HappyGal

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Posts by HappyGal

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  33

  Leaving the jws is a "lifestyle choice" according to a counsellor

  by purrpurr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i had my first appointment with a counsellor, of course i explained about being a born in jw, mentally leaving, the penalty of doing so and therefore the mental strain of pretending to be someone i'm not.

  her response was that she couldn't help me with that because leaving a cult was a "lifestyle choice".

  i tried to say to her that its a cult not a religion and how it brain washed me but no.

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  HappyGal

  It is much more than a lifestyle choice. It is not as simple as just walking away.
  

  I hope you find someone with the knowledge and experience in dealing with cults.
  

  In the meantime, there are some helpful books out there.

  I like the ones written by Bonnie Zieman. (former JW turned psychotherapist)
  

  1) Fading out of the JW Cult: A Memoir

  2) Exiting the JW Cult A healing handbook for current and former JW's.

  Of course this forum is a great resource as well. Many with experience in leaving a cult!
  
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  11

  Which was the best century to be born in?

  by defender of truth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.businessinsider.com/10-reasons-2016-is-the-best-time-to-be-alive-2016-8/#1-there-are-much-fewer-hungry-people-in-the-world-1.

  is the world getting better?.

  in which century would you rather have been born, given the choice?

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  HappyGal

  The west though suffers from many serious "first world problems", like OMG, someone was rude on Twitter or there was a lineup at the checkout and buying my luxury groceries flown in from round the world took minutes.

  Simon I'm laughing so hard!
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  25

  Anyone else watching the Leah Remini series "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" on A&E?

  by NikL in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my wife and i started to watch this last night and have covered only 2 episodes so far but it is really interesting.. there are so many similarities between scientology and wt.

  not in beliefs of course but in their shunning, of their version of apostates etc.. it was amusing for me to see my active jw wife watch and get all indignant.

  at one point a statement was made that a religion "shouldn't separate families" and she muttered to herself "absolutely not".. i am kind of hoping that jws will watch and see what is being carried on by a high control cult and eventually recognize it in their own lives.

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  HappyGal

  I too have been watching every episode. I'm so proud of Leah Remini and the courage she and the others have shown by speaking out.

  Knowledge is power.

  Hopefully anyone thinking of joining scientology or any organization (religious or otherwise) will do their research first. In this day and age, most often it just takes googling it.
  

  You may already know there is a good documentary, Truth Be Told, about JW's. Also the movie WORLDS APART is based on the true story of a 17 year old JW who chooses her 'worldly' boyfriend over her religion. It is very well done. It is a foreign film so there are sub-titles. Well worth watching.
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  24

  5 Ways to Improve Your Online Security

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. family

  let's face it, we're all connected now.

  we take it for granted that we access our bank accounts from our laptops or phones.

  it's so convenient.

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  HappyGal

  Thanks Simon. Very helpful information.
  
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  8

  Can't Edit Bio

  by schnell in

  1. forum
  2. tech-support

  hi, i'd like to update my bio as it currently shows "none" but the update profile button isn't clickable.

  halp?

  !.

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  HappyGal

  I'm having that problem too.
  
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  24

  Has waking up ever made you physically ill?

  by fizzle in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has waking up ever made you physically ill?

  perhaps because of the emotional strain etc..?.

  if if so what were / are the symptoms?.

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  HappyGal

  When I first realized it was not the truth I felt shock. The first month I walked around in a daze. The more I learned I felt anger. All the years gone. Opportunities lost. Friends gone. Important developmental opportunities missed. Learning from scratch how to live in the world.

  It can be scary when the foundation of one's belief system is cracked. What to believe in? How to go forward.

  Definite stress in the transition. Change is always stressful. And this was one BIG change. Once I got through it -doing research- it got easier. Alot easier.
  

  There are still minor emotional moments. Like when I spotted the JW cart at a craft fair this month. All I can think now is what a waste of their time and I'm so glad I'm not standing by a cart today.
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  18

  My mother's treatment. Unreal.

  by quellycatface in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i disassociated myself 3 years ago but have never told my mother, as she lives quite a distance from me in the uk.

  i've have told her that i no longer go to meetings, neither does my son, who is 16.. i haven't seen her for 3 1/2 years.

  i offered to come visit this week but she was incredibly offhand with me and said she couldn't meet with me today as she was on the ministry!!

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  HappyGal

  Where is the love? We know it is a cult but it still hurts doesn't it? I'm so sorry you were treated that way.
  
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  28

  Did you ever experience true kindness in the Org?

  by HereIgo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i remember when i was about 17, i started shunning an older brother because he was disfellowshipped.

  when i graduated high school, he pulled me aside and said " i know you are not supposed to talk to me, but i want you to have this" it was a gift that he had custom made for me.

  i was so blown away, we never even had a real conversation before.

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  HappyGal

  Yes we did but unfortunately it was all conditional love. Once you leave the borg, they are done with you.

  That was my experience too.
  
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  103

  My life ... and how JWD came to be - Part 5

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 1. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 2. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 3. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 4. i swear, i thought it was only a couple of years at most since i wrote part 4 of "my life and how jwd came to be".

  i re-read it after someone posted to it and brought it back on active topics and it was kind of prophetic in a way ... well, i had the 5 years part right if nothing else:.

  it would be nice to visit the site (or whatever one is around then) in 5 years time to let people know how we're doing and find only a few of the same people still around.

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  HappyGal

  Thanks Simon for all your hard work and time spent over the years.

  There is no other forum out there like this site.
  

  It has truly helped me see I'm not alone as an ex-JW.

  Many thanks to you and best wishes to your family.
  
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  25

  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

  by ttdtt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i hope you are all having a nice day with family and friends.. :).

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  HappyGal

  Happy Thanksgiving to all of the friends here. I'm grateful to Simon for making this possible and for each of you.