Psychiatric Considerations in Demonology for Paranormal Investigators
This writing is designed to provide a foundational or very basic understanding of mental illness concerning mimicking or overlapping symptoms of possession.
Advances in science and medicine have improved the quality of life for many. Many years ago, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia and MPD were regarded as solid evidence of demon possession. Many people today suffering from the foregoing are living active lives because of medication. Mental illness responds to medication whereas the only resolution for possession is a spiritual one. There are some very unusual manifestations that take place in demonic possession, which cannot be explained by science.
Difficulties encountered in this area are complex and are sensitive in nature. They are:
1. Symptoms of mental illness and signs of possession mimic one another.
2. Many who are possessed are mentally ill.
3. The demonic can hide behind mental illness.
We have yet to come to a point where there is a happy medium, although we have come a long way. We have gone from one end of the spectrum deeming all individuals possessed who suffer from mental illness to the other end of the spectrum deeming the alleged possessed mentally ill. In the absence of a happy medium, we have some gray area; however, there are things that occur with possession, taking place around the person, that it is hard to classify what is taking place as strictly psychiatric.
Properly trained priests, exorcists, demonologists and investigators who witness signs of possession know that one who manifests these symptoms must first be evaluated by a psychiatrist in order for said person to receive treatment or to rule out mental illness in order to proceed with exorcism. This is imperative as mental health symptoms and symptoms of possession mimic one another. To treat a mental problem with exorcism can have devastating effects upon a mentally ill person.
We find that the gospel accounts that mental illness was distinguished from demonic possession during the commencement of Jesus’ ministry, when Matthew writes, “people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases . . . and he healed them.” Among those Jesus healed, Matthew further writes, were the seleniazomenoi and the daimonizomenoi. These two groups of people were either mentally ill/oppressed or were possessed.
The difference can be confounding to the untrained person. With that said, let’s look at various mental illnesses and its parallel mimicking behavior.
BIPOLAR DISORDER. Formerly called Manic Depression/Manic Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder is a type of mood disorder where a person's moods swings from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other (from Depression to Mania).
A manic episode or Mania is an excitable state characterized for a period of one week or longer an excitable state that may include racing thoughts, euphoria, aggressive behavior, increased levels of energy, little need for sleep, inability to focus and extreme irritability. Drug abuse is sometimes an issue during mania. Other symptoms include talking fast, increased energy, anger, spending sprees, poor judgment, unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers and abnormal strength. This exhibition of strength is normally accompanied by psychosis.
Exhibited superhuman or inhuman strength is a sign of possession; however, abnormal strength can, in some cases, be exhibited by those suffering from bipolar disorder, accompanied by psychosis during the manic phase of this illness. As with other mental illnesses, Bipolar disorder can include Psychotic symptoms. One must be careful here not to interpret the abnormal strength exhibited during this phase of this disorder in the absence of other possession symptoms e.g. levitation, speaking in a language they could not possibly know, know things about other people they were never told and etc.
Psychosis is a state of being in which thought and emotions are so impaired that one loses contact with external reality. Put another way, one, during this state, doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is not real.
The low periods are labeled as depression and are characterized by a period of two or more weeks with at least five known symptoms. Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include: Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or guilt, decreased energy, fatigue, restlessness or irritability, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, chronic pain, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions, thoughts of death or suicide, and change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania and may even be associated with good functioning but can become severe mania or depression accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. In some people symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. The reader is encouraged further research both hypomania and mixed bipolar state as it is beyond the scope of this article. Note that bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness, for instance, poor work or school performance or strained interpersonal relationships.
TOURETTE SYNDROME. Tourette syndrome is interesting as the shouting of obscenities, violent threats and sacrilegious statements used to really give me pause in terms of the spiritual reality that might lie behind it. Having said that, however, the foregoing can result solely from illness as a result of a problem in the brain. Tourette syndrome is known for tics, both motor and vocal. Vocal tics include growling, barking and repetitive words or phrases. Corolla is probably the most widely or well-known symptoms of Tourette syndrome that is easily mistaken for possession which includes screaming, obscene or foul language. The foregoing symptoms accompanied by thrashing/flailing and rapid jerking of the body can seem to be only from the spirit world but can be solely a mental/medical problem. You can see why the foregoing can easily be mistaken for possession.
SCHIZOPHRENIA is another illness/disorder that can be mistaken for demonic possession because of its mimicking or overlapping symptoms. Schizophrenia is a neurological disorder causing symptoms that include Hallucinations (audible and visual) and Delusions (believing something to be true that is not). Here one can experience mood disorders and paranoid thinking in that one fears various items, all people and situations that contain religious themes. One may exhibit outburst or inappropriate responses such and crying and screaming with mismatching or no stimulus for a response such as laughing at morbid situations. It is very easy to see how this disorder and possession can be confused with one another. Schizophrenia is also characterized by disorganized or catatonic behavior and disorganized speech. Symptoms include:
- Delusions (believing something false to be true)
- Hallucinations (audible, visual or somatosensory information (feeling of being grabbed or touched)
- Disorganized speech which can be mistaken for speaking in tongues or another language. It may even sound like another personality talking.
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior (unfocused, confused, unresponsive or remaining still)
- Social and Occupational challenges
The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two classes, positive and negative. The above listed symptoms are classified as positive because they involve a distortion of normal function. Negative symptoms, however, involve not only a loss or normal function, but also include a “diminished capacity to experience pleasure (anhedonia), decreased social affiliation (asociality), lack of motivation or drive (avolition or apathy), decreased outward expression of emotion (flat or blunted affect), and diminished speech (alogia)” (Blanchard/UCLA).
DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER. Dissociative Identity Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) can be easily mistaken for demonic possession because of overlapping symptoms. This disorder is characterized by the “presence” of two or more distinct personalities or identities, each capable to control individual and has its own way of relating to the environment and thinking/perceiving. This illness is often mistaken for demonic possession within the circus tents of some modern-day deliverance ministers.
DID/MPD includes eye rolling and behaviors commonly observed in possessed individuals and those suffering with seizures. In observing a person suspected of either a mental illness or demonic possession, you must keep in mind that some things/symptoms cannot be explained by biology, i.e. levitation, non-self-inflicted wounds appearing on the body, speaking in languages person has never been exposed to and psychic abilities. In addition, change in room temperature cannot be explained away by biology neither can sounds from indiscernible sources, movement of objects on their own or horrible stenches with no discernable source.
The fragmented mind is usually due to severe trauma. The identities or personalities are known as the core personality and another/others – “ each personality with having its own specific traits, down to vocal cadence, tone, and even accents, accents, as well as behavior, temperament, facial expressions, and other body language - the person will experience missing time (periods of time they cannot account for); this is due to the fact that people with D.I.D. are not aware of their alternate personalities and thus, when they are active, the core personality is, in a sense, unconscious” (Campbell/ICU). Missing, time is key here and is in contrast to the possessed, fully aware that they have been invaded by one or more unworldly personality(s)/spirit(s). Knowing this one factor will ensure the possessed do not receive psychiatric help instead of an exorcism and the mentally ill receiving an unnecessary exorcism over that of treatment rendered by a mental health professional.
EPILEPSY. Although not a mental illness, epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder that causes not only seizures, but symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of possession. I will be providing only an overview of primary symptoms of epilepsy before, during and after a seizure and different type seizures.
Seizure symptoms can vary widely from person to person depending on which area of the brain is causing the seizure, e.g. partial (focal) seizures (one part of the brain), absence (or petit mal) seizures (entire brain for a few seconds), and generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures (entire brain). Primary symptoms include:
- Unconsciousness or loss of awareness
- Auditory hallucinations
- Psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety or déjà vu
- Repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements
- Body stiffening/rigidity
- Staring spell
- Emotional disturbances/change in mood
- Loss of muscle control/collapsing
- Vestibular/tactile hallucinations
- Vertigo
- Person may repeatedly blink eyes or smack lips (possession victims do not blink)
- Changes in smell and taste
- Sometimes loss of bladder control or biting tongue.
- Headaches
PERSONALITY DISORDERS. Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses. A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time (DSM-5/2013). DSM-5 lists ten specific personality disorders but we will concern ourselves only with the ones with symptoms that resemble possession symptoms.
- Paranoid PD. People with this disorder tend to be guarded and suspicious and have a tendency to bear grudges or to hold on to anger. They have difficulty trusting others, have difficulty forgiving and suffers from paranoid delusions (the belief that either someone or something is out to get them).
- Borderline PD. Borderline PD is also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (BPS/2009). People with this disorder have a disturbed sense of identity and ever-changing perceptions about their identity. Symptoms include intense or uncontrollable emotional reactions that often seem disproportionate to the event or situation i.e. becoming overly angry over things that would not normally warrant such an intense level of anger in most people or becoming angry over things that would not normally anger most people. They believe they are being persecuted or harassed (transient paranoid ideation), “black-and-white thinking” (splitting), impulsive behaviors, and may “suffer from severe symptoms of a fragmented psyche (this may include alternate personality/personalities; not being certain of who one really is at times)” (Campbell/ICU).
- Schizotypal PD. People who suffer from this personality disorder are often thought to be odd or eccentric. There are symptoms of this disorder I disagree with but the symptoms in question are listed in a psychiatric context. Symptoms include but not limited to unusual or odd beliefs, ideas or delusions of reference (dismissing coincidence – all life events have significance or special meaning to them), paranoia, inappropriate emotional responses, and distorted perceptional views of the world, self and others.
- Schizoid PD. Those who suffer from this disorder usually have no idea that something is wrong with them. According to Dr. S. Bressert, “Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment from social relationships.” Symptoms include avoidance of social situations and situations that require interaction with others, detached, cold or indifferent to situations where emotion is likely and a preference for solitary activities. These people are often thought of as “loners.”
POSSESSION. The problem with possession is that it is often confused with mental illness because of overlapping symptoms; however, because possession symptoms are so distinct, you will not find them present among mental illness symptoms. Possession symptoms can be divided into physical and mental changes. When differentiating possession from mental illness, focus on the symptoms that are in BOLD.
Physical Changes:
- The possessed can levitate.
- Long periods of time without blinking or not blink at all.
- May appear catatonic – careful here!
- Speak in a language can’t possibly know.
- The person will become completely rigid where they cannot be moved at all, even by multiple people.
- Look for changes in eyes may turn almost like black shark or serpentine.
- May possess inhuman strength – Careful here! (Bipolar Disorder)
- May speak in tongues.
- Writing or symbols may appear on the body in the form of welts and scratches.
- May have multiple voices come from person at the same time.
- Take note if animals appear frightened of the person, especially if they begin acting fearful when there are personality changes in the person.
- Aversion to religious objects and holy names.
- The possessed know things about other people that they were never told (Past and Present).
- Obvious changes in their features.
- Exhibition of precognition or retrocognition of events or things they should not know about.
- Voice may change – low or guttural or mimic others perfectly .
- Hair or eye color may change.
- Foul odors often around possessed.
- Preternatural changes in the environment.
Mental Changes of the Possessed:
- Personality changes.
- Someone who is normally active suddenly becomes isolative.
- Changes in attitude and behavior, usually becoming hostile.
- Cursing/swearing that is out of character.
- Evidence of self-mutilation – Careful here! (Borderline Personality Disorder)
- Changes in way person dresses.
- Destructiveness on the part of the person, especially if religious items are the objects.
- Abusive and threatening for no reason.
- Severe nightmares or night terrors.
- Acts of humiliation, such as urinating on themselves, etc. and consumption of the same.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Sudden weight loss or gain.
- Changes in personal hygiene.
- Becoming violent – may attempt to hurt animals.
- Preoccupation with sex. Excessive masturbation or doing it in front of others.
- Different personality or multiple personalities – Careful here! DID/MPD
- Change in diet. Foods that were once favorites may now be repulsive to the person. They may eat foods that they once detested.
- Blackouts in their memory – Careful here! DID/MPD
There are non-invasive tests that can be conducted on an individual to see whether he or she is truly possessed. The nature of those tests will not be revealed here as an inexperienced person may read this and conduct them posing a grave danger to himself. These tests, however, can only be performed after receiving the consent of the family or of the person with the understanding that tests will be conducted in a way that he or she doesn’t know they are being conducted. These tests will evoke a response in a possessed individual.
I hope this basic overview instills within the reader the importance of being able to differentiate mental illness symptoms from those of possession in determining the appropriate disposition of a case. Psychiatric and medical examinations are not optional when assessing certain claims/cases. Telling a mentally unhealthy person that his or her claims are due to the demonic when in fact it isn’t is extremely harmful to that person’s already fragile mental state and can open one up to a lawsuit.
Advances in science and medicine have improved the quality of life for many. Many years ago, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia and MPD were regarded as solid evidence of demon possession. Many people today suffering from the foregoing are living active lives because of medication. Mental illness responds to medication whereas the only resolution for possession is a spiritual one. There are some very unusual manifestations that take place in demonic possession, which cannot be explained by science.
Difficulties encountered in this area are complex and are sensitive in nature. They are:
1. Symptoms of mental illness and signs of possession mimic one another.
2. Many who are possessed are mentally ill.
3. The demonic can hide behind mental illness.
We have yet to come to a point where there is a happy medium, although we have come a long way. We have gone from one end of the spectrum deeming all individuals possessed who suffer from mental illness to the other end of the spectrum deeming the alleged possessed mentally ill. In the absence of a happy medium, we have some gray area; however, there are things that occur with possession, taking place around the person, that it is hard to classify what is taking place as strictly psychiatric.
Properly trained priests, exorcists, demonologists and investigators who witness signs of possession know that one who manifests these symptoms must first be evaluated by a psychiatrist in order for said person to receive treatment or to rule out mental illness in order to proceed with exorcism. This is imperative as mental health symptoms and symptoms of possession mimic one another. To treat a mental problem with exorcism can have devastating effects upon a mentally ill person.
We find that the gospel accounts that mental illness was distinguished from demonic possession during the commencement of Jesus’ ministry, when Matthew writes, “people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases . . . and he healed them.” Among those Jesus healed, Matthew further writes, were the seleniazomenoi and the daimonizomenoi. These two groups of people were either mentally ill/oppressed or were possessed.
The difference can be confounding to the untrained person. With that said, let’s look at various mental illnesses and its parallel mimicking behavior.
BIPOLAR DISORDER. Formerly called Manic Depression/Manic Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder is a type of mood disorder where a person's moods swings from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other (from Depression to Mania).
A manic episode or Mania is an excitable state characterized for a period of one week or longer an excitable state that may include racing thoughts, euphoria, aggressive behavior, increased levels of energy, little need for sleep, inability to focus and extreme irritability. Drug abuse is sometimes an issue during mania. Other symptoms include talking fast, increased energy, anger, spending sprees, poor judgment, unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers and abnormal strength. This exhibition of strength is normally accompanied by psychosis.
Exhibited superhuman or inhuman strength is a sign of possession; however, abnormal strength can, in some cases, be exhibited by those suffering from bipolar disorder, accompanied by psychosis during the manic phase of this illness. As with other mental illnesses, Bipolar disorder can include Psychotic symptoms. One must be careful here not to interpret the abnormal strength exhibited during this phase of this disorder in the absence of other possession symptoms e.g. levitation, speaking in a language they could not possibly know, know things about other people they were never told and etc.
Psychosis is a state of being in which thought and emotions are so impaired that one loses contact with external reality. Put another way, one, during this state, doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is not real.
The low periods are labeled as depression and are characterized by a period of two or more weeks with at least five known symptoms. Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include: Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or guilt, decreased energy, fatigue, restlessness or irritability, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, chronic pain, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions, thoughts of death or suicide, and change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania and may even be associated with good functioning but can become severe mania or depression accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. In some people symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. The reader is encouraged further research both hypomania and mixed bipolar state as it is beyond the scope of this article. Note that bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness, for instance, poor work or school performance or strained interpersonal relationships.
TOURETTE SYNDROME. Tourette syndrome is interesting as the shouting of obscenities, violent threats and sacrilegious statements used to really give me pause in terms of the spiritual reality that might lie behind it. Having said that, however, the foregoing can result solely from illness as a result of a problem in the brain. Tourette syndrome is known for tics, both motor and vocal. Vocal tics include growling, barking and repetitive words or phrases. Corolla is probably the most widely or well-known symptoms of Tourette syndrome that is easily mistaken for possession which includes screaming, obscene or foul language. The foregoing symptoms accompanied by thrashing/flailing and rapid jerking of the body can seem to be only from the spirit world but can be solely a mental/medical problem. You can see why the foregoing can easily be mistaken for possession.
SCHIZOPHRENIA is another illness/disorder that can be mistaken for demonic possession because of its mimicking or overlapping symptoms. Schizophrenia is a neurological disorder causing symptoms that include Hallucinations (audible and visual) and Delusions (believing something to be true that is not). Here one can experience mood disorders and paranoid thinking in that one fears various items, all people and situations that contain religious themes. One may exhibit outburst or inappropriate responses such and crying and screaming with mismatching or no stimulus for a response such as laughing at morbid situations. It is very easy to see how this disorder and possession can be confused with one another. Schizophrenia is also characterized by disorganized or catatonic behavior and disorganized speech. Symptoms include:
- Delusions (believing something false to be true)
- Hallucinations (audible, visual or somatosensory information (feeling of being grabbed or touched)
- Disorganized speech which can be mistaken for speaking in tongues or another language. It may even sound like another personality talking.
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior (unfocused, confused, unresponsive or remaining still)
- Social and Occupational challenges
The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two classes, positive and negative. The above listed symptoms are classified as positive because they involve a distortion of normal function. Negative symptoms, however, involve not only a loss or normal function, but also include a “diminished capacity to experience pleasure (anhedonia), decreased social affiliation (asociality), lack of motivation or drive (avolition or apathy), decreased outward expression of emotion (flat or blunted affect), and diminished speech (alogia)” (Blanchard/UCLA).
DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER. Dissociative Identity Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) can be easily mistaken for demonic possession because of overlapping symptoms. This disorder is characterized by the “presence” of two or more distinct personalities or identities, each capable to control individual and has its own way of relating to the environment and thinking/perceiving. This illness is often mistaken for demonic possession within the circus tents of some modern-day deliverance ministers.
DID/MPD includes eye rolling and behaviors commonly observed in possessed individuals and those suffering with seizures. In observing a person suspected of either a mental illness or demonic possession, you must keep in mind that some things/symptoms cannot be explained by biology, i.e. levitation, non-self-inflicted wounds appearing on the body, speaking in languages person has never been exposed to and psychic abilities. In addition, change in room temperature cannot be explained away by biology neither can sounds from indiscernible sources, movement of objects on their own or horrible stenches with no discernable source.
The fragmented mind is usually due to severe trauma. The identities or personalities are known as the core personality and another/others – “ each personality with having its own specific traits, down to vocal cadence, tone, and even accents, accents, as well as behavior, temperament, facial expressions, and other body language - the person will experience missing time (periods of time they cannot account for); this is due to the fact that people with D.I.D. are not aware of their alternate personalities and thus, when they are active, the core personality is, in a sense, unconscious” (Campbell/ICU). Missing, time is key here and is in contrast to the possessed, fully aware that they have been invaded by one or more unworldly personality(s)/spirit(s). Knowing this one factor will ensure the possessed do not receive psychiatric help instead of an exorcism and the mentally ill receiving an unnecessary exorcism over that of treatment rendered by a mental health professional.
EPILEPSY. Although not a mental illness, epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder that causes not only seizures, but symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of possession. I will be providing only an overview of primary symptoms of epilepsy before, during and after a seizure and different type seizures.
Seizure symptoms can vary widely from person to person depending on which area of the brain is causing the seizure, e.g. partial (focal) seizures (one part of the brain), absence (or petit mal) seizures (entire brain for a few seconds), and generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures (entire brain). Primary symptoms include:
- Unconsciousness or loss of awareness
- Auditory hallucinations
- Psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety or déjà vu
- Repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements
- Body stiffening/rigidity
- Staring spell
- Emotional disturbances/change in mood
- Loss of muscle control/collapsing
- Vestibular/tactile hallucinations
- Vertigo
- Person may repeatedly blink eyes or smack lips (possession victims do not blink)
- Changes in smell and taste
- Sometimes loss of bladder control or biting tongue.
- Headaches
PERSONALITY DISORDERS. Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses. A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time (DSM-5/2013). DSM-5 lists ten specific personality disorders but we will concern ourselves only with the ones with symptoms that resemble possession symptoms.
- Paranoid PD. People with this disorder tend to be guarded and suspicious and have a tendency to bear grudges or to hold on to anger. They have difficulty trusting others, have difficulty forgiving and suffers from paranoid delusions (the belief that either someone or something is out to get them).
- Borderline PD. Borderline PD is also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (BPS/2009). People with this disorder have a disturbed sense of identity and ever-changing perceptions about their identity. Symptoms include intense or uncontrollable emotional reactions that often seem disproportionate to the event or situation i.e. becoming overly angry over things that would not normally warrant such an intense level of anger in most people or becoming angry over things that would not normally anger most people. They believe they are being persecuted or harassed (transient paranoid ideation), “black-and-white thinking” (splitting), impulsive behaviors, and may “suffer from severe symptoms of a fragmented psyche (this may include alternate personality/personalities; not being certain of who one really is at times)” (Campbell/ICU).
- Schizotypal PD. People who suffer from this personality disorder are often thought to be odd or eccentric. There are symptoms of this disorder I disagree with but the symptoms in question are listed in a psychiatric context. Symptoms include but not limited to unusual or odd beliefs, ideas or delusions of reference (dismissing coincidence – all life events have significance or special meaning to them), paranoia, inappropriate emotional responses, and distorted perceptional views of the world, self and others.
- Schizoid PD. Those who suffer from this disorder usually have no idea that something is wrong with them. According to Dr. S. Bressert, “Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment from social relationships.” Symptoms include avoidance of social situations and situations that require interaction with others, detached, cold or indifferent to situations where emotion is likely and a preference for solitary activities. These people are often thought of as “loners.”
POSSESSION. The problem with possession is that it is often confused with mental illness because of overlapping symptoms; however, because possession symptoms are so distinct, you will not find them present among mental illness symptoms. Possession symptoms can be divided into physical and mental changes. When differentiating possession from mental illness, focus on the symptoms that are in BOLD.
Physical Changes:
- The possessed can levitate.
- Long periods of time without blinking or not blink at all.
- May appear catatonic – careful here!
- Speak in a language can’t possibly know.
- The person will become completely rigid where they cannot be moved at all, even by multiple people.
- Look for changes in eyes may turn almost like black shark or serpentine.
- May possess inhuman strength – Careful here! (Bipolar Disorder)
- May speak in tongues.
- Writing or symbols may appear on the body in the form of welts and scratches.
- May have multiple voices come from person at the same time.
- Take note if animals appear frightened of the person, especially if they begin acting fearful when there are personality changes in the person.
- Aversion to religious objects and holy names.
- The possessed know things about other people that they were never told (Past and Present).
- Obvious changes in their features.
- Exhibition of precognition or retrocognition of events or things they should not know about.
- Voice may change – low or guttural or mimic others perfectly .
- Hair or eye color may change.
- Foul odors often around possessed.
- Preternatural changes in the environment.
Mental Changes of the Possessed:
- Personality changes.
- Someone who is normally active suddenly becomes isolative.
- Changes in attitude and behavior, usually becoming hostile.
- Cursing/swearing that is out of character.
- Evidence of self-mutilation – Careful here! (Borderline Personality Disorder)
- Changes in way person dresses.
- Destructiveness on the part of the person, especially if religious items are the objects.
- Abusive and threatening for no reason.
- Severe nightmares or night terrors.
- Acts of humiliation, such as urinating on themselves, etc. and consumption of the same.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Sudden weight loss or gain.
- Changes in personal hygiene.
- Becoming violent – may attempt to hurt animals.
- Preoccupation with sex. Excessive masturbation or doing it in front of others.
- Different personality or multiple personalities – Careful here! DID/MPD
- Change in diet. Foods that were once favorites may now be repulsive to the person. They may eat foods that they once detested.
- Blackouts in their memory – Careful here! DID/MPD
There are non-invasive tests that can be conducted on an individual to see whether he or she is truly possessed. The nature of those tests will not be revealed here as an inexperienced person may read this and conduct them posing a grave danger to himself. These tests, however, can only be performed after receiving the consent of the family or of the person with the understanding that tests will be conducted in a way that he or she doesn’t know they are being conducted. These tests will evoke a response in a possessed individual.
I hope this basic overview instills within the reader the importance of being able to differentiate mental illness symptoms from those of possession in determining the appropriate disposition of a case. Psychiatric and medical examinations are not optional when assessing certain claims/cases. Telling a mentally unhealthy person that his or her claims are due to the demonic when in fact it isn’t is extremely harmful to that person’s already fragile mental state and can open one up to a lawsuit.