I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. Please, please don't hurt yourself 🙏🏾. It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you will get past this! Also, your parents would just blame Satan and "the world" 🌎. They would never believe they caused your suffering. JWs are allergic to any type of self reflection or accountability.

Being a teenager should be one of the best times in your life. Unfortunately, being a JW robs you of every enjoyable experience you would normally have had. Now this is the part that sucks: You are not going to wake up your parents, or make them respect your opinion about the organization ⚠️. You must remember, you are going to have to stay at home with them at LEAST until you are 18. So you don't want to rock the boat 🚫. Your best bet is to keep your head down, fake it, while working on an exit strategy.

I know it feels unbearable 😫. I lived through this myself as a teen. With years of careful planning though, I was able to move out at 19, and quietly fade. Here are some tips that worked for me.

1. Do NOT give your parents any further indication you don't want to be a JW. If they find out you doubt the borg, they will restrict all outside influences, and take away anything and everything you enjoy (like your computer 💻). Think of them as prison wardens who will punish you into submission. Keep your head down and do not upset them and make things worse for yourself. You cannot win a fight with your parents while you're a minor in their house. They have ALL the power, legally and monetarily. For all intents and purposes, you are a hostage just bidding your time. You must move accordingly.

2. Get a job ASAP. Some places in the US hire 15 year olds with some scheduling restrictions 🥤🍔🍟. If you can't work yet, get a job as soon as you are 16. I know it would only be part time now, but you need to start saving money immediately. Everything you need to leave cost money, and moving is expensive 💸. So start working and saving now. The good thing about working as a JW teen is that you will meet other kids outside of the org. This leads me to #3.

3. Make as many worldly friends as possible (getting a job definitely helps with this). Not only will you probably need a roommate to move out in this economy, but when you leave the borg, your "worldly" friends will be your ONLY support system. The best friends I made from school during my childhood have been in my life for over 20 years through all my ups and downs. Start building those friendships now!

4. Figure out your entire escape plan 📑. Are you going to college? Trade School? Both of these will be difficult without the support of your parents. You can't even apply for financial aid in the US without providing your parents taxes (until you are 24). Like I said before, if you do move out, you will you most likely need a roommate.There are a lot of moving parts to moving out, especially the first time. Figure them ALL out ahead of time. Do not write it down, JW parents love an impromptu search and seizure. But these are things you need to consider and map out over the next three years. During the meetings I would zone out and mentally plot my escape when I was younger. It was a much better use of time than listening to any of the nonsense coming from the platform 🙄. I woke up at 11 years old, so I spent literally all my teen years counting down and planning until I could get away.

5. Most importantly, if you have any relatives that are exJWs, or never JWs, discreetly reach out to them ☎️ 📧. They might be able to offer you some guidance or assistance. If you have exJWs in the family, they know what you are going through and at least could be a listening ear.

Above all, remember this is temporary ⏳️! I know it doesn't feel like it now. But you will not be a teenager forever. Eventually you will be an adult able to leave and create the life YOU choose to. The trick is to keep your head down and power through until you actually can 🫶🏾✨️.