While playing a game in Pogo one night I met Gretchen through a discussion on religion, she shared she was an xJW, I did as well.. she told me about this site, I googled it, and "walla" here I am!
LearningToFly
JoinedPosts by LearningToFly
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60
How Did YOU Find JWD?
by minimus ini used to read the old h2o site and i believe they brought up that this place was up......either that or i typed in jws on search.
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LearningToFly
"Transforming"
LTF
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Does Someone's Religion Matter To You?
by minimus indo you care if tom cruise is a scientologist?
or that mitt romney is a mormon?
or that a person is either a very devout muslim or a card carrying communist?
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LearningToFly
As long as they don't try to convert me or judge me for my choices and beliefs in spirituality.I enjoy a good debate on almost anything, as long as it is open on both sides. I would never marry or have a relationship with someone though that belonged to any middle eastern belief systems.
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Free at Last, or am I
by Princess Daisy Boo ini have just spent the last 3 or 4 hours reading everyone's posts and i am so thrilled and relieved that sites like this exist which allow us ex jw's to express ourselves.
i feel compelled to share my story, even though it is probably quite unremarkable.
i have this feeling that finally being able to express my thoughts albeit on the web, will finally allow me some freedom!.
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LearningToFly
Thank you for sharing Princess Daisy! Your last paragraph really sums up how hard it is to break away completely, it takes constant effort to break away from the "brainwashing". I haven't been a member in 22 years, and have had to work so hard at changing the messages previously inplanted like stone in my brain. Not to long ago, my daughter said to me.. "Mama you are such a JW, once been always will be". This comment although meant as a tease really hit me hard.. She being a Pagan by choice.. saw in me a lack of being free to explore and live life freely without worry over being judged by others. Although I had considered myself free of the brainwashing, I still have some work to do.. and I am so thankful for this forum.. the support and postings help daily in the journey to become completely free!
LTF
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Comments You Will Not Hear at the 8-5-07 WT Study (Obedience)
by blondie inand secondly, it has set apart the real followers of jesus christ, the true servants of jehovah god, from all others who profess to be christians but are such in name only.. *** w59 3/1 p. 148 par.
yes, we can give him something very precious.
" (proverbs 27:11) we can give god our obedience.
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LearningToFly
Having once long ago been an obedient good girl, trained like a puppy to obey every word.. sit.. stand.. speak.. breathe.. the word OBEY now causes my arm to automatically reach for my battle sword.
Thank you for that great posting!
LTF
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my story
by bigdreaux inwell, i guess it's time for me to write the story of how i ended up here.. i was born in 1976 in new orleans.
i was raised in the organazation.
i never knew any different.
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LearningToFly
Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you for surviving through all the struggles! It lovely you were able to find happiness in your life!
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LearningToFly
Welcome Vyla.. enjoy
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Were You "Refreshed" After Going To Meetings & Assemblies?
by minimus inthey say that our spiritual food is sooo refreshing!
it's "just what we needed"!.
how did you feel after going out in the ministry or after a meeting?.
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LearningToFly
Not refreshed.. drained from manically trying to write down every single word spoken in my rather large notebook!
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LearningToFly
Welcome to JWD Coaster.. Im a newbie too.. and so far totally addicted to the site.
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Mental Illness - diagnosed for me
by Crumpet ini've long known, and most of you probably have as well, that there was something not all there with me.
mostly i put it down to me being bad.
questions i've never been asked before.
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LearningToFly
(((Crumpet))) Thank you so much for sharing like you have! Don't ever stop believing your lovely, (and not bad) I have not been here long, but I totally enjoy your personality and spirit. It takes a lot of courage to share deepest moments and issues. Sharing also helps those around us to open up and share too, it helps to make us all a little more real. Your support and advice has been awesome, sometimes simply being in a sad place in life can help us provide the best wisdom and support because we "know" the feeling and how to support due to knowing exactly what is needed. The hardest thing though, for me as well, is to revert that "love" "unconditional caring" and support back at ourselves.. we all need to learn how to hugs ourselves too, although it takes conscious practice.
I too have struggled with depression on and off since 35, looking back now, when life truly became obvious to me in my mind. My worst depression hit me just this past winter, it was very bad, I understand the feeling of not wanting to move, speak, or to just get out of bed, and laying there with the only thought in mind, please dont let me wake up. The most important person in my life, who is my daughter, my love for her could not break me out of that nearly dead place. Finally due to this very bad time, I have since had a diagnosis as well, did the psychological assessment.. talked and talked.. providing a rather detailed review of life experiences. The outcome, Major Depression, PTSD, OCD, Anxiety Disorder. In the final written diagnosis the Doc clearly stated these issues are an outcome of the abuses experienced as a JW, as well as other abuses, but all stemming from that time period. Medication was prescribed, as well as cognitive therapy.. talk therapy. Things are certainly alot better, but not one hundered percent.. the greatest amount of healing will be from the therapy. Looking back, I know the extreme emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, and what the therapist describes as ritual abuse is at the head of these issues, although I am certainly already predisposed to having some sort of mental illness, it is more pronounced due to experiences.
The best thing I have done since this recent crash, is rejoin the gym, I have found it the best way to self heal brain chemical levels. As well, practicing the cognitive therapy on my own, by just talking, and sharing with others who care.
My daughter also was diagnosed as bi polar this past year, she is an amazing young woman, amazes all with her intelligence and wisdom beyond her years, is an amazing writer and artist.. as well has mood swings that are sometimes hard for her to manage with. She has learned to use her creativity to control her moods quite effictively by writing, drawing, and focussing her attention on activist issues, things she feels passionate about.
A warm hug to you Crumpet, "Let us practice flying together"
LTF