Cognitive dissonance doesn't do a body good.
I was diagnosed with CFS/Fibromyalgia at age 17. Definitely the stress of the jw lifestyle added to my ill health. I think though that there are certain personality types that tend towards these particular illnesses and these are found in greater numbers in the jws. Whether the org creates these personalities or just attracts them is perhaps a more interesting question.
tall penguin
tall penguin
JoinedPosts by tall penguin
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12
Illnesses in The Congregations
by Country Girl indid any of you ever notice that what seemed a larger percentage of people in the congregation seem to have serious illnesses than the same slice of people in the world with the same demographics?
it seems that our congregation had a large percentage of people with mental illnesses, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc.
these diseases (although some md's classify them as psychosomatic) have been known to be aggravated or even induced by stress.
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tall penguin
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24
You Canadians are all right!
by mjarka911 inwell, i just got back back from my first visit to toronto and i must say, all the canadians i met were attractive, friendly articulate inviduals.
as for the sights: i had a great time visiting the hockey hall of fame, cn tower, casa loma, kensington market, cafe diplamattico, the harborfront and that beautiful bar at the top of the park hyatt with the beautiful view of the night skyline.
you ontarians know how to do it up right!
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tall penguin
Glad you enjoyed Toronto. Next time you come through, let me know. I can give you the inside tour. I know lots of great places to eat and pretty spots to see that only the locals know about.
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38
One Word [FLUFF]
by chuckie77 in.
ok everyone,.
give us one (maximum 2) word(s) that best describes yourself.... for me, its adventuresome
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tall penguin
Disillusioned
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15
Hate
by serotonin_wraith inwhen things are going well, you can sorta ignore all the crap the jws have brought to your life, but sometimes you gotta let go, get it out.
i was talking with a nurse today who has to deal with the jw demands about blood transfusions, and i found myself speaking outright against the jws and their f*cked up beliefs.
if i could destroy that religion i would.
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tall penguin
I hate that my parents are still in the religion and will never know what its like to think for themselves or have their reality shattered or have to come to grips with the abuse their 'chosen ones' did to their daughter.
I hate those mofo elders who interrogated me for 6 hours. I hate that I was raised to believe that it was okay to let them do that to me. I hate that the wts played god with my life and continues to play god with the lives of so many others.
Grrrrrrr...
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40
PRAYING.... Is it the answer to eating disorders?
by Gill ini found that the article on 'young popele ask....do i have an eating disorder?
' in the awake magazine for october 2006 to have worrying advice in it.. apparantly the answer to this problem, according to the wtbts is prayer!
how did psychiatrists miss this for so long?.
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tall penguin
One of my jw friends has an eating disorder. She was seeing a therapist but refused to talk about her jw life, afraid to "bring reproach on jehovah." Instead she talked to me about all her issues with "the truth" and the people in the org. It seemed obvious to me that her cognitive dissonance was contributing to her food issues, so I suggested to her that she talk to her therapist about her jw life. She was reticent. Not sure if she ever did. She shuns me now.
This kind of advice from the wts will make it even more difficult for people like this friend of mine to get the help they really need. It's sad to me how this cult cuts away at people's spirit and life. Even when there is good professional help available, they feel terrified to take advantage of it.
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42
I don't get it
by lola28 ini need some help in understanding something that's been bothering me for a while, please give me some insight on this.
i often see posts here where some take shots at elders and witnesses for working as janitors and window washers, and it's always bothered me.
i mean does it really matter what they do for a living as long as they are making a living honestly?
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tall penguin
I agree. I don't think their occupation has anything to do with it. I think the issue is when these people start giving marital advice and pose as therapists and experts when they are not educated to do so. That really riles me up.
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38
Need Your Opinions.. To have dinner with inquiring minds or not??
by Lady Liberty inhello dear friends... well, many of you are aware of my on going daily saga.
my husband and i left the organization about a year and a half ago.
we have not been disfellowshipped, nor have we disassociated ourselves.
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tall penguin
Sounds fishy to me. Trust your gut on this one.
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Fibermialga sickness (spelling?)
by Nowman inhi, i was wondering if anyone on the board is familiar with this.
my father in law seems to have this.
hes 57 years old and alot of the family thinks hes just a dead beat but some of us know he is really sick.
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tall penguin
I've had Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 15 years. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed right away. I was 17 at the time so I think my age sped up the process.
For the first 3-4 years I was bedridden. I slowly got better. I initially did the meds route...Zoloft and Imovane (for sleep). Then I went the alternative route. Naturopathic medicine, chiropracitc and various therapies to help me work through some of the emotional issues that were draining me. I regained a lot of my health and mobility and was functionning better for about 5 years. Then I went through a horrendous judicial committee, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress and my health has been up and down since.
Since disassociating a year ago, and working through the grief and anger of all that that entails, I've had a resurgence of the Fibromyalgia symptoms as well as the PTS. I recently went back on Imovane for sleep. I feel that getting good restorative sleep is really important. If your father-in-law can arrange to have a sleep study done it may be useful. I've having one done this week.
I think having emotional support is key with this illness. Creating a team of professionals is crucial. In my experience, a good therapist is helpful in dealing with the emotions of being chronically ill as well as unprocessed issues from the past which may be adding to the burdens of an already exhausted body.
I'd highly recommend a new book on CFS/FM by Dr. Alison Bested called "Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia". You can get it through Amazon books. She's the leading specialist for these syndromes here in Toronto and probably in all of Canada. Her protocol combines traditional and complementary medicine. The book also includes sections on dealing with the legal issues associated with CFS/FM such as filing for disability benefits. She's a great doctor, who I've worked with personally.
I wish your father-in-law and everyone else here dealing with these conditions well. It's a tough road. Kudos for your courage every day.
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17
Need mature advice on this one..........
by Sunnygal41 in.
is there anything that says that it consitutes an illegal act for a brother who served in a committee to then be the one to give the talk to the congregation?
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tall penguin
From my experience, it is always one of the brothers from the judicial committee who gives the local needs talk to the congregation.
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I Got The Phone Call Last Night - My Dad Died
by BrendaCloutier inmy mom called last night to tell me he passed on sunday.
he died peacefully and fairly painlessly.
my mom said she was talking with him, went to answer the phone, and 5 minutes later he was gone.
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tall penguin
So sorry for your loss Brenda. Losing our parents to the cult is the first grief. Then losing them to death is the second. I'll be with you in spirit during this time of loss. Be gentle with yourself.
tall penguin