Thanks everyone for your heartfelt comments. I think its fabulous that you are all here and that you are now building for the future like I am. :)
Just some interesting notes from your comments. It seems that the majority here went in for counselling because for one reason or another they were not allow to express their feelings. Every sense in your body was numbed and if you tried to use it you would be reprimanded. Consider it... you think too much about the doctrines - reprimanded. You want to listen to some music - reprimanded. You decide to go to uni - reprimanded. You decide to play a certain sport - reprimanded. You decide to meet some old school friends - reprimanded. There are so many unscriptural laws and rules within the organisation, no wonder the people within feel the pressure.
Also a number here have shown how they felt constantly inadequate. My dad would agree with this one. He was an elder for 10 years and is literaly a bible encyclopedia. He knows the lot... but he was always put down by others who had a sort of political agenda. Love, kidness and decency were put down and power, money and other things were put first. Like many here he was made to feel useless. Similarly, at conventions and assemblies we were often told that we just werent doing enough and we needed to do more. In terms of psychology and the mind, how exasperating is it when someone keeps moving the goal posts? Or how disheartening is it when you are struggling so much and someone comes up to you and kicks you in the shins telling you you arent doing enough. Where is the love?
Another big one mentioned here is the lack of love. We were taught that this was Jehovahs organisation, hence we expected to see it permeated by love. When you dont see it, and especialy when people are being hurt, it make you question the entire arrangement. If you are being personaly hurt then quite rightly the negative feelings and the positive loving image of the org dont correlate in your mind. Such things bring doubt and mental anguish.
Finaly, the other major influence mentioned here is pressure. Similar to inadequacy, the WTS seems to PILE the work onto those in charge. My dad could have done with counselling 10 years ago. When i look at his demeanour over the past 10 years, i can see how it all affected his health. He became so stressed, would often get dizzy and faint, would feel anger with others who annoyed him, often had to get up at 2am for an emergency shepherding visit, had to prepare every meeting, and bring up 2 boys as JWs. This led to his health worsening, at one point needing an operation which the doctor said was caused solely by stress. Similarly, every other elder and min serv in my cong was overworked and they often let it show... one or two being EXTREMELY BAD with nerves. I wished they would just give it up while they still could and step down at least to save themselves the stress.
Anyway, thanks for your comments.
Timmy