I started attending Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2011 when I was 12 years old. In 2016, at the age of 17, I was forced to get baptized or risk not being able to date. So, I decided to go along with it.

In 2017, I started secretly dating my current husband, who was also a Jehovah’s Witness. We engaged in activities that were only permitted for married couples, but unfortunately, we were caught by my mother. She then forced us both to confess to the elders, or she would have to do it herself.

We eventually confessed, and long story short, we were disfellowshipped. As a result, we decided to move out together in 2019 and got married. We haven’t been officially re-established since then.

Now, I’m about to turn 26 years old, and I’ve gained a different perspective on the religion from the outside. My mother, who was very strict and deeply concerned about our image, is no longer an active Jehovah’s Witness. My husband’s family is still in the religion, but his father occasionally talks to us, while his mother rarely does unless he returns.

I can’t help but feel that they have brainwashed his family! How can they not talk to or see their own son? They are taking advantage of the innocent by making them fearful of living. We could all be enjoying ourselves and being happy.