Demonic oppression or mental disorder?

[Neenie]

During having an obsession with the occult and paranormal a few years ago, I verbally gave demonic spirits to reveal themselves in my life and openly gave then legal rights. I then began to have weird experiences such as feeling an evil presence around me and once witnessed an object move off the computer desk by its self. This freaked me out quite a bit, how do you logically explain something that is illogical? Anyway I prayed about it and repented for what I had done and didn’t have any more problems till 2009.

One night I woke up in the night screaming with terror while I was with my husband and he taken me to hospital where they interviewed me then let me back home. The next morning we were sitting in the lounge when all of a sudden the stereo turned on by its self three times in total. I was feeling pretty spooked from that and hearing my name being called. Anyway, my mother in law insisted I go to hospital which I did, as I was explaining to the nurse what had happened she said I was being demonically oppressed as did some other nurses who are Christian. The nurse told my husband I was being oppressed by the demonic and he agreed till he told his family what the nurses said. My in laws then threatened these nurses with legal action and my husband no longer believed I was being oppressed by the demonic.

I tried to convince myself it is all in my head. And now I was on anti-psychotics. Earlier this year things started to go wrong again, when I went to bed I felt an evil presence next to the bed, I ignored it and went to sleep but I woke in the middle of the night up yelling strong obscenities at my husband so he called the police and they sent me to hospital, where they diagnosed me with schizophrenia. My step mum a strong catholic gave me a blessed rosary which I wore around my neck, while I was on day leave voices yelled at me to take it off and I ripped it off (uncontrollably) while I was having a day terror.

My psychologist doubts I have schizophrenia and is currently referring me for a second opinion. The other night I felt something pressing on the bed and the bedroom door slammed twice by itself. I told my psychiatrist about the problem and he said it’s the brains activity.

I went to church last Sunday and told my Pastor about the night terrors and he had a vision that I was under demonic attack. Others don’t share that view, what do I believe? Sorry for the long post but I needed to give detail

 

[sevenmsw]

Has anybody else witnessed the door slamming and moving objects? God Bless

 

[SisChris]

Hi Neenie,
I was surfing the web and found your post and was very surprised there were no responses to your struggle. Personally I believe it is more common then understood but to various degrees. You may be struggling with a greater degree-objects moving in the house, you hearing voices and being moved to do something that is not in your heart imply demonic oppression and possession. I have also had to deal with those same shades of grey. It's not fun.

However, in my walk with the Lord I was compelled to seek Him on the matter and over the course of many years have come to some understanding about my condition and the healing hand of God through Jesus Christ.

No one has diagnosed me but over ten years into my healing with the Lord He revealed to me "if I had stayed under a doctors care and had been honest about the things I was struggling with I would have been diagnosed with schizophrenia," something you mentioned. But the Lord also showed me the reason He had not made it clear to me in the early years of recovery is so I would not be labeled. He did not want me labeled, otherwise, I would have carried and believed that diagnosis and looked at who I really was through this one very large lie of the devil. I am not a schizophrenic.

What I did have to be delivered from was the "Double minded spirit." He made many things clear to me over this time of healing and one I think might help you which is: what I have is a gift from God, the ability to see into the spirit realm. This gift, from a very early age, was defiled by the demonic that had legal rights to my family line (generational curses).

I needed my mind renewed.
I needed to walk in the Spirit.
I needed to repent of sin and learn how to daily pick up my cross.
I needed to look at our family history and ask God for to deliver me from many curses we, as a family, were under.
I needed to overcome many weak areas of my own character through discipline, prayer, devotion to the Word of God, and fasting.
I cried out to God to deliver me.
My eyes were opened.
I could see through His eyes.
The enemy is weaker than God.
I needed to put on the armor of God.
The battle pursued.
God gave me victory time and time again.

Do I still see the enemy? Yes.
Am I bored with him? Yes.
Will there be a time of peace for you? Most assuredly.

If you are a seerer, then submit your gift to God and come under His wing to shelter you from the enemy. As He lifts His wing remember, He will prepare you for a series of tests and they will make you strong and through them, on the other side of them, you will understand and your faith would have grown. Precept by precept. Line by line. Little by little. The enemy will be overcome. Amen.

The enemy hates that you have this gift and he is threatened by the very nature of who you are. Your choice is to let the doctors treat you and remain a victim to the enemy, fearful of getting off of drugs or fearful of what you might do. OR you can bring it all to God and come to peace with who you are and ask God to bring you into an understanding of what that means. You can't do it without Him. You also can't do it without the church, the body of Christ. Not all believers operate through the Spirit of Christ, but when he find them learn how to trust them and allow them to speak into your life. You will come to terms with who you are, your age in the spirit and your role in the body. And really, there is much joy in that.

but don't run.
stay where God has you.
grow in Him.
If the Spirit speaks through those in church leadership (an dnot all will), then submit yourself to the body and ask God to find your place. And what a wonderful place.
So much is waiting for you.
I hope you found much of this out already.
If not, please respond.
I'll be looking for your posts and will be so glad to be your friend in the Lord as we seek Him for your healing.
Blessings, sister.
SisChris

 

[SayaOtonashi]

I hate to say this but there are some Christians that need pills. Remember what Jesus told someone, the sick should go to the Doctor Jesus was not against Christians going to Doctors. I prayed to God and still have seizures, I'm I not a good christian? Yes their are miracles do my God but what of people with diabetes should they stop talking medience. There is a case in where parents only let healing to heal their child and the child died. To me what if god answered they prays but the answers were to go to a doctor. This was the second kid. Blood transfusion are also within so christian groups. There enough wrong with taking pill or medince. So times God gives us people in the answer of our prays. Luke was a doctor. I prayed to god if you are saying taking medicine is wrong than let me have another episode and I haven't not all people are the same God created us to be different so other relationship are different. We all good thought different things and that is the truth.

 

[SayaOtonashi]

During having an obsession with the occult and paranormal a few years ago, I verbally gave demonic spirits to reveal themselves in my life and openly gave then legal rights. I then began to have weird experiences such as feeling an evil presence around me and once witnessed an object move off the computer desk by its self. This freaked me out quite a bit, how do you logically explain something that is illogical? Anyway I prayed about it and repented for what I had done and didn’t have any more problems till 2009.

One night I woke up in the night screaming with terror while I was with my husband and he taken me to hospital where they interviewed me then let me back home. The next morning we were sitting in the lounge when all of a sudden the stereo turned on by its self three times in total. I was feeling pretty spooked from that and hearing my name being called. Anyway, my mother in law insisted I go to hospital which I did, as I was explaining to the nurse what had happened she said I was being demonically oppressed as did some other nurses who are Christian. The nurse told my husband I was being oppressed by the demonic and he agreed till he told his family what the nurses said. My in laws then threatened these nurses with legal action and my husband no longer believed I was being oppressed by the demonic.

I tried to convince myself it is all in my head. And now I was on anti-psychotics. Earlier this year things started to go wrong again, when I went to bed I felt an evil presence next to the bed, I ignored it and went to sleep but I woke in the middle of the night up yelling strong obscenities at my husband so he called the police and they sent me to hospital, where they diagnosed me with schizophrenia. My step mum a strong catholic gave me a blessed rosary which I wore around my neck, while I was on day leave voices yelled at me to take it off and I ripped it off (uncontrollably) while I was having a day terror.

My psychologist doubts I have schizophrenia and is currently referring me for a second opinion. The other night I felt something pressing on the bed and the bedroom door slammed twice by itself. I told my psychiatrist about the problem and he said it’s the brains activity.

I went to church last Sunday and told my Pastor about the night terrors and he had a vision that I was under demonic attack. Others don’t share that view, what do I believe? Sorry for the long post but I needed to give detail

Pray to God to show you the answer don't listen to her or me. Pray to go if you go to a Doctor pray to God if the dreams are gone than it was just a mental disorder but if not than pray to God and have your pastor pray for you.

 

[vespasia]

It is common for those experiencing mental distress to look towards occult themed stuff in an effort to understand the experiences they are having.
Its also possible to have times when a person is unwell and experiencing a psychotic episode and other times when they are well. My understanding is that there are times when the stress of ordinary life can pile up and cause a person to become unwell again.

My understanding of God is this; God really cares about the weaker sibling in Christ to the point God can move mountains to keep that person safe from harm and bring those who could help into their lives.
You have a husband who cares enough to seek medical help when you seem to be distressed and scared.

Do you have access to Mental Health Chaplains in your counytry? If so arranging to simply sit and chat about the things that bother you could help. Unlike the average church pastor they will have training in both pastoral care and mental health care. I can assure you from sytudying at a seminary those training for full time ministry in the church only get at best a days overview on mental health.

In the UK the nurses actions would be a disciplinable offence under both Pastoral Care guidelines and the duty of care owed by a qualified nurse. In the UK these types of concerns should be passed to the consultant in charge who discusses this with the MH Chaplains to provide spiritual and medical care together.

It is possible to have a psychotic episode from other causes; for example some meds can react badly for a few people; those who have bi-polar may not be recognised until they have a psychotic manic episode and so on. Continue to persue a second medical opnion as that may help you understand what has happened to you and more importantly what steps you could take to recover and stay as well as you can.

And as others have suggested pray to God and ask God to bring the people who can help you into your life. May God bless you with what you need at this time and grant you Gods peace.

 

[SisChris]

I hate to say this but there are some Christians that need pills. Remember what Jesus told someone, the sick should go to the Doctor Jesus was not against Christians going to Doctors. I prayed to God and still have seizures, I'm I not a good christian? Yes their are miracles do my God but what of people with diabetes should they stop talking medience. There is a case in where parents only let healing to heal their child and the child died. To me what if god answered they prays but the answers were to go to a doctor. This was the second kid. Blood transfusion are also within so christian groups. There enough wrong with taking pill or medince. So times God gives us people in the answer of our prays. Luke was a doctor. I prayed to god if you are saying taking medicine is wrong than let me have another episode and I haven't not all people are the same God created us to be different so other relationship are different. We all good thought different things and that is the truth.

Hi Saya,
I'm sorry you feel that way. It seems you are upset by my post. Let me explain...

I was not saying "if you are on prescription drugs medicated by a doctor you should stop and allow the Lord to heal you. That would be naive on my part. What I am saying is that while taking medication from a doctor a dependence develops that would be better served if shifted on the Lord.
Do people need meds for certain conditions? Of course.
Can the Lord heal a person of our diseases? Of course.
What happens in between all that? Dependency on the Lord. At some point meds are laid down in response to the Holy Spirit.
I have not told anyone to stop taking meds and will not, but do know on a personal level, meds for emotional disorders or demonic possession will NOT heal a person.
We need to become dependent on the Lord and that often requires change some people are not willing to make. A spiritual battle ensues a spiritual response.
SisChris

 

[SisChris]

Has anybody else witnessed the door slamming and moving objects? God Bless

Yes, I have. Not exactly as you said but in ways that were clear to me were the presence of an evil spirit.

 

[Chaplain David]

During having an obsession with the occult and paranormal a few years ago, I verbally gave demonic spirits to reveal themselves in my life and openly gave then legal rights. I then began to have weird experiences such as feeling an evil presence around me and once witnessed an object move off the computer desk by its self. This freaked me out quite a bit, how do you logically explain something that is illogical? Anyway I prayed about it and repented for what I had done and didn’t have any more problems till 2009.

One night I woke up in the night screaming with terror while I was with my husband and he taken me to hospital where they interviewed me then let me back home. The next morning we were sitting in the lounge when all of a sudden the stereo turned on by its self three times in total. I was feeling pretty spooked from that and hearing my name being called. Anyway, my mother in law insisted I go to hospital which I did, as I was explaining to the nurse what had happened she said I was being demonically oppressed as did some other nurses who are Christian. The nurse told my husband I was being oppressed by the demonic and he agreed till he told his family what the nurses said. My in laws then threatened these nurses with legal action and my husband no longer believed I was being oppressed by the demonic.

I tried to convince myself it is all in my head. And now I was on anti-psychotics. Earlier this year things started to go wrong again, when I went to bed I felt an evil presence next to the bed, I ignored it and went to sleep but I woke in the middle of the night up yelling strong obscenities at my husband so he called the police and they sent me to hospital, where they diagnosed me with schizophrenia. My step mum a strong catholic gave me a blessed rosary which I wore around my neck, while I was on day leave voices yelled at me to take it off and I ripped it off (uncontrollably) while I was having a day terror.

My psychologist doubts I have schizophrenia and is currently referring me for a second opinion. The other night I felt something pressing on the bed and the bedroom door slammed twice by itself. I told my psychiatrist about the problem and he said it’s the brains activity.

I went to church last Sunday and told my Pastor about the night terrors and he had a vision that I was under demonic attack. Others don’t share that view, what do I believe? Sorry for the long post but I needed to give detail

Hi, I'm one of the forum chaplains and happened to notice your thread. I am not sure if I agree with your pastor but there certainly wouldn't be anything wrong with your meeting and asking him to pray for you. I think that getting a second opinion is a good idea (psychiatrist's recommendation). If possible ask for a counselor or therapist that is Christian. Lastly, I've always found it helpful to follow the advice of my doctors and usually recommend that to others.

If there is any way we can help you in the Ask a Chaplain forum please start a thread in there and one of the chaplains (all ordained ministers) will respond. We are also available by pm's. I pray the very best for you.

Faithfully,
CH Sacerdote

 

[Smitty91]

I strongly believe that this is a mental disorder. I have serious doubt that it's anything paranormal like demons. I don't believe in demons, so I find it hard to believe that they're the ones behind all this. I suggest you get a mental evaluation and take it from there.

 

[Johnnz]

Secular society has no place for spiritual reality generally. It is an overlooked dimension.

Within Christian circles some can be too simplistic about assigning demonic influences and that can have sad consequences.

But spiritual reality is very much there in the NT, and must not be ignored. I have found that any demonic dabbling opens a person up to outside influences who then begin to torment and attempt to gain further credence. Some sensible biblical teaching and a wise , discerning Christian with a credible track record could soon set you right again. I have seen that happen many times over the years.

John
NZ