Hey lauralisa
I am so sorry to hear about your brother. (((((cyberhugs)))))) I would like to add some thoughts to this subject as well. So many have suffered as you said from depression or other types of psychological illnesses. I remember going to assemblies and seeing young woman layed out in their lawn chairs, thinking how sad they are sick but still coming. I guess I was a weird child, because I always went to visit those who were down there and couldn't get up and fellowship. When I got there they were normal looking(no physical abnormalities) and they would discuss with my father, who usually was with me, the diseases they had. CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, was one that stuck out in my mind, many were afflicted with this. Or chronic back pain, which most in the medical field know usually originates from mental upset.
I liked the point you made that when an article is written about it, this just seems to exacerabte the symptoms, or increases the numbers of ones inflicted. Or perhaps, there are so many witnesses that want to know what is wrong with them, that they are longing for a diagnosis to their feelings. Any name will do, any diagnosis, just to give them a feeling that there is something tangibly wrong.
I often think of the times I forced a smile, or pushed down my feelings so that others would not know I was miserable. Little by little burying a part of myself so I would fit in with the rest of the happy people. I wonder how many others were like me, and how many smiles were fake, how much stress must be in everyone lives. But we were not allowed to show it were we? No we had to put on a front and be happy
I wonder now how many active JW's are really happy. My guess is not many, especially those who doubt the doctrines. And I don't think there really is a solution to this problem. The org will continue to force feed paradise wrapped up in a tight little box, and those who just don't get it will be left outside to fend for themselves. Unless there are major changes to their oulook on mental health, and allowing others to accept outside help, such as AA, Al_Anon, or any other self help program. I know this problem will continue.
It is taught the world is bad and the org is good, don't accept anything outside of our views. And many people take pills to mask the symptoms, but do not try to address the problem. So much can be accomplished just by talking to someone who will listen and not judge. But the society frowns on counselling, last I heard anyway. Because this will open a person's mind, and allow them to get in touch with the root of the matter. And I know the JW mindest is programmed to not accept outside opinions, so if one did go to counselling they will not fully disclose all to them. Mostly in part to the counsel of not giving jehovah a bad name. So again they bury themselves living their lives, for another, and forget about themselves. They don't have time to love themselves, and life is not good when you can't do that.
Okay, enough rambling LOL It is the reason I left, it is all about love. And you will not find it taught from the org, not real love that they profess to have.
wendy
Blind faith can justify anything.~Richard Dawkins
