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Not My Choice - Jehovah Witness' Kid

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Jase1976

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Hi all im Jason,
I have never been in a war zone but I still think I have ptsd. I have experienced a lot of traumatic events in my life though I think. I am currently fighting suicidal thoughts and impulses and belive that I will never find relief from my torment. I have seen shrinks and psychologists, youth workers tried parmecutical drugs and been psychoanalysed that many times I cant bear to tell anyone the same thing. The biggest thing that triggers me is peoples expression (eg mocking me) or loud sudden noises I really hate loud sudden noises I go schizo if someone walks up behind me without giving me adequate warning. I try and control all situations around me. I have massive anger issues and basically have become a recluse becuase I cant deal with people, In fact I hate being in crowds of people.
A bit about my backround I was bought up as a Jehovahs Witness kid(Please remember it wasnt my choice and I hated it:)
secondly my father was a psycopathic fanatic, he used to threaten to kill us, in private he said I wish you were dead, I hate you and a number of other nice metaphorically colourfull descriptions. I would hide the bullets to the rifle when ever he went into one of his rages(which was often), he killed a number of animals in front of us including our pets. My mum used to threaten to tell the old man if we (played up) in the JW meeteings like when your a kid its hard to sit still. We were brainwashed into believing that death was better than life at least I was. I got bullied at schooll so bad that I had to leave in grade 8 becuase I had death threats from students at the school, and the education department couldnt guareentee my safety. this cramped the old mans style at home so he used to threaten me daily and (sneek up on me) eg pretend that he would walk away from my room then fling the door open and say what were you doing!? so yeah my childhood was great a lot more stuff happened but that was the gist of it and oh yeah he used to get kicks out of scaring me deliberatly and then threaten me if I got upset so yeah it was peachy:) In fact he used to make stuff up like trivial things that one of us had supposedly done and then threaten to hit us if we didnt fess up to it (which in nine out of ten cases we weren't responsible for) and then he would hit us if we had done it. and I mean he would go schizo. Anyway thats part of my sorry exisistence so far Im married by the way no kids and dont want any. Im worried about hurting my wife so Im considering leaving her because she is a gentle person and I get out of control badly.
 
Welcome

Hi Jase, nice to have you around. You were definitely in a war zone - a domestic one! And that causes PTSD. There are many people around here with similar experience to you, look around a bit and you will find them.

Welcome and take care.

Shiraz
 
Thanks for replies.

Yeah I guess your right, I still dont know how to deal with it but im hoping that by listening to others and how they cope I might learn to as well.
Thanks to all for your warm welcome.

Kind Regards,
Jase1976
 
Welcome Jase1976,

I think that the JW mindset causes extreme anxiety...(the world is going to end any minute). Since I was made to go to meetings when a teen, I know a little about it. I don't want to offend anyone who is Jehovah's Witness, but having been there, I have a valid opinion. Also, this religion was used to punish me and I feel plays a part in my panic disorder. Jase1976, it will get better. Please believe me. I'm glad that you are here and hang in there!
 
It is truly mind-opening to me the way religion plays such a big role in some of the traumas. My hubby has mentioned that he is against organized religion and attending church because he was raised in a Southern Baptist region. He had aunts and uncles that were "bible-thumpers" in church, but who drank and did things that were totally against the principles they were trying to represent on Sunday. Often to the point of ganging up and condemning individuals for the actions that they were, themselves, participating in.

I grew up outside the main structure of the church environment as a whole but my family was basically Four Square Pentecostal when I was young. I guess that I am fortunate that my early childhood memories of the church were happy ones (of course, I was under the age of 5 at the time). When I see documentaries on the darker side of religion, especially Pentecostal and Southern Baptist extremists, I'm am truly amazed that the things they portray are done in the name of religion and God.

I guess the point I am trying to make here, if there really is one, is that I cannot fathom the severe confusing and conflicting morals that kind of upbringing would have on a child. It must have been awful.

I just want to reach out and give that child a hug and protect him or her.

But for now, I'll have to be satisfied to reach the child through the adult.

HUGS to all those who were forced to suffer in the name of religion. One day, I hope you will understand that free will fosters as much bad as good in the human spirit. Someday, I hope you can see past the bad in people and find good in others.

Sincerely,
Robyn
 
Jase............I'm so sorry for the torment and suffering you've endured. Mine was very similiar, except for the religious part.....my father hated God. He killed my dog, etc. etc.
Anyway, it affected us and we are strong survivors of horrific events. Remember that, WE ARE STILL HERE, despite what they did. I've got to believe there is a reason for us still existing.
With years of therapy and releasing the pain, things so get better. But it is slow and we will always have scars. But we have wisdom too.

I do the anger thing too. I've driven away partners.......but in my case they were just repeats of Daddy, so no big deal, although I blamed myself a lot for my rages and outbursts, but what could I do..........I was living with my biggest trigger, Daddy Two..........the enemy. It was my brain's way of trying to save my life. Through therapy I understand that now.
Perhaps you can explain to your wife, significant other, if she really is an understanding loving person, the brain chemistry of PTSD. You are obviously either being triggered by something when the rages occur............or you are just working through the anger stage.........but get the help of a therapist. Have her/him on the other end of that phone during these times. They will help you to direct your anger toward the abuser and not others. Then, for me, it never seemed like a time would come when I was done with the anger.........but it will dissapate, with incredably hard work........do you have any pictures of the m**f**er? Do you write out your anger........? There are all kinds of techniques, and believe me, I've used them all, over and over and over. It never seemed like the anger would leave me. But it has lessened. I don't think I'll choose a Daddy Two anymore, and if I do get involved with someone, I don't think it will spill onto them now.

Good luck, my thoughts are with you and your intense suffering.
 
Jase, welcome to the forum! I can relate to the abusive father who uses his religion as an excuse to torment his family. I grew up Mormon (please, no offense to any other Mormons out there; I now realize this was my father, not the religion). But, I do still believe in God, so that helps me, sometimes.

Take care!
 
Hi Jason,

I also grew up as a JW (I never believed either). I have had lots of other traumtic events happen to me I believe partly as a result of that experience. Getting disfellowshipped for being sexually assaulted by a stranger and left for dead behind a dumpster was ONE of the most traumatic events that happened to me when i was 17. I think that leaving a cult lilke that and then dealing with family that are still in it is so hard. There are other forums online to help with that too. But yes after reading your post I can see how growing up in a "war like home zone" can also contribute to ptsd. I totally feel for you. I am in a day treatment program right now because after 32 years of stuffing all the trauma its all coming out now. Maybe I can share some things i learn in there with you. Good Luck
 
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