Posts by divamom

50

Tired? When will you stop talking about Jehovah's Witnesses?

by Joker10 in

jw
friends

anybody would agree that talking about jehovah's witnesses over and over, and then over some more can get anybody tired and sick.

except, of course, those who are obsessed over them.

don't you think there will be a point when you won't talk or even mumble about jehovah's witnesses?

divamom

Joker,

I've met recovering alcoholics who have been going to an AA meeting a day for 40 years, and don't intend to stop until they die. I've known others who got sober with constant attendance at the beginning, and stay sober with weekly/monthly meetings. For me, once admitted I had a problem and decided to quit, I did meetings for the first three years and then didn't feel the need to continue. (I'll be 14 years clean & sober on July 1st - woohoo!)

For me, I see recovery from being a JW as being very similar. Everyone has their own "bottom" (when they really decide it's time to change), their own need for support (weekly/daily/hourly), and their own comfort level for participation (share every day, never share, share only when it "feels right"). And many of us take comfort in being able to help those who may need it, just as we did at the beginning.

So I think the answer to your question ("Don't you think there will be a point when you won't talk or even mumble about Jehovah's Witnesses?") will be different for each of us on this board; for me, the answer is "as soon as others stop needing to hear about it."

DivaMom

76

My heart has been broken in two -JW- HE IS MARRIED!!!

by Karissa in

my boyfriend and i (or i should say ex-boyfriend.

) have been dating for about 5 1/2 months.

this is not a long time i know but within this time we had both fell deeply in love with each other, it was very fast and very strong, heartfelt and beautiful.

divamom

Karissa - what a tragic situation. I'm so sad for you.

I'm new to this board, and many others have given some excellent advice. I couldn't help but notice, though, one omission that I simply must bring up ... go to the doctor NOW! This guy sounds like a pro, and your health could have been endangered by him. Go see your OB/GYN asap ... Also, I'd like to second the advice given earlier about exposing this guy to his congregational elders. His poor wife may be praying to get away from him, but without evidence of his infidelity, she's stuck; your package could be just the push she needs.

All the best, Karissa - keep checking in!

Hugs, DivaMom

37

New Member :)

by Oh Jebus, Save Me From Your Followers! in

jw
friends

just a newbie here trying to aquaint myself.

i can' t say how thrilled i was to find out that this site existed!

it was actually shown to me by my sister - who by the way - with you're help- has seen the truth about the "truth" and is in the process of learning to live a normal life.

divamom

Hi, OJ! Thought I'd just ride the coat-tails of your intro to post my own. Hope you don't mind!

Greetings, all - I'm DivaMom. My husband (of nearly 20 years) and I live in Dallas with our son (10) and daughter (soon to turn 9). I was born a JW, left the Organization at age 17, and have struggled with spirituality and faith ever since. I've been voraciously reading your posts for the past week or so and find great comfort in seeing so many like souls on the board. Thanks a million to "Rabbit" for introducing me to this site - now if only he'd done it BEFORE the DFW Apostafest!#)%&!

The JW dysfunction in my family of origin was exacerbated by alcoholism (both parents), intense physical and verbal abuse (both parents on my bro and I), spousal abuse, depression (mom), adultery (dad), divorce, disfellowshipping (dad, of course), fornication (mom), and another disfellowshipping (mom, nach!). And through it all, I was the poster-child for JWs. Heck, forget the crap I went through at school - I was so devout, even the other Witness kids hated me. I finally decided to bail when I was invited to accompany a very popular, rich family (dad an elder, blah blah blah) to Assembly and endured a week of being teased and "ditched" by their beautiful, popular, well-dressed devil daughters. I was driven out of God's True Religion, not by doctrinal questions, a lack of faith, or my Toto finding the man behind the curtain - my heart was broken by the hypocrisy of this family and all the other families who "should" have embraced me, a lost "lamb" with disfellowshipped parents who REALLY wanted to be the best Witness she could.

I managed to get sober in AA 14 years ago without a higher power (atheist that I'd become), but having kids sent me church-shopping and now we're raising them Methodist. With the encouragement of my Sunday School class, I've developed a seminar on JW doctrine. I've also done a little coaching to individuals trying to deal with a JW in their life, and am writing a book about spiritual/faith recovery for adults raised in cults/oppressive religions.

I invite everyone to consider the "MeetUp" system for ex-JWs (http://exjw.meetup.com). Monthly meetings, by geography, are organized online; there's no charge to sign up and selfishly, since I missed Apostafest (LOVE that name!!), it would be another way for me to meet some of you!

Thanks for reading - I'm really jazzed to have found this community and I feel welcome already!

DivaMom

37

New Member :)

by Oh Jebus, Save Me From Your Followers! in

jw
friends

just a newbie here trying to aquaint myself.

i can' t say how thrilled i was to find out that this site existed!

it was actually shown to me by my sister - who by the way - with you're help- has seen the truth about the "truth" and is in the process of learning to live a normal life.

divamom

Hi, OJ! Thought I'd just ride the coat-tails of your intro to post my own. Hope you don't mind!

Greetings, all - I'm DivaMom. My husband (of nearly 20 years) and I live in