being a born-in witness myself, I know that feeling first hand. I'd often look outside and see kids playing in the street acting like children and I would have to stay in my room pouring over scriptures with my parents for hours. The euphoric feeling came from just being around other children and the release from the cabin of your house. We were only allowed to play by ourselves when we went outside, if we were found playing with the neighbors kids we got into lots of trouble. What saved us children a little bit with the social skills part is that in my family there were six children, so we got to at least talk amongst ourselves a bit. But in school, I would have this mix bag of feelings and emotions. I felt superior than the other children cause I was taught that those who WEREN'T witnesses were going to die, but at the same time, you couldnt befriend them enough to really talk to them because, well, no kid wants to be preached to during recess or lunch and my witness parents said that befriending the worldly kids at school would automatically lead me down a path of corruption, drugs, pre-marital sex and eventually jail time. So, I felt lonely and excluded.
But also, I dont remember really THINKING about being a witness, I just HAD to do it, so I DID it.. just conditioned that way. From birth and onwards thats all it was , to me there was NOTHING outside of the witness religion that was safe or consider "ok" or "right", so when you went to the hall it was easy to just plug-in to what was going on. After a while the child like stuff whither away and I just coasted right along with them, not really knowing WHY i was clapping for someone who decided that it was better to quit a job and attend a YEARLY convention that pretty much had the same information as the one before and will be presented at the one following. But, i just did it anyhow.
You don't think, you just are commanded from birth to DO, do what your parents say, who in turn just DO what the Watchtowere told them. so there wasnt much socializing or talking outside of the witnesses. So now, as a 31.. well 32 in june, I'm a bumbling around with social situations in the real world like this was the first time I went to school like a normal child.
And whats worse, because growing up you heard all the praise and stuff given to the "exceptional" witnesses, and even though you were told NOT to compare yourself to anyone else, during talks and interviews, you were constantly giving examples of people you should "imitate". So that just added to the mixed bag of my childhood craziness. So far therapy is SLOWLY helping me untangle it all, but I can only IMAGINE what other witness children are going through.
One other thing I think witness kids might suffer from as far as socializing is concerned is that you're instantly given these glasses that show a very bleak picture of everyday people. That everyone thats NOT a witness is out to screw you over and treat you like dirt, so not only do you fear them, but you shy away from it and begin to almost have a loathing or hatred for those who arent witnesses. Which makes you really lonely if you dont grow up fast and get married and have more witness children.
