Redefining Family as an Ex-Jehovah's Witness 

I read the previous comment, the same thing happened to me stopped drinking,it’s been 6 years since not drinking.Plus I don’t bite the skin around my nails till it bleeds and my legs don’t shake in public.

Great episode! It made me think of my constant rejection in everything and sad to say not only one. Most Ex JW go thru this crap. I do need to try and go to Ex JW meet ups but too nervous. And life goes on. I just faded away about 30 years ago.I tried to go back at home KH for about 2 years but it was so strange. Those elders were going to DF me I think. I had done nothing wrong despite being followed by elders around the small town. I was pulled into the back room then questioned about am i having sex and do I drink. Both answers no then and no now. I was doing nothing wrong . I am still just boring & good moral person DESPITE not going to the JW meetings. Freedom is so wonderful despite loneliness

13:33 starting there you both started speaking 100% of me! I have taken so many steps forward since stopping. I have also stopped drinking completely and I feel it's the best steps I've ever taken. Drinking is such an easy over indulgence to fall into when the org only cares about how The optics. The optics basis of the religion would've had my life silently spiral downward regardless of how "spiritual" I appeared as a servant or pioneer. My life is much more weightless now than it has ever been. Love the podcast! Keep it up!

And your brothers? Great you reconnected Corina! I don’t know my dad’s side of the family, but supposedly there are TONS in Rhonart Park, CA, and my JW mom’s was small, not in. The trouble is, my dad’s sister passed I think, and she had remarried and her daughter too. I did Ancestry and found like 600 mostly 2-5th cousins of all names, so is hard to find. Maybe that is still a good way to find relatives though! 😀👍😁

Watching and just heard you reconnected with your sister and neice!😁👍👍

Awww! and I just heard about the aunt and I think cousin that you got back! 👍😀

My mother and wife broke the rules with me,to a extreme degree thank goodness in regards to shunning