Does anyone else feel shame about having been a JW. It’s something I’ve been dealing with lately. Faded about a year ago and being shunned by JW sisters, thankfully JW mom still has a relationship with me. I feel shame for having been a witness because I look back and realize how judgmental I was of others and knowing I was willing to shun one of my sisters when she fell into wrongdoing (she got reproved). I also feel shame telling others about my jw past because I think they will be like “so you were one of those people knocking on doors?” I realize how unliked we are and I already feel like I don’t fit in. I worry people will see me as weird. I also feel shame for being so naive to fall into a cult and that others will see me the same way. On the other hand, I believe being a JW was a demonstration of character since I did it accepting the fact that I was different but I was being true to what I believed, just as I’m being truthful to myself now that I don’t believe anymore. Both instances come with a price. How do I get over this?

Thank you all for your input. It helps to know I’m not alone feeling this way and knowing there’s other perspectives from which I can approach my situation. Thanks for the resources provided.