- Topic
It is interesting to note that the topic of PTSD keeps coming up associated with the WMS. At least five people that I know of have mentioned it on this site or privately. I myself was told that I had it at one point as well, as a result of a particularly traumatic event concerning my loved one in the WMS. Some of the people who have said they suffered a form of PTSD are former members who have had to deal with the aftermath of their exit from the church. Some are people who were never members but who have had to deal with attacks by their loved ones involved with the WMS and were just completely devastated by it.
I know that people who are former members are often in need of counseling after they leave. Some go on a kind of anti-Wms bent after getting out for a while and exhibit some self destructive behavior for a while. Pretty much all need help and support of some kind to deal with what they have been through. The people, mostly family members, who have had to deal with the situation all the time their loved one was in, often need help too.
I don't know of any mainstream church where the members suffer PTSD after leaving, or perhaps changing churches. I don't know of people who need counseling after leaving the Presbyterian or Lutheran churches, for example. It is unheard of. The only ones where a person suffers this much mental anguish is when they leave a destructive mind control cult. (My opinion) The fact that this has been mentioned by so many here makes me believe that many other incidences of PTSD have simply gone undiagnosed. I guess this is kind of a wake up call. Those who leave need help. Even those who were only in a few months have recognized the need for counseling. Imagine how much help is needed for those who lost vast amounts of time, money, their career track, and even possibly their spouse and other familial relationships.
In my opinion this is another thing the WMS hides in its recruiting runs. They don't tell the prospective recruit that they might have the chance of experiencing PTSD if they ever leave the group, or that their loved ones will experience pain brought on by their involvement.
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