this is old news, as it happened six or so months ago, but i just found out today.
timothy campbell died of kidney cancer in november of 2013. he started one of the first ex-jw forums, beyondjw.
i met him in person once.
However, freedom is a frightening thing. From birth to death, most people work hard to avoid freedom of choice. They want to be told what to think, what to do, and what to believe. We are social creatures, and we crave a sense of belonging, and sometimes that means giving up our freedom.
What a wise man and he helped so many people with his gentle words. Thanks for telling me about him Wild_Thing.
i know its very common for jws and ex jws to deal with depression.
maybe it's a side effect of cognitive dissonance or the whole outlook on life being a jw.
but what are some ways to cope with depression?
make yourself sorry you are going through a rough time. I had depression for years as a young pioneer, I know how terrible it is. Not helped by the Watchtower making out I was spiritually sick and telling me not to take antidepressants because they are addictive. Go and help someone else to take your mind of it or do some hard physical work they said.
They don't know what they're talking about. There is more than one cause of depression. For me it was caused by both a physical illness called systemic candidiasis which affects the brain chemistry and stress from working my butt off pioneering depleted a neurotransmitter in my brain called serotonin. Prolonged stress depletes serotonin. There is also some evidence that some people are born with lower levels of serotonin in their brain to start with, then if you pile on the stress your brain can't function properly.
The way I dealt with it was to cut out all unnecessary stress in my life. Obviously there are some responsibilities we have to take care of but other than that pull back, learn to say no to things. As a short term remedy I have taken SSRI medication to build up my serotonin. They do work but you can also build up your serotonin yourself with rest and reducing stress.
Learn to do things to make yourself happy and don't let JW ingrained guilt make you feel you always have to be working. As others have said avoid negative people who drag you down. When you are feeling really bad just live in the present completely. Don't think about tomorrow that just stresses you. Deal with now, this moment. Living in the now really works but it takes practise. Hope you feel a little better soon. Take care.
shower room.
office.
games room.
Welsh language translation huh! More like holiday home for Bethel elite. A friend at London Bethel once showed me the VIP lounge at Twickenham convention that all the Bethel people were entitled to use. I couldn't believe it, even the toilets were luxurious.
i get the brochure through the door from bibliophile books every so often.
the title of this one caught my eye as it's about end of the world beliefs.
it has a section on jws.
I get the brochure through the door from Bibliophile Books every so often. The title of this one caught my eye as it's about end of the world beliefs. It has a section on JWs. Interestingly they've put it in the New Age and Occult section and not Religion.
The blurb reads in part:-
'As the author wittily remarks: 'The End is (Often) Nigh!' Human beings seem to be obsessed with predicting that their time will soon be up.......
For the Jehovah's Witnesses, it has constantly to be recalculated.'
she has had 42 years of training and indoctrination.
i'm feeling sort of nervous, but also looking forward to it.
this will be our second scheduled session together, and we never did agree on a topic.. i'm assuming she will come with an agenda and another prepared presentation.
Faithful Witness I hear a lot these days from this forum that the JWs talk about sanctifing god's name and restoring his sovereignty to the earth. Do they ever talk about the new system any more? About an end to sickness, death, poverty, war etc, just wondering? Without the emphasis on the carrot and more and more being beaten with the stick I just wonder what the attraction is.
i'm talking like makes you physically sick and emotionally frazzled just thinking about it.
i'm talking like you hate it to the point you'd rather go without than work at it just for the money.
you'd live on cheap korean packet noodles for the next year instead of exchanging your labor for this job's money.. well, this is how i feel about teaching and tutoring.
Your Golden Bengal cat is beautiful. You have a real gift.
check out this video if you have 20 minutes to spare - it really is awesome.
anyone want to add their thoughts on how to change societys throwaway mentality?.
the story of stuff.
Thanks zound I notice on Wiki other people have had the same problem as I'm having here, I can't tell if he's encouraging rampant consumerism or grimly acknowledging its existence.
Just noticed your question at the beginning. I think we should teach our kids about our throw-away society and what consumerism is about. Teach them about adverts on TV. I used to say to my daughter this is just people trying to sell you stuff, these people are not trying to help you. Teach them that the world is run by corporations and particularly multi-nationals, not governments.
Teach them to recycle and to support charities that are trying to save our environment, our home. WWF is great, it's not just about animals anymore, it's about keeping the oceans, rivers, air and food safe for all of us.
They will still want fancy phones but it will help them to see the big picture.
check out this video if you have 20 minutes to spare - it really is awesome.
anyone want to add their thoughts on how to change societys throwaway mentality?.
the story of stuff.
zound, brilliant video. We have less leisure time than when we lived in a feudal society? I laughed at that scene where the guy is exhausted from working long hours so he flops down in front of the TV only to be told 'you suck' by the adverts. So he had to go out and buy new things to make himself feel better and then he has to work longer hours.........
I remember a TV ad with well known personality Paul Merton on UK TV and the tag line was 'ashamed of your mobile? ' (Cell phone) Who was it who said in the vid we should fill our spiritual needs, our ego needs with consumerism? Can't remember who it was, can you zound?
Trouble is if you talk about any of this stuff you get labelled a tree-hugger, a save the whale freak, or even worse an environmentalist. Oh I feel so bad, must go shopping!
even tho i grew up in the org, so much that once seemed normal behavior now seems so bizarre and even cruel.
i have run into at least 3 people from our old cong since the memorial (i didnt attend) anyhow i have noticed how each time they go out of their way to say hello and flash me a big bright smile, only to immediately avert their eyes and end any possible commitment to a conversation.
i dont really care as i dont have anything to say to them anyhow.
Xan...thanks.
And thanks...i just read your first post " am i valid" ....yes you are and your posts are better reading than any W.T i ever read.....
That's really kind of you, thanks.
even tho i grew up in the org, so much that once seemed normal behavior now seems so bizarre and even cruel.
i have run into at least 3 people from our old cong since the memorial (i didnt attend) anyhow i have noticed how each time they go out of their way to say hello and flash me a big bright smile, only to immediately avert their eyes and end any possible commitment to a conversation.
i dont really care as i dont have anything to say to them anyhow.
Xan...thanks.
And thanks...i just read your first post " am i valid" ....yes you are and your posts are better reading than any W.T i ever read.....
That's really kind of you, thanks.
Oops double post.
