sick and elderly are neglected as well. We won't even discuss those with AIDS or are HIV+.

  You're right. And I never even thought about some of the the other problems you enlightened me with above.

  Thanks, Lee