The Impact of Jehovah's Witness Culture: Its Influence on Social, Economic, and Mental Health 

It’s so screwed up that the people in this organization think the people who left are the ones who are in the toxic and narcissistic environment. The hamster wheel is truly perfect but sad example. I remember a sister committed suicide it just blew me away how my mother was quick to say and judge that this sister who took her life didn’t put her trust in Jehovah and she will not be resurrected. How cruel and judgmental is that?

When the answer is always wait on Jehovah, you develop a learned helplessness. Prime set up for depression, anxiety, rinse and repeat.

I remember being so anxious as a JW, so much so that everyone at my KH could tell I suffered from anxiety, I would pace up and down, I was fidgety, I was on edge at all times, depression also followed......I was on anti-depressants anti-anxieties Zoloft then Lexapro.....bc I suffered from it for so long I had developed social anxiety all of it went away when I left the JW organization for good & I've felt so good

Yes. Im currently on zoloft. My heart goes out to all who suffer with mental depression 💔

My first panic attack ever was at a Sunday meeting. I recall one time that I was told my mother that it’s my fault that I’m depressed and anxious. It’s funny that now that I’ve left this high control group that I’m no longer either thing. I was extremely angry during the times that I was really trying thrive in the organization. Leaving proved to be Tr answer to me living MY BEST LIFE EVER! 😊😂

Our 4 grown children are emotionally damaged from the 36 years we were active. My wife and I are fading, ready to exit completely, seeking to support fellow ex JWs, actively raising public awareness in the community of the destructiveness of this cult. Our 4 children are shunning us. They think it’s love.

"You're given a way of life from another person's perspective." Truer words have never been spoken!

Right now I am PIMO, wife PIMI and I have a beard. I have been treated like a sinner and have been uninvited to events. Part of me wants to shave, but I don’t want to conform to something that is not biblical, and something I see as a basic human right, and creation of God.

Mom’s been pioneering for 40 years, yet bed ridden with depression for the past 13. I see the connections. Thank you.

This episode was spot on. I don’t know many JWs who are not on anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds. Not saying meds are bad… but they are a bad thing when you need them due to your mental health taking a dive BECAUSE of your religion. But JWs will never connect the two. I have also seen an increasing amount of younger JWs (teens to early 20s who still live with their PIMI families) who are having psychotic breakdowns, attempts to end their lives and being admitted into psych wards for a few days to weeks. I actually recently met a young JW who went through this twice in the past year. It is heartbreaking. But they (or their parents) NEVER relate this to their religion, because to be a JW is living the “best life ever.” And for them, any mental health professional who hints at their religion being the problem is a sign to seek a new provider. They’re trained to always run away from the underlying truth, even if it’s staring them in the face… because “my religion could never be the problem.” According to JW propaganda, if you’re not experiencing the smiles and happiness that is shown in their videos and magazines, then YOU are doing something wrong. Btw, I absolutely HATE that quote lmao. Seeing “bEsT LifE eVeR” on everyone’s social media bio is so cringy 😩 and it’s usually on the ones who are struggling the most, or who are the most hypocritical. They’re trying to repeat the lie enough times so that they can one day come to believe it.

I just want to say this video is powerful!!! Most of the people in the org are walking around depressed and on the verge. Many do not even know why. When I was separating from my ex, I told him I needed therapy and he actually tried to weaponize that information and embarrass me in front of the “brothers” and imply I was crazy. I’m secure in myself so he failed. But this is what they do, make people think they are weak and crazy. The shame attached to mental challenges is dominant in JW culture (and in most organized religious environments). This conversation is so necessary and as usual, y’all knock it out the park!! Award worthy content! 🎯🎯🎯☑️☑️☑️🏆🏆🏆 Thank you so much.

I grew up angry, fearful, and stressed out. Surprisingly I never had a mental breakdown, just kept pushing everything down. This is a video that needed to be made.

Leaving is different for everyone. I had my mental collapse when I left. Because my whole life I believed that no matter how bad this world got, God would step in and save us someday. I also believed I may never die, but walk into the new system and grow to perfection. When I woke up, I lost my paradise earth and hope for the future. I had to accept that I was going to die, and nobody is coming to save us. That coupled with my wife divorcing me and everyone at the KH thinking im mentally diseased made me want to end my life. But I would still rather know the truth than go on believing lies.

I had to walk away to save my own mental health from this very toxic environment it wasn’t safe for adults let alone a child. I really felt very sorry for children who are being raised in this nonsense I recently reconnected with two children on Facebook were raised witnesses and they are both out now good for them. 👍😎

I was born in! Left many years ago as a teen. I had anxiety as a kid about Armageddon and how violent it would be. The Org promotes fear based thinking.

I just had a big disagreement with my mom on the phone about this recently. There was a recent convention and video drama where a sister in that drama actually needed mental help and went outside of what we’re all used to as you’re speaking on the subject about it here. So in this drama she states how she got help from an expert. Anyways, my mom sent me the link to these videos to watch and asked me what I thought about them. I pointed out the part with the sister needing help with her mental issues and how I needed help a long time ago and when I asked I was told to go to Jehovah about it. The saddest part of my life is when I finally realized inside myself and answered to myself that I had the hardest time leaving this organization because the two people I trust the most truly believe in this organization… those two people are my parents. My parents have given their all to this organization and my mom is still doing what she can at her age while my father passed last year. I wish I can expound more about my story or even be a guest on your channel even if that sounds bold on my part as I’m a bit shy and far from being a bethelite, but like many here watching or just passing through as Pimo’s, we all got some crazy stories and experiences to share and can really help one another out. This video is packed with some things that just speak to me and I’m barley at 15:32 and with that being said I’ll finish up this comment asking readers to click on that time placement in this video and listen to your words.

I remember me and my brother had this game we played called “Kingdom Hall “ where we would line folding chairs in rows and our stuffed Sesame Street toys were our children and the contest would be to snatch our make believe children up, drag them to the bathroom and beat the living daylights out of them. It was ridiculous the whooping we would put on Grover and Big Bird!

Being a man that battles depression my mental health became so much better once I completely left that high control group and their rules and false teachings..

I do remember feelings of inadequacy always getting the feeling that I wasn't enough for God. They make you feel that way, nobody ever talks about it. Being a single mother I only did what I could, and that's all I could do.

I’m watching this video as I visit with my family who are witnesses this video is 💯 accurate mental health issues are very abundant

Definitely. Years after exiting the cult, some of my friends think I am bat crazy.

Dr. Tracy Marks. Is a you tuber that makes many many videos on mental health. She is a MENTAL HEALTH DOCTOR. EXCELLENT EXCELLENT RESOURCE.

I was raised a Jehovah's witness too and I feel a lot better after watching this.

So much of Tony's early comments about elders being unqualified can be true. Fellow-feeling, compassion, care, and listening is what you need- "I hear you, I'm listening, I'm here for you." "Too much instruction- this is what you need to do, the Bibe says this..." "You come away feeling worse, more confused." "You're not even close to being qualified, you don't even have compassion yet"!!!!! Very profound observations. Sad to say, but some brothers are simply cold, clinical, soulless robots...

Omgsh JT and Lady Cee this is the best episode you guys have ever done. This man is brilliant. Thank you.

I remember when me and my wife now....were dissed back in Feb of 2017. I woke up like 2 month's earlier....she stilled believed at the time. I would go to support her...but I realized that we were volunteering to walk into a merciless HOPELESS, TOXIC ,MENTALLY &EMOTIONAL ABUSE! It is unbelievable how words and truths were flip-flopped to being the total opposite of its truthful meanings.

Many wind up living 2-faced, presenting one face to the Org and harboring their "real" self in private - not necessarily doing bad things, but not being a genuine person. One is forced to be subjective rather than objective, thus stunting growth.

I started reading "When the Body says No" after I couldn't take the stress of keeping up. That stress causes cancers and other illnesses

The never enough also leads to perfectionism and burnout in every aspect of life! I’ve been out for 20 years but still deal with this!

God bless yall, Lady Cee and JT. I spent so many years being affected negatively and my mental health was awful, thanks to this organization. I am so thankful to now have peace and tranquility in my life. Praying for all those living in the WT nightmare 🙏 🙌

I was a witness for 7 years and my mental health was always off , whenever I spoke to anyone, they just say well Jehovah protects our mental health and the bible is the best therapist. Fast forward I decided to work on my mental health this year and just working on my mental health woke me up . Am currently pimo

I am watching this video for the second time! So many good points were made!

I went into inpatient treatment at a hospital for a debilitating addiction that was fueling my depression to the verge of self destruction and a sister yelled at me for almost an hour about how Jehovah had freed her from drug addiction and I was just showing a lack of faith and wasn't availing myself enough to the holy Spirit. I was made to feel absolutely horrible because no matter what I did I couldn't stop on my own so I never ever felt like I was getting enough of Jehovah's Spirit yet that was my only solution! The elders constantly told me I needed to study more, do more service, branch out, pray more etc and when I expressed concerns that taking my own life would really spread reproach on Jehovah's name they actually cited that many others had done the same thing, to comfort me😲

God Bless This Channel Appreciate You Fam!

Our ‘worldly’ aerospace company was excellent. We could take a “mental health day” as needed. We were well paid but worked very hard and our management was progressive regarding self care.

Great episode! In my own experience and from talking to a number of mental health professionals, I have learned that the goal of therapy is to give the patient tools to make THEIR OWN decisions and not give them advice or tell them what to do. It is the person seeking help that will have to live with the consequences of their decisions, not the therapist.

That's so true, talking to someone who understand what you are going through is helpful. However, you will not find anyone within the JW congregation who is compassionate enough to listen. Look inside of yourself and assess your feelings. If you need to get therapy that's find, it's ok. For myself, I became more self aware. I am learning new things about the world around me. I see myself as unique. I have reached out to former JW friends. I find that I just open the door to be hurt all over again. Don't bother them. Move on. It's about you and your spiritual walk. Not their. I am at more peace with myself today. If I do attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall, its not about them. It's about who I am today. I made the choice to live my life in a way the brings a peace of mind, and joy from with in. I quote the fruitage of the Spirit when I pray. This help keep my grounded in my everyday life. You are so right, everything you do in your life doesn't have to be about the "Watchtower." The new things that I am learning about the world around me brings balance to my life.

We all woke up ⬆️ from “THIS NIGHTMARE “

Keep in mind that the congregation does not want anything negative to leave the confines of the congregation. If there are mental issues they would rather deal with that in house. Same goes for child molestation, wife abuse, crimes against another member, etc. This is all an effort to maintain the perfect exterior appearance to the outside world. It doesn’t really matter whether the people handling the problem are professionally qualified or not. What really matters is secrecy and doing exactly what the Governing Body has mandated less they be removed from their almighty position in the congregation. There is always somebody bucking for advancement (power). Pubic officials would have a field day investigating this organization and how it really operates.

I worked as a nurse at a mental health clinic after being DFd, one of the providers told me I had a problem with authority. Well, after being abused by the authority in the org, NO kidding!

I was born in, and have been out 30 years. I had moved away from my childhood congregation, and was visiting. I had a sister ask, "How is your sister doing (my biological sister)." I said, "she's doing great, she just lost a lot of weight, she just got a new/used care, and she is dating a great guy." (These are things that normal people would be interested in.)T hat sister replied to me, "I meant how is she doing spiritually." Way to be truly concerned about your fellow humans! I was pushed, and pushed, and pushed as a kid. I remember missing everything in high school. I also remember coming home from the meetings, and having to do homework, or research papers or school projects late at night, because we had to study for the meeting prior to going to the meeting, instead of school work. So much of my youth I missed out on, and to this day, I am still working through all the nonsense. I enjoy TJ and LadyCee, because you remind me of the best part of the friends, as I was growing up. So many kind good-hearted sincere God fearing people in that Book publishing and marketing cult.

thank you for making this video and discussing this very important subject.

Any one ever leave a toxic situation after being numb to having any ptsd symptoms during that time,so nothing indicating HOW toxic it was until after leaving ? Happened to me. After I "woke up" from the UN-"truth" , and started bettering myself & mindset, emotions etc... self improvement stuff.. I started having all kinds of ptsd symptoms popping up that zi had to deal with. I take it as a healing process from childhood trauma and from actually recognizing those traumas and things that I was changing about myself (for the better) like my attitudes, thinking,etc... Now I sugger from a lot of anxiety after waking up. I habe to process the fact of dying & only living once. That is the hardest thing to process, for me. It means I have to take responsibility for myself my life AND why it's so important to establish my life path from a young age and do what is needed to accomplish my life goals. Being 45 & having to start over from scratch (I am leaving my husband but still unable to leave the home to be independent in caring for myself in meeting all my needs. Like I'm still needing to work on a resume just to find a job just to have $.can't eat unless his food at his house, still dependant on him,and anyone who can help me until I can help myself.

@6:05 Haha he does an elders voice like JTs! love it.

Great job everyone. Nice to hear your great points Tony!

A lot of sisters i knew and now also my daughter who stayed with her dad has mental iseus. I so hope one day she will wake up just like her younger sistar and get out so she will be normal again

Tony looks so familiar. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him a few times at the Stanley theater ( Assembly ) in Jersey City, NJ. Happy to see he left that mind controlling organization. I been out for 8 years now and life couldn’t be any better. I’m trying to convince my mother who is still in the organization that it’s not the “ truth.” I’ve tried reasoning with her on all the false prophecies and dates they came up with in the past. I even told her that the whole “ overlapping generation “ makes absolutely no sense since the term in the Bible is singular. Jesus did not say generationS! Plus that whole event applied to the first century Christian’s. They cherry pick scriptures to fit their false theology.

I'll have to give this a watch at a later time but I plan to watch this because I sure know they left me with mental scars. Years after leaving and I'm still dealing with them. Glad to be out of the cult though.

Great video! Thank you all💞

I appreciate this video so much. ❤

Loved you throwing light on the redefinition of “volunteering”. Also the distinction between individual exceptions vs organisational manipulations.

👋🏼 Loved this presentation. Excellent!!! 🥰🥰🥰👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

The whole Watchtower organization is about mind control, plain and simple. As Hitler found out when controlling his people, the earlier that you start the better. The children in this organization are coerced and even beaten into submission. As they grow older it starts taking a toll on them. Common sense tells them one thing while the organization forces them to follow their doctrines without question. I know several people in my extended family who are in various stages of trying to leave this organization. These young people take a lot of criticism while they struggle to keep their heads above water. People tell them that it’s all in their heads and that they need to get even move involved in the organization as a means of getting cured. Seeing a psychiatrist is looked upon as like visiting a witch doctor. Unfortunately I saw two persons take their own lives because they could no longer take the conflict in their minds. More have sought relief in illegal drugs. The list goes on. What we have here is a group of uneducated leaders in the congregation who try to act like they know it all and because of fear of losing their appointed position continue to force the organization’s doctrines on the membership. They talk about love, but love has nothing to do about it. It’s all about control.

I recall when I was an MS , a lady going through mental health issues , requested a visit from the elders We visited the lady and I remember the elder saying she needs to go out on the ministry more, answer up at the meetings , he didn’t have a clue about her mental health The elder was more concerned about her WT spiritual routine.. The lady once told my wife that the visit made her mental health worsen , these elders don’t have the skills , ability or qualifications to deal with mental health Also she mentioned that the teachings of the system coming to an end was one of the contributing factor of her mental health so WT is contributing to the mental health of their followers

Finally escaping the fetid, suffocating, straight-jacket control of WT, to me, could be compared to the final scene in the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Chief Bromden wrests a heavy marble sink from the floor and smashed it through a barred window to make his escape from the Oregon State Mental Hospital. Great job...look forward to future videos.

Thank you soooo much this. Good work. God Blessings.

Hey my Beautiful Family! 🏡💚 One word: MASTERPIECE! They got me real good with this "Triple A".. Available After Armageddon nonsense!! I heard it all the time..."Why get married now when we're so close to the end of this system?..Why get bogged down with all the unnecessary stresses, depression and distractions, when you can marry a perfect man in the new system?" Yes, I fell for it, but I'm moving forward because Life Goes On!! Let's keep fighting! 🙏💜

Appreciate you two, such a blessing to me and others. Blessings

I am also 3rd generation exJW. Growing up as a JW, I was mentally, physically (still have healed cuts), and emotionally abused and manipulated. Instead of having my own free will to make my own decisions, I was forced since I was a child to comment in the meetings, do parts, and raise my hand. To explain how severe the abuse was, if I did not answer (not attempting was NOT an option) my parents would take away my entertainment for the rest of the day. Not to mention that if my mother was extremely upset that day, I would receive a beating. When I was around 8, I lied about returning a book back to school because I had forgot. My mother told me the day before that if I forgot again, she was going to beat me. I ended up forgetting, I lied about returning the book, and when we arrived home, my mother beat me, made me kneel on uncooked rice, and placed hot sauce in my mouth. I kneeled there for about 20-30 minutes. As I grew older, I began to live a double life (as I was homeschooled because it was my own choice, and I started college at 14 due to dual enrollment). By the time I was 16, I was caught in several lies because my mother strictly prohibited me from having friends outside of the organization. I expressed to my mom around this time that I was depressed and I wanted to talk to a therapist. She said that I needed to "pray to god" and things would get better. At this point, I realized there was not going to be a way out of this. Several months later, I was caught with a boy in my house, and as soon as he was able to leave, I was beaten, thrown around, etc. I ran away to baltimore (mind you I live in miami, fl). Police did not search for me because it was not the first time i tried running away. To make the long story short, when I returned to florida out of my own free will to come back, I was placed in a mental hospital. Weeks later when they attempted to force me back into the organization, I had a panic attack and was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. It was at the hospital where my mom realized she was not going to force me any longer. I was disfellowshipped a few months later. Over the years, I tried rebuilding a relationship with my mom since she did not kick me out nor send me away. Even when I became 18 and left the house, my mother and I still kept contact and began to rebuild our relationship. Well now im 20, almost 21. Just recently, my grandmother passed away (who is the first generation witness) and essentially my mom wanted to have a celebration after the funeral with the congregation. She spoke to be about this because I was not allowed to go due to my status. When she spoke to me about this, she OMITTED the fact that some of my friends and my fiance's family would be there. The day of the memorial for my grandmother came (which was horrible because they barely mentioned my grandmother and pretty much only spoke about 'doing things right by god' and the resurrection) and I was extremely bothered due to the fact that I couldn't go and how it was omitted. At the end of the day, it blew up because my mother kept bringing up my past and that "i chose this" (which I do own some of the blame because she didn't force me to get baptized, but did force me for everything else leading up to the moment). I was so hurt because she chooses which 'principles' she wanted to follow or not. She is not allowed to have a CLOSE relationship with me, yet now I cant celebrate the life of my OWN grandmother?? For her this was a mental game, for me it was a breakdown. I recently cut her off, so that she can stop being a hypocrite and to choose MY mental health instead of being her puppet/rug that I was for 17 years of my life. For those 17 years, I NEVER felt like I was enough, and I have tried in EACH AND EVERY WAY to please my mom so she could be proud of me, academically, 'religiously', and emotionally. Just for context, I graduated with my associates degree at 17, now I'm about to graduate with my bachelors, and have been accepted into a master's program. As I mentioned earlier, I used to be a pioneer, give many parts, comment several times per meeting. I provided emotional support CONSISTENTLY AS A CHILD to my mother because she made a poor choice in her spouse (my dad who used to be an alcoholic). Why do I say all this? Because all of this was for her and to please HER because that is all she ever taught me to do. And even with all that, IT WAS STILL NOT ENOUGH! This does not even BEGIN to describe the rest of the trauma I went through. Seeing these videos helps me find comfort. So thank you.

Excellent video~ thank you :)

Can't WAIT TO HEAR THIS VIDEO!!!!!...THANKS GUYS...WE LOVE YOUR CONTENT

Wow Dude we grew up together. I thought you were still in. Glad to see you made it out with your sanity.

Thank you! Thank you! Very helpful 🙏

It all comes down to something very very simple, all the elders would need to do is say: How bout we help you find a mental health professional, brother. That's all they would have to do, but they won't even do that.

Thank you for bringing these issues to the light.

Great topic and good points made! I myself found them appealing at first, as they seemed to understand my developing anxiety, depression and self-worth problems. Or so they told. But then, when you are in neck deep with the organization, suddenly you realize, that they are playing on the same chords, further hammering on your disorders, while in the same time making you supress them even more. Thankfully, I got to the point where I was unable phyisically to live a double life and left. Took me 13 months of therapy to finally be in good terms with myself - luckily via public health system -, and to actually know who I am and what I want in life. All I can say is that it was worth the effort! Again, thank you for sheding a light on this important issue!

Thank you. This was helpful.

Your videos have helped me so much with my mental even tho I left the jw 10 years not baptize I'm still traumatized of be guilty of everything I do because I was studying with the witnesses for a decade they kept pressuring me to get baptized.but I felt like I was never ready or good enough

Excellent video

It's a situation I would no longer tolerate. If they dragged me into the back room just to so-call "discipline"me... NOBODY would be walking out of that room in the same condition they walked in. I want nothing to do with them now.

I have been watching your videos for the past 2 weeks, I've sent a email to y'all wanting to talk to you and tell my story. I've served as a witness for over 25 years starting age the age of 15. Mental health is real and it's just not spirituality, it's not enough but still many Jehovahs witnesses are still believing that you don't need to seek therapy.

Tony made some excellent points...so true. You and you're wife are providing a valuable service. Excellent 👏

Thank You Mom and Pop Keep up the good work.

Thank you for addressing these issues of mental health and depression that’s becoming more prevalent in this time we’re living in for so many people and it’s affecting the rich and the poor. I totally agree that you can be depressed and not realize it.

I laughed when I read the title. My wife and i mental health is ruined. We have all kinds of mental disorders from this cruel cruel cult.

This is Good to bring out Lady Cee and J.T. Thank you.

Awesome video. You can't talk too much about the need to address issues of mental health. I have had a lot if great help with mine and I still have the need for therapy. It helps so much. I urge all people, no matter what the case may be, please care for yourself mentally.

I was born in jw I was a very depressed child. I'm 60 yr now and struggle everyday with it. I deal 2ith it by seclusion. I was train to feel worthless if I didn't follow. Dealing with the abuse . Spare the rod spoil the child. The rod wasn't spared at all and the threats that was given by my mother with the elders. We lived in fear everyday. Trying hide the marks left behind was an everyday thing. No one cared.thinking about suicide at 8 yrs old was not normal. I let at 18 when I crawled out a window.

Maybe there’s something wrong with me because I always ignored what the elders told me I couldn’t do. When I left, I just decided I was going to enjoy my life and die in Armageddon. I knew my mom was depressed but she would always say everything would be good in paradise. I knew I didn’t want to live like that. I knew I would never marry a witness so it didn’t matter what I listened to. I only got baptized because I felt “had” to. But once I got a job, I knew I was going to enjoy my life and suffer the consequences. But now I know that all they wanted to do was control me, I am happy I did what I did. My only regret is that I didn’t go to college. But other than that, I lived my life.

As I was listening I had a vivid memory come back to me. I had just returned home after another long stay in the psych ward with depression and suicidal ideation, and I'm pleased to be back with my wife and kids and cat. I walk down to my bedroom and there, stacked up on my bedside cabinet, is about a years worth of WT and Awake magazines, all in order ready to be read and marked. Not to mention the study book and Kingdom Ministries. I felt sick. I could not keep up. Clearly I wasn't trying hard enough. Everyone else must be able to manage. That was 22 years ago and not once did I ever DARE to tell a fellow Witness about how I struggled and was never good enough. How might I have fared in life if the Brothers had not demonised psychiatrists and stopped me from bringing Jehovah's name into disrepute. When you are SO busy in the Org you have very little time to realise you are in a cult. The WT has raised cultish behaviour to an art form. There is none better.

If JT was giving this kind of talk at a Hall meeting... How long would it be till they cut the mic 🎤🎤 😂😂😂

Listening to this helped me understand why I wasn’t pressured at home about studying this or that publication. My folks could barely read so they weren’t positioned to push me to. Dodged that one.

Enjoy the Holiday Season Love All Unconditionally...

Thank you for discussing on this topic. I have a family member that is still a witness suffering from this. It's effective me as well when growing up in this religion I just stop going.

You are right C To know your own self And why you believe exactly as you do. And to not believe what some liar says This is sanity~

GOD BLESS ***CRITICAL THINKER***

I love your videos! Wish a Jehova witness can see it I try sharing it to some witnesses friends but they told me they know the truth so they shouldn’t listen to anything so sad they don’t know that God come 1rst our guide n pilot but family is very important then Church fallows by your job or work

Thankyou so much!💕🙏💕

Great video..❤

THIS VIDEO..AS ALL OF YOU'RE VIDEOS HAS I MUST SAY LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE ONCE I WOKE UP IN JAN OF 2016! I'VE GOING TO THERAPY...SOME HELPED SOME DIDN'T...BUT THIS MADE ME THINK OF WHEN I WAS 13....ONE IF THE SISTER'S SAW A PASSION MARK THAT I HAD FROM SOME GIRL AND ME KISSING AND SHE GAVE ME IT ON MY NECK. WE ALL KNOOOOOW THAT LEAD ME INTO A COMMITTIE MEETING AT 13 YRS OLD! MY DAD(AN ELDER) ,MY MOM AND THREE OTHER ELDERS SITTING IN A ROOM....AND THEY'RE PRESSURING TO TELL THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE ME SAY THAT WE HAD BEEN ETC...BUT THE TRUTH WAS WE JUST WAS IN THE HALLWAY NEAR THE GYM ROOM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCHOOL KISSING! LONG STORY SHORT...THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO CONFESS ANYTHING ELSE I DID OR PARTICIPATED IN....I TOLD THEM FROM THE AGE OF 3 UNTIL THE AGE OF MAYBE 9 OR 10...I WAS PARTICIPATING IN ( BUT ACTUALLY I WAS VICTIM OF ETC) ....BY QUITE A FEW OF OLDER JW AND NON JW PEOPLE! THESE 🤡 HAD THE NEEERVE TO SNICKER AND LAUGH AND SAY " WE'LL NOW,NOW WE NOT HERE FOR THAT....WE'RE HERE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BERN INVOLVED IN AT THE PRESENT! LIKE WHAAAT IN THE WOOORLD...I DIDN'T GET IT THEN....BUT I'VE ALWAAAAAYS BEEN REALLY HYPER S----- LLY. WHEN I FIRST STARTED GOING THERAPY AS AN ADULT....DO YOU KNOOOOOW ONCE I STARTED TALKING TO ALL MY THERAPIST...THEY WOULD ASK ME HAVE I EVER BEEN A VICTIM OF ETC....AND I WOULD JUST BUST OUT CRYING AS AN ADULT!! I CAN'T BLAME ALL MY ACTIONS ON THAT.....BUT THAT DEFINITELY PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN MY BEHAVIORS THROUGH MY LIFE.

Thanks! Awesome!

HalleluYah Amen Truth

I am a Jehovah's witness and I have struggled with mental health issues

This cult is crazy and it makes you crazy so glad I got out when I was 16 iam know 59 but I have family in this crazy cult

The elders are clueless.

Great one

I lived with guilt and fear for many years after no longer be part of them.....anxiety and depression was strong and now im on meds for my mental health. I held it for so long i broke. It took 20 years for it to happen but the past 1 year ive been doing so much better!

If you feel sick or if you feel that you aren’t aligned in expected JW behavioral (new personality), you struggle and go to the elders for help, rest assured they either tell you you need to preach more, have more personal WT study, etc. Or the elders will look ti see if they have to censor or expell you. No mental or emotional help whatsoever. You need to keep up with WT needs and retrain your personality. And this hurt your mental health. Thabks for this video! Great point of view!!

My sister has been a Witness for 51 years. She’s had PTSD for years as a result of the mental abuse she’s suffered by her JW brethren.. men and women. I tell her, it’s time she decides to leave the org. She says that she’s going to endure the challenges bc it’s not about the org it’s about JAH! I’m sick of my sister and all these crazy fools!

Thank you great points i deal with a lot of jw in my work they are very stressed people no doubt.