JW diseases

on the subject of health matters i was mentaly listing all the comman illnesses that the dubs lay claim to, most of the time this is self diagnosed and with no imput from a Dr. In fact the comman story is that "the drs won't belive me!"

a large number of jw's i knew went and got tested for allergies, this was the big thing for years. Every single one of them turned out to be allgeric to the same stuff ( wheat, dairy, sugar) ... i should point out that they all went to the one "dr" for this, the "dr" in question had never had any medical training and had done only a basic course. They were ranking in the cash cos of those hypercondriac JW's!

also comman i found was:

ME/CFS ( most of the time i found this was the most often self diagnosed illness)

depression ( i can understand this, look at the lives they led)

can anyone think of any other JW diseases?

:can anyone think of any other JW diseases?

Braindeaditis.

Farkel

Though I don't doubt its validity, hypoglycemia.

Spiritual blindness John 9:39-41

All the best,

Stephen

fibromyalgia

Irritible bowel sydrome

The IBS comes from being very devoted to meeting attendance and not taking a bathroom break when needed (cause you know that is spiritually immature) and of course, in field service, biological needs don't often meet up with the car groups plans. It's embarrassing to have an entire car lose time while you search out the nearest loo. You SURE can't use the householders!

Chronic fatigue syndrome (AKA M.E), fibromyalgia, lupus, candida, food allergies, fragrance allergies.

The common link with any JW fad illness is the absence of a diagnostic test.  Steve Hassan mentions this phenomenon in his book.

a really close non-JW
friend of mine in canada,
totally unchurched her
entire life, has been
diagnosed and treated
for IBS and FMS since
her early 20s...

i have seen her suffer terribly,
to the point of having to take
her to the hospital for emergent
care....

her history includes severe
and repeated childhood sexual abuse
so maybe these conditions arise
in situations of ongoing trauma....
i consider part of the JW experience
to be traumatic....

Piles.....of literature!

Amazing what people will come up with to get out of going to meetings..

LOL - kurtbethel

More on the point, the illnesses mentioned are known only because Society in general reports having them, and doctors diagnose them. We seem prepared to stake everything on a doctors word when it suits our purpose , but deny it when it offends our prejudice.

I have J W family members who have struggled with very genuine depression, Irritable Bowell, Chronic fatigue syndrome (AKA M.E...

I accept that this does not speak well of "The happiest people in the world", and the movement has its share of hypochondriacs and cynics who distrust doctors - but do not tar them all with the same brush...

I think it is ironic how certain things are "against their religion" presumeably because "Jehovah knows what is best for us."  One would think that with such divine rules principles about things that are healthy and unhealthy, JWs would be the healthiest people on the planet.  Yet, obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, strokes, and other chronic illnesses afflict Witnesses at least as much as the population in general. 

What is the difference between getting lung cancer from a lifetime of smoking cigarettes and getting colon cancer from a lifetime of bad diet choices?  What's the point in disfellowshipping someone for smoking cigarettes when so many at the hall are overweight?  Of course, JWs are also no different from the population in general when it comes to following fad diets.

There is just no evidence of divine direction in this religion.  Where is their so-called "spiritual paradise"?

Yes, Fibromyalgia and CFS are prevalent in the KH's. As are allergies to perfumes and the like. I think in today's society, so fast paced and then with the added pressures of meeting attendance and field service, noone gets a chance to relax. People who work full time, then have their weekend full of meetings and service never get a break. They don't have a chance to wind down and take things leisurely. There's always somewhere to be. I think this is in part why the meeting hours were changed and bookstudy dropped. Maybe they realised people can't 'do it all'. 

Along with all these illnesses comes people who don't understand, don't care and think it's all in the mind. Shepherding calls, 'encouragment' from elders wives follow, yet all you are is utterly exhausted and worn out. The last thing you need is to be told how much more you should be doing.

There is just no evidence of divine direction in this religion.

Amen!

Where is their so-called "spiritual paradise"?

Agreed. According to the bible, there should be signs "on earth, as it is in heaven" Matthew 6:9-10

Such as shame JWs don't believe the bible

Luke 9:6 (New International Version)

I think anything vague that can get you out of going to meetings or on field service, was highly prevelant when I was a witness. ME was the big one as far as my cong was concerned. Not a real illness!!!! Just a get out clause for laziness, or for those who secretly don't want to be a JW any more!!!

ME not a real illness?? I have seen people with this syndrome who really cant get out of bed because of the extreme weakness. Shame on everybody who claims thats its not a real illness. Sure some people can fake they have it but there are a lot of people who do really have it.

WINDOW CLEANERS ELBOW was an epidemic here in Australia among Witnesses!

Is it possible that some people with a real problem, correctly diagnosed or not, are attracted to the JWs because of the promise of a perfect body?

villabolo

it always amazes me how the wacky witness culture is the same no matter where you go. we have cases of fibromyalgia, depression (of course), perfume alergies etc where I live. It just cracks me up to see how this stuff is a coast to coast phenomenon in WT-land. must be something in the water koolaid.