Marilyn

Joined

• started 40 topics
• posted 723 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Marilyn

• 
  6

  brainwashing defense

  by jenleesey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all...i've been lurking here for the last 1 1/2 years and enjoy reading this forum every night.

  i figured it was about time i spoke up...i da'd myself october 2000 after reading several experiences here on the net and after doing some of my own research i came to the conclusion that i had been "sucked" in.

  i have lost a great many friends including my best friend of 18 years who by the way i "converted"..hows that for a kicker?..yep..wants nothing to do with me now...anyways...i just found this article on msn's website and thought you may enjoy reading it... jen.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  Hi Jen, A good thought provoking article. I don't believe science yet understands the mechanism involved in the brain that is referred to as brain washing. There is no doubt in my mind that something changes - the perception of reality is changed - no question. Of course it's only changed in regards to the belief system involved and the person can appear quite normal in other ways. That's what makes it difficult for researchers. Especially researchers who've never been on the receiving end of being "sucked in". I saw Larry King interview Patty Hearst a couple of days ago. Interesting. In a court of law I would let people off a crime if they used brainwashing as the extenuating circumstance. BUT only if they clearly demonstrated that they'd rejoined mainstream reality again.

  Btw I "sucked in" my worldly boyfriend, my two brothers, one of my brother's girl friends and one of my girl friends at work. My little sister also ended up in coz of the pressure I put on my parents to get involved. They are all in still (20 yrs after I left) and they all shun me. All except the boyfriend who became my husband and we both woke up together.

  Welcome to the forum!!!!!!

  marilyn
• 
  33

  Depression Anyone??[:(][:(]

  by plmkrzy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  lately ive been feeling really paranoid about the post with worst congs i tried deleting mine but cant.

  im probably stressing over nothing.

  maybe my meds need adjusting, i dont know.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  Kristen, How interesting that you live on Christmas Island. Have you lived there long? It's so lovely to see people posting from unusual places.

  I saw your name in chat earlier tonight. I wish I'd read your message before that - I would have come on chat to say hello!

  That 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) you mention. I've heard of that before. What brand name do you buy and is that what it's called? Do you get it in a health food shop? I'm interested to learn more about it.

  I'm living in Melbourne btw - and my husband is working in Hong Kong - and I spend some time with him when I can. (speaking of unusual places!)

  warm regards
  Marilym
• 
  33

  Depression Anyone??[:(][:(]

  by plmkrzy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  lately ive been feeling really paranoid about the post with worst congs i tried deleting mine but cant.

  im probably stressing over nothing.

  maybe my meds need adjusting, i dont know.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  I've not read all your responses, but I know a little of how you are feeling. This is a VERY interesting article about anti depressants
  http://www.washingtonian.com/health/hardtoswallow.html (I hope it doesn't depress you!!!)

  I've been where you are and took Paxil for 18 months. Actually the reason I stopped (finally) was that I learned that Paxil is associated with a seven fold increased risk of breast cancer. As I already have a strong family history, I got off it immediately I read the about it.

  What I did to replace Paxil was start to exercising. At age 48 I decided to get off my butt and get moving, because I'd heard that exercise helps with depression and anxiety. (I suffer anxiety more than depression). I am religious about exercising - and I've found it better than medication. I did find it really difficult to get off Paxil. It took two weeks of flu like symtoms along with the sensation of a power station inside my head. I was also edgy and vulnerable for a while after stopping it. However I was VERY determined to get off it. I was also very determined to exercise. I started swimming and walking. I swim 1.5ks every second day and walk on the alternate day. This involves 35 to 40 minutes of excercise a day - but the effects are fantastic. As a bonus I'v slimmed right down and I am now a much better shape than I was. My motive wasn't to look good, rather it was to feel good, but looking good has been a added bonus.

  Exercise is not a cure-all. But nor is medication. Sometimes we have to accept that we have vulnerable aspects of our personality. I don't think we should try to change ourselves too much, rather we should be kind to ourselves and accept our selves the way we are. Make sure your diet is as healthy as possible and especially rich in Vit B. (Brewers Yeast tablets are excellent for the nerves).

  Before I get off my soap box I will tell you that I've met a lot of people at the pool who swim for mental health. One lovely lady aged around 55 has been going every day for six years. She nursed her 29 year old son until his death from leukemia and the depression that followed her loss was so overwhelming she thought she would not be able to carry on living. Her doctor recommended swimming and it helped her to such a degree that she doesn't ever want to stop. You don't have to be that good at it - she just paddles up and down the pool for half an hour every day. Every time I see her I think of the tragedy in her life. I find her an inspiration!

  All the best
  Marilyn
• 
  22

  I'm Becoming a Hypnotherapist!

  by FreePeace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have always been into self-help, have several websites devoted to it ( http://www.empowerthespirit.com), and even wrote a book on it.. now i'm getting my board certified master of clinical hypnotherapy certification, and i'm excited!

  i went to a hypnotherapist in the past, and found it helpful.

  i started looking in to it last week and found an excellent place to get my certification, http://www.hypnosiseducation.com/.. now, you are not going to believe this!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  Geez doug, I still carry a bit of jw baggage I can't quite shake about hypnosis. My daughter (whom I've mentioned to you recently) has had a recommendation to someone who helped someone else she knows in my daughters sitation via hypnosis. I kinda glossed over her enthusiasm to try it - and I know it was my jw baggage. So how does it work? Why does it work? Ain't it just those deemonz AGAIN?

  sorry to be so crass!

  Marilyn
• 
  16

  Are We Animals?

  by Satanus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the way i understand it, evolution posits that we are just a higher species of animal.

  if that is true, then it follows that everything that humans have invented, such as societal rules, politeness, high technology, spirituality, are just another evolutionary adaptation to survive better.. christianity, on the other hand claims a vast gulf, an order of magnitude division between man and beast.

  we are divine, although flawed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  christianity?

  Egotism. They think they are so important that they should have more than is on offer.
• 
  17

  Seattle Times runs pedophile story

  by Mulan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  finally, it hits our papers.

  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134394417_jehovah23m.html.

  "no one can take advantage of you, without your permission.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  The WTS has been able to get away with all manner of things for years. I'm glad to see that they've finally bitten off more than they can chew. Their constant assumption that they know best apparently doesn't impress the law!! It's just a pity that those of us who've been emotionally abused by them have no recourse.

  Marilyn
• 
  16

  Are We Animals?

  by Satanus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the way i understand it, evolution posits that we are just a higher species of animal.

  if that is true, then it follows that everything that humans have invented, such as societal rules, politeness, high technology, spirituality, are just another evolutionary adaptation to survive better.. christianity, on the other hand claims a vast gulf, an order of magnitude division between man and beast.

  we are divine, although flawed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  The average males sex drive is animalistic. They perve over everything in a skirt. That's evolution @ work.
• 
  7

  LONGITUDE CAPSULES

  by picosito in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has any dude here ever had any advertised results from 30 days' worth of longitude capsules for penis lengthening (lengthening of 26%).

  i just saw their ad on tv and of course it sounds too good to be true, but why pass up something if it really works?

  ( http://www.longitudecapsules.com and http://www.cpnutritionals.com).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  picosito, us Oztralians tend to be somewhat crude. My experience has taught me though that Americans talk a lot about morals and so on - but they get right down and dirty with the best of em'.
• 
  20

  Question for ex elders

  by Marilyn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm wondering if any of you ex elders ever felt embarrassed or awkward about having to stick your noses into other peoples business did it ever seem like that to you, or were you of the mind that you were a necessary part of the lives of the flock?

  .

  marilyn

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  DB and Frenchy, Thank you both for your perspectives. I've always known that different personalities would react in different ways to the work of and elder. I still (after 20 yrs out) have a deep fondness for a couple of the elders in the congregation that I was in. I suppose it was the thought of one of these gentlemen that made me wonder about the prying and snooping that goes on by some elders. Near the end of my JW life, we had a lot of visits from elders and I had a new baby that was always crying. One time when the elders came to the door I asked them if they'd come to make a nuisance of themselves again. It was the rudest thing I'd ever said to anyone, but I'd been up ALL night with the baby and I was tired of the endless visits. Basically I thought it had all been said - coz they couldn't understand why we no longer believed, and we were just going over and over the same old ground. BEfore our loss of faith, we never had occassion to consult the elders about anything of a private matter. But I know plenty who did.

  Marilyn
• 
  4

  My life: may be long

  by DazedAndConfused in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i remember being 4 years old.

  my mom was catholic, but not a practicing catholic.

  as far as i knew at that time my dad had no affiliation.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Marilyn

  Dear Dazed, Hang in there! Fantastic that two of the girls have woken up. Fingers crossed for the 3rd one!

  Be kind to you!

  Marilyn