Hi religion cousins! Can I ask a question from you exmoteens? How traumatic was it for you to "Wake up". It didn't really bother you? It was traumatic but you're over it, it's in the past? It was extremely traumatic and it still affects you? I'm doing some research for my JW channel. Thanks!

For me as one of Jehovah's Witnesses it was very traumatic. I remember when I first started looking at anything. I did not like, comment or even take part in any polls. I just knew the organization could track everything I did online somehow. It saddens me the complete control the organization has. Is it the same for you?

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses we know everything. Everything is right or wrong, black and white. We know exactly what our future holds and we know the history of the organization.

When my children stopped going to meetings my family shunned them. They hadn't committed any sin. That is what started my waking up process. I honestly think that what starts everyone's else's crack in faith is different for everyone, no matter the high control religion you are in. (cult)

When I allowed my self to look at something that was considered apostate I started to find out I didn't know everything about the Bible. I didn't know everything about life. I didn't know anything about the organization's history and now I don't know exactly what my future is. That's traumatic.

Then the impacts. The organization controls every aspect of our lives. From our birth to our death. Finding that out, that your entire life has been completely controlled, is traumatic.

If you're a teenager you are in a horrible position having to be under the control of the organization and your parents, especially if you "wake up". That's traumatic.

This doesn't include losing all of your friends and family. In other words everyone you know or have ever known. Just because you don't believe anymore. That's traumatic.

Then if you have ever been abused.......... There is so much trauma to endure.

I think waking up is different for everyone. But are the trauma's similar? Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts