Mental Illness and Possession. Know the Difference
Medical science has yet to grasp mental illness. Each case is unique with a lot of ‘Gray areas’, and modern medicine is unable to diagnose the intangibles of behaviour and thought.
People like Jonathan Delman have walked this grey zone of medical decisions and they tell of its limits in aiding mentally ill patients.
But it is challenging to identify mental illness. Even with access to an advanced healthcare system, Jonathan’s treatment was getting nowhere. What about the unfortunate cases that go untreated in less developed parts of the world?
Those are termed demonic possessions.
In West Africa, shackles keep the ‘possessed’ at bay. The inhuman way rural societies handle mental disabilities betrays their apparent fear of demons.
But are the demons real? Do they even deserve a mention in matters of mental health?
There are startling similarities between mental illnesses and demonic possessions. M. Kemal Irmak’s article in the Journal of Religion and Health postulates the existence of demons in a parallel world. He attributes some symptoms of Schizophrenia like delusions and hallucinations to demonic influence.
Kemal says doctors and religious healers should work together to treat diseases of the mind. He outlines several successful cases where faith healers have involved themselves in treating Schizophrenia.
Ultimately, being mentally ill or possessed is not good for one’s mind. On the bright side, they can be cured. Knowing the difference between both is power to help out a struggling individual that might fall into your lap.
- Possessions heal Immediately, Mental Illness Takes Much Time
There was a huge painting in front of the now-abandoned Worcester Mental Hospital. In it, a demoniac is being released from the shackles that bound him. Whether the painter was portraying deliverance from mental illness or demonic possession, is unknown.
However, recovery from both ailments is possible. While mental illness takes a longer time to heal, the cure from possession is instant!
Take the case of Elizabeth Knapp, a woman in colonial America who was possessed. After a successful exorcism, she returned to a laid back personality, disappearing almost entirely from public records later on in life.
Prospectively, compare with Sarah Bower, a woman who appeared in Richard Kirby’s 1693 pamphlet. She could go into severe fits and convulsions, claiming to have seen visions from heaven.
Even after several ‘treatments’ to rid her of possession, her fits returned. Modern researchers diagnosed her as having suffered from Epilepsy. A disease commonly mistaken for demonic possession in early America.
2. Demons Speak in Clear, Insightful Manner, while Mentally ill Patients Can’t Construct Logical Sentences
In the limited Television series, Alias Grace, Grace Marks, a simple maid depicts a shocking demonstration of demonic possession. When her alter ego takes over, she speaks with profound insight, baffling and even frightening researchers with her knowledge.
A clear case of demonic possession.
On the other hand, people living with mental illness generally struggle with organizing thoughts and speaking their minds. A study by the NCBI notes there is a wide frequency of speech disorders among patients.
Mental health patients, especially those suffering from the same SMI’s (Severe Mental Illnesses) often show similarities in symptoms. And Speech impairment is especially pronounced in SMIs. This trait sets apart mental patients from possessed individuals.
3. Mental Ill Patients are Very Religious While Demons Want Nothing to do with Christ
Did you know churchgoing is associated with having a longer life? According to CNN Health, women are reducing their risk of death by regularly attending church services. No wonder demons hate the gracious.
And mental patients too.
Psychiatric times reports that patients use religion to cope with mental illness. Moreover, subscribing to religion is good for mental health.
Quite the opposite of possessed individuals who refrain from religion. The exorcism of Latoya Ammons is a case where demons showed an extreme reaction to sacred objects. Religion still plays a pivotal role in relieving cases of mental illness and possession in society.
4. Demons Show Different Personalities In One Body, Mental Patients Not So Much
We are many, we are legion
It is no dry line from one slasher film, but the name of a certified Spotify artist. Though the quote is distorted for mainstream entertainment, it nevertheless evinces a nature of demonic possession in an individual.
Distinct personalities.
The original citation hails from an account of Jesus' ministry on earth. While in Gerasene, he was approached by a demoniac who feared being exorcised.
How every demon possessing that man spoke out in one clear voice is evidence of demonic possession.
While with mental illnesses like DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), a patient can still develop multiple personalities but they all lack a common will.
Both mental illness and possession take much effort to bring under control. Though knowledge is an eye-opener, it still takes a community to support mentally ill or possessed persons. As we try to assist them, let us drive some energy to their loved ones as well. They too need all the help they can get.
No one is useless who lightens the burden of another
