All I had to do for shock value was put a blond streak in my red hair.
They call me Jezebel now. . . .
ESTEE
Posts by ESTEE
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17How to shock a JW
by orgbuster inhi guys and gals -.
i'm yet another ex jw from new zealand.
i was brought up as one, along with other members of our large family.. i was baptised at 10, df'd at the age of 16, and reinstated when i was about 30. .
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33
Do you believe in demons, Ted Jarasz?
by onthego inare you able to sleep at night?
knowing pat garza has gone public saying how you molested her and others when a district overseer in los angeles?
seeing that still another lawsuit was filed the first day of the 2003 new year against the watchtower society you are a governing body member of?
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ESTEE
I think all of Ted's demons are of his own making . . .
ESTEE
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13
A DAMM FINE IDEA
by josephus ini was just re-reading coc by ray franz, and had an idea.
as a jw i was allways concerned when the number of annointed went up in the yearly report, so this year why dont we all find halls that dont know us (if we are shy) and partake.. thousands of "new annointed" would put the shits up the society!, and the brothers!
please tell me what you think as im quite excited anout this idea.. .
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ESTEE
I say sit at the front and drop a "fun" l'il pill into the wine. . .
just fer fun!
ESTEE
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21
Now do u believe in "SATAN" now?
by breeze in.
now that u are thinking about deserting the org and religion.....do you believe in the devil?.
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ESTEE
NAHHH!!!!
We create our own demons.
ESTEE
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54
This is fun!!!!
by Aztec infunny test!
i love it!
have a great new year everyone!http://people.cornell.edu/pages/anb2/quiz.
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ESTEE
I am a ... TOASTER???? Dang!. . . that is not what I see in the mirror!
I DO like the part about my POWER, though!!! hehehehe!!!
ESTEE
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ESTEE
nilfun,
Yup . . . . unravel the brain . . . that is the jws . . . .
Till there is nothing left . . . 'cept jw robots . . . .
Thanks fer sharing!
ESTEE
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ESTEE
LB . . . . Ahhhhhh! . . . To be able to read minds. . . .
LMAO!!!!!!!!! . . . Toooooo funneeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!
ESTEE
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22
Survey about Depression & Therapy
by ESTEE ini would really like to hear your opinion on this topic:.
you know how the jws look down their nose on a person who falls into depression?
i am curious how many people here think that if you have been in therapy that you are emotionally weak.
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ESTEE
More great input from my favorite forum!!! Wow! Thanks so much!!! I feel just so-o-o-o pleeeeeeeased!!!!
Moreisbetter wrote:
But the support system that exists is the hardest. This is the time for compassion for what the patient is going through for it is "real". However, what is often the case is pity, condescension, scolding, or just plain apathy & alienation. If you are a current JW, you get all of this plus the guilt trip laid on you that your not faithful; your not doing god's will or worse, you must be doing something against god's will. OMG, you could even be demonized! Shudder!!! Your KH brothers & sisters are afraid of you & will subconsciously DF you.
Very well put, I think, Theresa! Guilt trips from the jws does not help, it adds to the depressed persons load, rather than lightens it. The jws further alienate, rather than support. . .too bad, because a depressed person often alienates themself and any further alienation only confirms their greatest fear, namely, that their self-hatred is warranted. They must be doing something against God to be feeling this bad. Well, that just isnt fair. JW mindset is the miserable failure here.
Wednesday wrote:
I got psychiatric help and had a wonderful psychologist. it took him 2 years to break through the jw mindset. But finally i listened to him . I finally grew to trust him.. this was hard, b/c i had learned to trust no one, not even myself..But i have been left with low sef estem and the stress has taken a toll physically on me. i am not as healthy as i used to be, due to a lot of stress induced illnesses.I was once a very outgoing person and made friends easily.
Wednesday, you are awesome! It is very hard to trust people on the outside after the years of being told we cannot trust the world. Our self-esteem does take a beating if we are jw. JW mindset is indeed a very stressful way to live, since we constantly were reminding ourself that we were falling short and not quite measuring up to thier rigid standards. JW lifestyle does take a toll on our physical health as a result of the high stress. . . Ugh!!!
Moreisbetter wrote:
until 1987, psychiatriac issues were always considered a spritual weakness or demonism. Most all therapy was taboo. The article I referred to revealed the corelation between certain brain chemicals and depression. That made it a physical problem & therefore was acceptable for a JW to seek prescription drug treatment. Again, its my understanding is that this was the 1st time this information was given to the rank & file cong. members and declare drug therapy acceptable. A warning was also givien that psycho therapy, the customary conjunctive treatment, should be avoided based on the prevailing beliefs that therapists do not share JW standards and could sway our christian thinking. Or in other words, try to convince us of the obvious that we were part of a cult and help to free us from it. The JW brand of psychotherapy is as you said, do more, more, more of their kind of spritual works, all to coverup the obvious that a person is a member of a dangerous cult.
Moreisbetter, I am agreeing with your comments, and I am not offended in the least. I did not mean to imply otherwise. I was still a jw when that article came out, and it did give me permission to seek help. And like you say, the article did not prevent the elders and my jw friends to wonder if I was demonized or lacking in spirituality. It is the jw mindset, of course. Just because one favorable article comes out, it did not automatically mean the jws would accept the implications and not make negative judgments. One article will not negate their jw fears. The only way to remove the jw fears is to be outside the organization and re-train and re-educate yourself. Too much co-dependence, mind control and judgments on the inside to make a positive impact. I very much appreciate hearing your comments, Theresa! Thanks!!
Bikerchic wrote:
I grew up in an alcoholic household, my father was the alcoholic and my mother was the co-dependant trying her best to get him to quit drinking and raise five kids, in the B'org. Being in such a disfunctional family, on top of being raised a JW was very confusing and weird to say the least however I do contribute any and all of the good that came from my life due to being raised a JW, it did provide some stability in my life and good values ect...that is something I will always be grateful for and when I passed it along to my children I was doing what I thought to be best for them at the time. Complete with the alcoholic husband, I repeated my parents life, our five kids raised in the B'org too. The kids left the truth
Bikerchic . . . your story sounds like mine, except that my kids are still jws. You are indeed very fortunate to have your children in your life. Mine are lost somewhere in the jw maze of confusion. Also, thanks for including the questions for anyone who wishes to critique themselves. . .great contribution to this thread, Katie!! Yes, jw-ism has a long road of recovery attached to it, (nine years for meee!!) . . .and I agree that it takes an ENORMOUS amount of courage to admit to needing help and then to start out on that long, arduous journey of recovery. There is always the chance of falling back down. No one has to stay down, though . . . you will rise like a phoenix out of the ashes and rebuild your life into something MAGNIFICENT, I say!!!
Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed to this thread, thus far!!!
ESTEE
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22
Survey about Depression & Therapy
by ESTEE ini would really like to hear your opinion on this topic:.
you know how the jws look down their nose on a person who falls into depression?
i am curious how many people here think that if you have been in therapy that you are emotionally weak.
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ESTEE
Wow! What a great response to this thread! Thank you all for your insightful posts! I really appreciate your input!
Rebel wrote:
For those of you that don't know, this means I was not allowed to leave until the doctors saw fit to let me out. They said I was a danger to myself (??? - how would they know) and I was in for 4 months. I had 3 children at home but still had to wait on this dopey doctor to decide to let me out. I hadn't done anything bad, I was just suffering from depression, but they decided to make an issue of it.
My heart goes out to you Rebel. I am sorry to hear what a terrible ordeal you had with your therapy.
Sentinel wrote:
Friends and family are great, but sometimes, you need a stranger to help you face the things you need to face, and to recognize aspects of behavior that need changing. I highly recommend seeking therapy. I feel that it is a very good thing. We go to the medical doctor when our body hurts. When our emotions hurt or day to day living is too sad, too painful, and the depression keeps us from living our life fully and completely, we need to find a doctor for that as well. Ask first if they are familiar with JW's. If they aren't, go elsewhere. Don't waste your time.
I agree with you Sentinel. Sometimes family is too close to us and sometimes are part of our problem. We need an objective third party to help us look rationally at the issues. Good logic with respect to searching for a doctor who understands jw issues, as well. My therapist understood how to help me heal from the jw bullsh**. Too bad it took so many years before I found someone like her. Anyway, I sure appreciate her! Excellent post, Sentinel!! Thanks!!
Flower wrote:
Most of my family acted like I was a leper and stared like I had three heads after they found out I was hospitalized with severe depression and suicidal tendencies after I was df'd.
Im so sorry to hear how little support our families provide. Guess they would benefit from therapy! LOL I think perhaps family members look at themselves critically, and wonder how messed up they are, if you are seeking therapy. They probably wish they would have the guts to ask for help! My kids abandoned me when I was disfellowshipped. Its like, when you get into what the jws define as "spiritual trouble", and you need them the most, they run away. JWs are encouraged to run away from their issues rather than deal with them, is my conclusion on that.
Scully wrote:
Overall, my experience with "worldly people" regarding depression has been very positive. They are very supportive and care enough to find tangible ways to help. On the other hand, the JWs' solution to depression, like everything else, is "more field service", "more personal study", "more prayer", "more meetings", "quit feeling sorry for yourself because you have The TruthTM, and other people are worse off than you". What they do - whether it's their intent or not - is pile guilt on the backs of people who are already overwhelmed with negativity, increasing their emotional burden, and implying that they are still and always will be "not good enough for Jehovah".
When the jws fail us, and we need help, we naturally turn to worldly therapy. It is the nature of the beast. We zero in where the help emanates from, and it isnt the jws. Seems to me, the jws add to the depression rather than relieve it.
LOL @ BigTex!!!
We all have problems. Anyone who says they don't is ... one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Yup! Cuz they are TOLD they are such a happy happy people!!!!!! It must be true! <pasted on smile>
Moreisbetter wrote:
One thing I guess I'm gratefull for is the 1987 Awake that finally recognized mental illness as a physiological issue, not a spritual one.
So, the official status of the jws is that mental illness is physiological and not spiritual? Now Im wondering why their solution to mental illness is MORE SERVICE, MORE BIBLE READING, MORE PRAYER.. MORE MORE MORE !!! Spiritual solution to a physiological issuesHmmmm. . . .something is not adding up.
Thanks for your posts everyone!
((((HUGS TO EVERYONE SUFFERING WITH DEPRESSION)))))
Love from your sis,
ESTEE
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Survey about Depression & Therapy
by ESTEE ini would really like to hear your opinion on this topic:.
you know how the jws look down their nose on a person who falls into depression?
i am curious how many people here think that if you have been in therapy that you are emotionally weak.
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ESTEE
I would really like to hear your opinion on this topic:
You know how the jws look down their nose on a person who falls into depression?
I am curious how many people here think that if you have been in therapy that you are emotionally weak.
It is my opinion that it takes courage to go into therapy because the therapy helps a person to face their fears and deal with their issues - - - instead of deny and supress them. This would in fact mean that it is an emotionally strong person who is courageous enough to explore their issues in therapy and re-learn, re-program and re-parent themselves if they have had a stolen childhood, etc., due to trauma or abuse . . . . After all, they are survivors!
Care to share your thoughts on this?
ESTEE