I Left the Jehovah’s Witnesses at 17, 25 Years Later I’m Finally Healing | ExJW | Jessie’s Story

Click the link below to: https://linktr.ee/alissasawake • Share your story on camera • Share your story in an anonymous letter • Ask a question about the Jehovah’s Witnesses • Find ways you can support the channel More ExJW Stories:    • Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out   _________________________________________ Jessie's Website: www.jessieakostherapy.com In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Jessie to hear her story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving the organization at just 17 years old, and discovering that walking away physically was only the beginning of her journey. Jessie shares what it was like growing up with intense fear surrounding Satan, demons, Armageddon, sin, and feeling inherently unworthy. She also opens up about the pressure placed on girls and women within the Jehovah’s Witness organization, learning to distrust her own intuition, and the impact that religious conditioning had on her identity. One of the biggest turning points in Jessie’s awakening came through a friendship she formed in high school with someone who was coming out as gay. Seeing the kindness and humanity of someone she had been taught could not fit into her understanding of God forced her to question everything she had been taught about love, God, and salvation. After leaving, Jessie threw herself into academia and built a completely new life. But years later, she began recognizing how much religious trauma from her childhood was still affecting her. She shares openly about perfectionism, unhealthy coping mechanisms, spirituality, and what it has looked like to finally begin healing decades after leaving. We also talk about reclaiming spirituality after Jehovah’s Witnesses, learning to trust yourself again, healing from religious trauma, and why leaving a high control religion doesn't necessarily mean the journey is over. If you are an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness, currently questioning, or simply interested in understanding what it is like to grow up in a high control religion, I hope this conversation makes you feel a little less alone. Subscribe for more Ex-Jehovah’s Witness stories, interviews, discussions about leaving high-control religion, shunning, disfellowshipping, religious trauma, and rebuilding your life after the Jehovah’s Witnesses. 💗 My goal has been and will continue to be to build a safe, supportive community for people leaving or questioning Jehovah’s Witnesses and other high control religions. With Love - Alissa #ExJehovahsWitness #JehovahsWitnesses #ExJW #JehovahsWitness #religioustrauma #LeavingJehovahsWitnesses #Shunning #HighControlReligion #JW #ExJWWomen