When you are listening to a fellow XJW there a few things that you should avoid. Psychologist Dr. John Grohol describes 6 common phrases that tend to impede Active Listening. Avoid asking "Why?". Asking "why?" might be a legitimate and sincere question. However it might make the other person defensive. Can you think of time where someoneContinue reading "ExJWs: What to avoid when Listening"
ExJWs: Active Listening
With our growing community of XJWs online its important that we learn skills to better support each other. One way that we can do this is by becoming an active Listener. You're job as a listener is to build rapport, understanding and trust. You're job is not to give advice or tell others what to do. AsContinue reading "ExJWs: Active Listening"
Religious Trauma Syndrome
Marlene Winell, Ph.D. author and Psychologist coined the term Religious Trauma Syndrome to describe the traumatic effects of being a high control religion and of escaping that religion. References: Winell, M. (2016, July 13) Religious Trauma Syndrome. Journey Free. Retrieved from http://journeyfree.org/rts/ Winell, M. (2019) Understanding religious trauma syndrome. British association for Behavioral and CognitiveContinue reading "Religious Trauma Syndrome"
ExJWs: Dealing with Disagreements
As JWs we were all forced to have the same religious, moral, and political views. When we leave the religion we grow and our beliefs start to diversify. You may have encountered individuals who now are passionate about something that you are very passionately in disagreement with. How can we handle these disagreements while maintainingContinue reading "ExJWs: Dealing with Disagreements"
Radical Acceptance
There are essentially 4 responses that any XJW can have in response to the problems that bother us. We can do nothing and continue to let them bother us. We can change how we think about the problem. We can find a solution and resolve the problem. OR we can practice something called Radical Acceptance. Continue reading "Radical Acceptance"
What are Logical Fallacies?
If you're an XJW you've been exposed to Logical Fallacies in abundance. Yet you may have never heard of this term. What are Logical Fallacies? Why should you be familiar with them? Lets go! Logical Fallacies are errors in reasoning. Basically, when someone makes an argument but it doesn't make any sense it might beContinue reading "What are Logical Fallacies?"
The Effect of Environmental Noise on State Mindfulness
In 2018 for my applied research class I participated in a group research project. The subject of our research was the effect of environmental noise on state mindfulness. We hypothesised participants would perceive nature noises as stress reducing but urban noises as stress producing. We also hypothesised that this noise induced stress decrease would increaseContinue reading "The Effect of Environmental Noise on State Mindfulness"
Support ExJWs with Active Listening
With the growing community of ExJWs online, we need to support each other through some of the most challenging personal situations. One way that we can support each other is by being active listeners. Your job as a listener is to build rapport, understanding, and trust. As JWs, we were accustomed to telling others whatContinue reading "Support ExJWs with Active Listening"
Experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses
My blog page is the result of my combined love for psychology, science, and helping other survivors of the high demand religion known as Jehovah's Witnesses. I feel that it is relevant to discuss my life experience as it relates to Jehovah's Witnesses. My Parents, Grandparents, and almost all of my aunts and uncles wereContinue reading "Experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses"
D-Serine
In fall of 2019 I plan on assisting in research regarding D-Serine where we will administer D-serine and measure its effects on depressed mice. D-Serine is a non-essential amino acid with antipsychotic properties. It was once thought that D-Serine only existed in bacteria how it has since been discovered in the human brain. D-Serine isContinue reading "D-Serine"
Ryan David Tuttle 