What's on your mind?

I'd like to sneeze the way children sneeze. I've spent so long stifling sneezes that now I feel like I can't even sneeze like a normal person. Even when I try to let it out, my body just ends up holding back without me wanting to.

.Mikha'el. said:

I've heard it's unhealthy to stifle a sneeze. But at this point, it's probably an automatic reaction you may not have control over.

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I believe you're right. It has to be unhealthy. Ahh, what a shame.

RileyG said:

Mmmmmm, I love California rolls even though some people don't consider that "real sushi." lol

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Omgosh, me too!

RileyG said:

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I've suffered from night terrors since I was a child. I had an odd one last night that made me remember a situation in the past. I can't help but wonder, how much of what I remember is real and how much is just dream fragments? It's been on my mind since 5am.

.Mikha'el. said:

I've heard it's unhealthy to stifle a sneeze. But at this point, it's probably an automatic reaction you may not have control over.

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I heard it can kill people. At least that's what my teacher said about one of her friends.

Plenipotent said:

I've suffered from night terrors since I was a child. I had an odd one last night that made me remember a situation in the past. I can't help but wonder, how much of what I remember is real and how much is just dream fragments? It's been on my mind since 5am.

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That isn't good. A lengthy tenure may have spiritual underpinnings. Pray through this book on Dreams and follow with the second on Monitoring Spirits. Given the time you may want to fast once per week and continue until it stops.

Plenipotent said:

I've suffered from night terrors since I was a child. I had an odd one last night that made me remember a situation in the past. I can't help but wonder, how much of what I remember is real and how much is just dream fragments? It's been on my mind since 5am.

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I can sympathize for sure on that, Miss Pleni.

Plenipotent said:

I've suffered from night terrors since I was a child. I had an odd one last night that made me remember a situation in the past. I can't help but wonder, how much of what I remember is real and how much is just dream fragments? It's been on my mind since 5am.

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I don't have night terrors, but plenty of nightmares rooted in an entire childhood filled with trauma. My brain will take people (even those I haven't seen or talked to in years), memories, and emotions and just twist and warp them into horrible things, even now when I'm a middle aged adult. I still hope that, as I try to heal myself mentally and physically from a lifetime of trauma in various forms, that they will reduce, and one day maybe, stop altogether. There's a lot of deep damage, and a lot of healing to be done.

bèlla said:

That isn't good. A lengthy tenure may have spiritual underpinnings. Pray through this book on Dreams and follow with the second on Monitoring Spirits. Given the time you may want to fast once per week and continue until it stops.

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Thank you! I'll look into this! I'm pretty used to it now. I've always thought of it as my brain trying to process the day's information and just going a little haywire. Never thought about it as a spiritual attack, though, I'm a fairly new believer. But it can be pretty upsetting when I have a rough one. Last night wasn't too terrible, but it made me remember an instance where I confused the dream for reality and someone corrected me after I tried apologizing for what I presumed to be a vicious attack I made on them. Thinking on it, to this day, I still believe it happened even though they've told me multiple times it didn't. I sometimes randomly try apologizing for it as if maybe they were just trying to be kind knowing that I struggle with sleeping issues and I was very tired, but they simply insist that it never happened. I'm inclined to believe them, but I have no recollection of the actual time between reality and the dream. It's a perfect sequence in my mind and I just realized it's still all I remember.

It made me realize that my grip on reality might not be as solid as I think. I remember my very first one when I was super young, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. My parents told me it was the first time it happened to their knowledge. I don't think I'll ever forget it. They say they had to shake and yell at me for almost a full minute to wake me up. I was apparently screaming and hitting them like crazy, but in my dream I was just absolutely terrified and fighting for my life. These days, I don't think I scream out loud, at least not that I know of, but I wake up pretty shaken. Sometimes I get stuck in that state and can't wake up at all. If I figure out I'm dreaming, I usually end up crying and screaming for help in the dream. Then I wake up in tears. So, if there's something that might help with this, I'm all ears. Thanks a bunch!

Fun ( not so much ) little bit of extra information here that makes me think you might be onto something. I actually gave my mom a call just now after I typed that to chat about it and get more details on my night terrors from her perspective. I mentioned I was gonna read some books to help me out with them and just wanted to know if there was anything she could tell me that I might not remember from that young of an age like frequency or specific situations, and she ended up casually talking about her own struggles with night terrors throughout her life. She dropped this nice bomb, that when I was 3 years old, she had the worst night terror of her life. She dreamed that a demon was after us (her kids), and she went all out fighting it to the point that she ended up across the room, wrapped up in a curtain and even started fighting my dad as he tried to wake her up. It was so violent that her doctor put her on this medication called Imipramine to help her sleep. About a year later is when I had my first night terror. I didn't tell her what kinds of books I was about to read because I didn't want to freak her out. But she said, "It was crazy because prior to that, you were so quiet. Even as a baby, your cries were so pathetically quiet that only I could recognize them or hear them. Your father always used to ask me what I was doing as I was getting out of bed to take care of you, and after I told him you were crying, he'd ask me, 'How the heck do you hear that?!'. So when you started screaming, all we thought was that someone broke into the house." Soooo... Deeefinitely going to read these books. I'm really glad I mentioned it here now. I never thought of the possibility of any kind of spiritual attack.

TheLastGeek said:

I don't have night terrors, but plenty of nightmares rooted in an entire childhood filled with trauma. My brain will take people (even those I haven't seen or talked to in years), memories, and emotions and just twist and warp them into horrible things, even now when I'm a middle aged adult. I still hope that, as I try to heal myself mentally and physically from a lifetime of trauma in various forms, that they will reduce, and one day maybe, stop altogether. There's a lot of deep damage, and a lot of healing to be done.

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I'm so sorry about your similar situation. I can truly empathize with the challenges of distressing dreams. I'm definitely going to include you in my prayers for a swift recovery, and will pray for your improved well-being. Navigating such experiences can indeed be arduous; however, I believe you will preserve! We absolutely possess the resilience to overcome this hurdle with the Holy Spirit. Stay strong, and keep the faith, because brighter days are ahead!

I've just come to a realization that this may be an answered prayer. I haven't even left the page yet, I've just been sitting here thinking and asking God to give me clarity and strength. I've been earnestly praying to God about something every evening since embracing my faith. It deeply hurts me that all of my siblings are currently grappling with their own horrible challenges, both mentally and physically, since we were kids and it only seems to be getting worse for them. Regrettably, none of them have found God nor want to, despite us all having grown up in a very Christian household. In fact, my brother and oldest sister hold a vehement hatred towards Him. I mean HATRED. To the extent that they will literally get to the point of screaming their hatred if I even mention God in front of them. Start making fun of me and telling me 'it's blood magic' and trying to find all ways to shake me from Him and try to point out how evil God actually is. I'm always unshaken and calm though, but I've previously had my doubts that they'd every come around, and maybe they won't. But I truly believe all things are possible through God now, and I truly believe that no one is beyond His salvation. In my nightly prayers, I've asked God for guidance and wisdom to aid them, for the strength to persist in my efforts, and for the insight to guide them towards Him.

It's possible that I'm reading too much into this situation simply because it's been on my mind literally all day, but Bella's suggestion and the conversation with my mother have led me to a profound realization: this circumstance could potentially be an answer to my prayers, even if in part.

I felt compelled to share this insight as well, as this has been a longstanding struggle for me. It's the only real struggle I'm facing in life, but it's so heartbreaking that it tears me apart to think about. Something I've been looking for since the day I read Bible. So, a heartfelt blessing to you, Bella! Your input is truly and deeply appreciated.

Plenipotent said:

I actually gave my mom a call just now after I typed that to chat about it and get more details on my night terrors from her perspective. I mentioned I was gonna read some books to help me out with them and just wanted to know if there was anything she could tell me that I might not remember from that young of an age like frequency or specific situations, and she ended up casually talking about her own struggles with night terrors throughout her life. She dropped this nice bomb, that when I was 3 years old, she had the worst night terror of her life. She dreamed that a demon was after us (her kids), and she went all out fighting it to the point that she ended up across the room, wrapped up in a curtain and even started fighting my dad as he tried to wake her up. It was so violent that her doctor put her on this medication called Imipramine to help her sleep. About a year later is when I had my first night terror.

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I knew it was spiritual that's why I recommended the book. I suspected the problem was generational. That's why I added the second. Spiritual disturbances in young children is abnormal. They haven't opened enough doors to warrant an intrusion. Familial patterns shouldn't be ignored. When multiple people have similar struggles that's a sign there's more than meets the eye. Whether natural events were contributors or not. Everything begins in the spirit realm and manifests in ours.

In light of your response I'll make a minor adjustment. Start with the dream book. Pray through it first. Don't worry about reading it now. You'll have too much resistance if you do.

Before you go to bed, say these words. "Father, in the name of Jesus, protect me in the dream time from all hurt, harm and danger. Minister to my heart, mind, body and spirit and teach me in the night time hour. In Jesus name I pray."

Upon waking say these words before you leave the bed. "Father in the name of Jesus I decree and declare and cancel all evil assignments from a dream against me, my future spouse, our children, their future spouses and children, our families and descendants in Jesus name."

Do that everyday from now on.

Prayer Strategy

Step 1. Pray through the dream book.
Step 2. Pray through the series in the order listed. Start with the first book and work your way through.
Step 3. Pray through the next series in this order: Idolatry, Monitoring Spirits, Evil Presence, Ahab & Jezebel, Python, and Evil Summon. You'll see the others near the comment section.

Don't be alarmed by the volume. It isn't a lot. You can pray a page or chapter every day and you'll finish in a few weeks. When you're dealing with generational problems it's impossible to know the culprit without a word of knowledge. Nevertheless, you'll cover everything and break the familial connections and personal errors that may be contributing to the terrors and other problems.

I'd liken it to spring cleaning. When you're done you'll feel lighter and better. It can be fatiguing at times. But persevere. If you feel like quitting or aren't in the mood for praying press on. When you've completed the housekeeping we'll want to a little decorating.

Step 4. Prayers for Protection.
Step 5. Dictionary of Unmerited Favor.
Step 6. 100 Days to Wake up Your Lazarus.

You've emptied the vessel and we're restoring it with God's treasures. It's important to replenish yourself when you've relinquished problems. Don't be daunted. It's the Lord's will for you to be free and have the fullness of His promises.

In light of your inexperience I recommend listening to the Rediscovering the Kingdom series. There's 10 DVDs worth of messages! You can find them on YouTube on his channel. I've linked the series from his site to help you with the order. Click on the first volume and follow along in the order shown.

You may want to take notes and track the ones you've heard or create a playlist. He gives a lot of slides with references. Following along in the bible isn't hard. I'm recommending him for two reasons. His wisdom and grasp of kingdom teachings is unparalleled. If you follow my advice you'll emerge well equipped for your assignment and spiritually grounded. It will deepen your appreciation for Christ's teachings and bring the word to life. When you read the bible it will all make sense.

God bless you.

~bella

Plenipotent said:

I'm so sorry about your similar situation. I can truly empathize with the challenges of distressing dreams. I'm definitely going to include you in my prayers for a swift recovery, and will pray for your improved well-being. Navigating such experiences can indeed be arduous; however, I believe you will preserve! We absolutely possess the resilience to overcome this hurdle with the Holy Spirit. Stay strong, and keep the faith, because brighter days are ahead!

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Thank you, you're very kind

Hello friends!

.Mikha'el. said:

How goes it today, @Saucy ?

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Hey there! I had a pretty good day today. How about you?

I am tired of fighting; I just want someone to fight for me for once. Yes, my situation and life may not be ideal, but I deserve love, too.