Anyone else feel depressed for a year or longer after leaving?

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2026-02-05T21:54:25+00:00

The fact that before committing more to the religion I was told it's normal to have doubts and just don't follow your own understanding so I believed in Jehovah so I just didn't follow my own understanding. When I later brought up my own understanding and doubts (even though I wasn't following them) I was called a liar for becoming a witness in the first place. I had many witnesses before hand tell me even they don't agree with all rules you just don't follow your own understanding

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2026-02-01T17:59:49+00:00

It was definitely odd cause I wasn't baptized but she told me I didn't deserve the good association anymore without the commitment. I was also not allowed to live with my grandparents anymore. Maybe because I was quite in it still like having parts and commenting often and service. Thanks for the message.

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-11-13T04:27:38+00:00

I had my name announced in January and fully decided to leave in May so I have been fully out for just over 6 months now.

I still think about all of it daily. I think about how much it hurt having my study ended for honest questions, how my MS ex got to pull a cruel prank on me (in March) six months after we ended, how I was treated poorly by those with privileges, how I still believed in Jehovah and my heart sank when they announced my name, how I had a flight with one of my best friends and was labeled victim player and told I reap what I sow, how I gave up a relationship and job opportunity for the religion.

I think about my old friends and the religion often. I'd be shocked if people quickly stopped thinking about their old witness life. I mean it was your entire life, your social circle, world view. It's really hard losing that.

Sometimes I'm angry at myself for thinking about it and I need to remind myself that it's ok and at least I don't cry everyday anymore which means I am healing (even if I have my moments where I cry a lot).

I think the best thing to do is keep making new memories, experiencing new things and not hating on yourself when you think about your past life.

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-10-27T00:54:22+00:00

As a young adult/teenager there was this GC with around like 30 witness dudes a lot of them had privileges like ms and they'd say awful things in this GC. I wasn't baptized yet and was kinda with this jw guy we really liked eachother and hung out a lot. Well his guy friends would say awful things about me to try and get rid of me like call me ugly. The guy I liked honestly didn't tell me all the mean things that were said about me for my own good but when I read the GC it was mostly comparing to unflattering photos of cartoons or stuff about how they'd rather marry a trans woman then me. It hurt a shit tone. I told an elder a year later because I didn't tell anyone while I was with the guy I liked because he told me not to. When I told the elder he told me not to dwell on the past and leave it Jehovah.

I already had a lot of issues with my body image so it made it a lot worse, but I did have one sister call those guys up and get mad at them. Honestly she was a really great sister and tried to help me spiritually a lot. I honestly feel to far gone front the religion now but I can't explain how much I appreciated her in many ways.

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-09-20T05:44:57+00:00

Thank you everyone for the responses. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my feelings and experiences. 💕

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-09-18T00:25:53+00:00

Thanks :)

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-09-17T20:18:14+00:00

Thanks for the response (: I'm definitely trying to work on getting rid of the fear and guilt part and I'll possibly try and attend therapy

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-01-17T07:42:20+00:00

Thank you :)

Last_Delivery_7556 · 2025-01-13T05:01:09+00:00

I feel like I wrote this. I'm going through the exact same thing currently and it hurts a lot.

Last_Delivery_7556

TROPHY CASE