Posts by burnieschick

my mom (die hard witness), is not doing well, she called me for the first time in over 3 years on sunday, she probaly has a year or less left in her, we had a good chat, she cried alot and said how sorry she was, and that there might be something to the things i have said.

(wow i almost fell over).

and then today my grandma died at age 100 (witness for 75 years +).

burnieschick

Hi RDW,

You have my sympathy for both your loss and your situation.
My Mother-in-law was in the same boat as yourself a few years. She had been ousted by the JW's many years ago and her life was made a misery by her parents who were still very active within the org. They would pop in and out of her life when it suited them, cutting her off from the family when their other JW children questioned what they were doing associating themselves with her. She had her heart broken more times than I can remember.
When her parents died (seperately), she made the decision to attend both services at the KH, and all her children and myself went with her for much needed morale support. We made sure that certain individuals weren't able to get near her, and sat quietly at the back of the KH in our own little group. It was about paying respects and saying goodbye, more than anything else, and it did seem to help Mum. I don't think she'd have ever forgiven them for their short-comings and hurtful behaviour, or herself if she hadn't gone. She's been able to put the past behind her and move on with her life, without any interference from her JW siblings.
Saying goodbye is very important. Human beings need closure, and just to attend the service without actually taking part in prayer or singing will help more than you'll know. You only get one chance. If you decide to go, take close family or friends with you for support and protection from unwanted attention.

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How do you deal with "Anxiety"

by ScoobySnax in

jw
friends

have you ever had anxiety?

i don't mean general anxiety you get before an exam or an interview, i mean anxiety out of the blue that seems to hit you when you can be in a warm pleasant atmosphere.......a feeling like you just have to get up and go.

sometimes its terrifying, hyperventillating, can't get your breath, feel like everything is closing in around you.

burnieschick

Hi Scobby,

I suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which was originally brought on by stress. It's one of those things that once you get it, it's there for good. An attack starts off with that pleasant "bufferflies in the stomach" feeling but rapidly turns into waves of painful cramps, and the need to run to the loo. For some people it's a diet related thing, especially too many dairy products.

I find that deep breaths help, especially when I break out in a sudden sweat. It can start for no apparent reason whatsoever, even if I don't feel stressed about anything. Even the antisipation of a forthcoming event (just a simple thought of it flashing through my mind) can set it off. I take peppermint based tablets to ease the spasms in my bowels and they seem to work if taken soon enough. I suffered for a long time before I went to a doctor, and that was only after I started bursting into tears for no reason at work and subsequently lost my job.

My husband has recently started to suffer from it too but, far more severely than me. As a result of him delaying a trip to the doctor, I had to rush him to A & E a few weeks ago because he couldn't even stand up due to the pain. He's the kind of bloke who never complains about things and doesn't see the point in going to the doctor, so I knew it was serious. He was given strong pain killers and anti-spasmodic tablets which worked extremely quickly and was told he had IBS. I've noticed a patern to his attacks and again, it's at times of stress.

It may be worth you keeping a diary of the attacks and seeing if you can see a patern. Also, note what foods you eat, as it may be a diet related problem. You may like to try sucking on peppermint sweets when you feel an attack start, as this will not only give you something else to concentrate on, but may also help calm your stomach. I hope this helps.

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