I'm sorry you seem to be having a difficult time. Be friendly, they will come around. People get nervous around cult/ex cult members sometimes. Try and see it from their point of view and see how your opinion changes. Most people know very little about jw's or cults in general.
You see yourself as 'persecuted', perhaps that is the problem. Do you look for little injustices instead finding small acts kindness from people? For one day try to find something nice about each and every person you come in contact with and see if your and their dynamics change. Be the kind of friend/workmate you want from others and soon you will see the change. Exude love and it will come back to you, might take a bit but it will eventually.
As a non jw have great difficulties with jw's and some exjw who like to claim 'persecution' whenever they feel they have been mistreated, misunderstood or someone disagrees with them. In my mind the people who get their heads cut off for their beliefs are persecuted, those who are imprisoned for their beliefs are persecuted, hung from a Cross and so on. It just seem rather melodramatic when jw's claim 'persecution' when folks don't care for their arrogant judgmental attitudes. Not saying that is the case with you but I have seen it in my jw at times and he likes to claim I persecute him whenever I disagree with him on all things jw.
You said, "getting the shaft/the heat because of the life course I've taken." the beauty in that is that is it is only one life course you have taken, now you can change direction and take a different course. You still have time.