As a child I was very sickly with severe fatigue, muscle cramps, and weak muscles. My arms and hands were so weak that I had a lot of difficulty using a hole punch on school lunch cards. In fifth grade I missed 5 months out of approximately 9 months of school. I had tutors and homework and was exceptionally bright, but I eventually gave up school at age 16 because of the lack of support by my high school to support special education programs back then. I took my GED at age 18 and passed with flying colors before my class actually graduated.
I had plenty of visits to the doctors all over and even specialists in the OHSU hospital. I was poked, prodded, enemaed, and x-rayed to death and still no cure. Any doctor that thought I should seek psychiatric help was instantly rejected by my mom as a snobbish, arrogant, and close-minded member of the A.M.A. Little did I know that they were the closest to the truth about my condition than anyone.
My mother tried every quack remedy she came across. It wasn't till I grew up and started to resolve some internal mental and emotional conflicts did I finally started to overcome my psychosomatic illness. These were very real symptoms, and yes they did get me out of going to the dreaded meetings and field service, but that was not a conscious decision on my part. I was very mentally depressed, and these mental anxieties (many of them related to JW issues) played havoc with my young body physically. I didn't realize it, but I was actually thinking myself sick.
So there you have my experience, for what it's worth. I imagine that there are others out there too with similar physical problems related to being raised in a cult. Based on my experience, I find it hard to judge these other persons. It could be they are going through a similar kind of hell.
Tammy
