Thank you for sharing your story scallywags. Unfortunately the whole gossip thing is quite typical. Some congregations are worse than others.

They play so many head games due to their stupid system of rules that one is left quite confused and feeling guilty when you shouldn't. Confidential matters should not be shared with everyone just in principle. You didn't do anything wrong. It was hurtful what they were doing. And sadly, most of the things they were gossiping about probably weren't really of consequence in the overall scheme of things---but in that religion they are! The silliest of things become criminal offenses. No wonder so many are on meds and are depressed. You can't win. Always keeping people down and controlled.

The whole df arangement is one born of fear and certainly a lack of love and compassion. I think it all started when they wanted to keep certain people away from the masses as the beliefs were being exposed. They had to implement something to prevent people from talking and finding out what was really going on behind the scenes.

The feelings of inadequacy---that again goes to cult mentality and conditioning. I suggest reading "Combatting Cult Mind Control" by Steve Hassan. Great book----not about JW's specifically--but you'd swear it was! It really helped me.

I still feel sad thinking of people I can't talk to anymore, and I'm not even df'd. I just know that those relationships are over. I still love the people and miss them, but it just isn't possible.

They made their choices just like they say we make ours. They pass their power and decision-making over to the religion--and they are accountable for it. You could just stop calling your mom and see what she does. Choose a new family--friends--even families that do talk to each other often don't even get along and are continually fighting--create a family of loving people in your life that you respect, that respect you, that are there for you and that you are there for them. So what if they're not blood relatives. It doesn't matter. I've got some great friends that would do more for me and I for them than family.