Question About Mental Illness / Demons

[Lauren]

I am looking to understand something in a spiritual light that is occuring in my life right now.

Please, just opinions -- no bickering back and forth. If you don't agree with another's opinions, I ask that you simply state that and go on to explain your position.

So here are my questions: Is all mental illness caused by demons? Is only some mental illness caused by demons? If any of it is caused by demons, what makes a person susceptible? Can a born again Christian be plagued by demons even?

I'll give a quick explanation as to why I'm curious. My husband has always had some mental difficulties even from when he was young. I'm not sure of his exact diagnosis from back then....but when he was saved at age 33, it seemed that he was delivered from those difficulties. He was absolutely on fire for God. At one point, he was some sort of an assisting minister for the church he went to (he gave sermons, but I don't know as though he had any other duties).

When I met him, he was recovering from the loss of his wife whom he loved dearly. He was doing things he shouldn't have to cover the pain, some drinking, taking extra pain medication for his back problems, etc. Over the next few years, he didn't really repent of this stuff, he continued in it, and coincidentally or not, that's when he started suffering major depressive disorder. It only went downhill from there -- he was hospitalized numerous times for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, PTSD (he was abused as a child), schizoid personality tendencies.

This past week he completely detached from reality and is currently being hospitalized.

Writing this timeline out, I can see that his problems began when he jumped back into a life of sin which would open the door for whatever it is that plagued him. So the question remains - did he open the door for demons (is that even possible for a christian)? Or did he just open the door for mental illness to strike.

I want to clarify that he never turned away from God through all this in that he never stopped believing. Obviously he turned away to a degree through his sinning, but he always believed God would deliver him.

Please be gentle with your answers and consider my feelings in your answers. I have basically lost a husband, it's like he has died to us. And please, if you feel the need to say that my husband is going to hell, refrain yourself. I don't need that at this point (I don't believe it anyways, but I still don't need to see it).

 

[chelsers]

So here are my questions: Is all mental illness caused by demons? Is only some mental illness caused by demons? If any of it is caused by demons, what makes a person susceptible? Can a born again Christian be plagued by demons even?

I don't believe that mental illness is caused by demons. I'd like to hear other opinions though.

In your husbands case it sounds like he was doing better for a while, not drinking, not abusing pain meds etc. This coupled with the most important-trusting in God and focusing on God, probably helped him to recover/balance out his brain chemistry. I have a question though, when he was better was he seeking help such as a therapist/psychiatrist? Was he on medication?

 

[MaggieMye]

Lauren: I can completely relate. I have a 22 year old son that was diagnosed as schizophrenic at the age of 15. So I will share with you what I've experienced:
When the Dr. told us that they 'were 'calling it' schizophrenia" I asked what they meant by 'calling it' that. They said there were textbook symptoms but also something they just could not put their fingers on. Right then I KNEW it was a spiritual matter. Long story, short, I took him across the country to work with a deliverance ministry team in OK. Immediately after, his teachers and all the knew him noticed a marked improvement. His healing is not yet complete, but I know that God has a plan for his life and he has had two similar prophecies spoken over him by two different ministries. After taking him for deliverance, and getting delivered myself, I then knew that I had to get educated as to how the demonic realm operated so that I could help my son fight and stand. Since then, I have attended conferences and courses that teach about deliverance.
My son is still on medication. But I know that is not God's will for him. Medications come from the pharmacy, which is a form of the word "Pharmakia" which is Greek for 'witchcraft'. Take a moment to comphrehend the subtlty of the deception that satan puts forth through the use of medications!
I wil be more than happy to help you learn how to deal with these issues.
First off, I want to tell you to NEVER take personally what a menally ill person says to you or about you. Holy Spirit will convict you if you need to make changes in yourself.
Please email me at maggie_mye (at) hotmail.com and I will send you the testimonies of my son as well as TONS of information that will help you know and understand the things you need to learn in order to help your husband fight a battle that he is not even aware of that he is in.
Also, get these books: The Power of the Blood" by H.A. Maxwell Whyte
Pigs in the Parlor by Frank & Ida Mae Hammond.
Start there.
Blessings,
Maggie

 

[SamIam]

I dont believe that mental illness is caused by deamons. I think a person can have a chemical imbalance and it effects their moods the behaviors....

 

[markhelp]

God bless Lauren;

From what I have learned in God's Word and ministering over the last 34 years, some mental illness is caused by devil spirits, but not in every case. It can also be due to an injury or chemical imbalance or other cause. But we can see from the Gospels, for instance, Jesus ministering to people and then we read afterwards that they were "in their right mind." So sometimes the cause is spiritual.

I know that some believe that a Christian believer cannot be plagued by demons or devil spirits, but when a person gets born again, that new birth does not affect the mind. God does not take our free will. That is why God says we are to renew our mind [Romans 12:2].
If God controlled our minds, I am pretty sure we would all stop sinning.

What makes a person suseptible? Well, the true answer is, we can all be suseptible. And certainly, tragic events can lead to a spirit of depression and other spirits that can affect the mind.
But, I want to stress, that as born again believer's, we have Christ in us [Colossians 1:27], and we can be more than conquerors in every situation [Romans 8:37]. We are never alone. God's power is one believing thought away [Ephesians 1:19].
God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. [2 Timothy 1:7]

Your greatest weapons are the sword of the Spirit [the Word of God; Ephesians 6] and prayer.
Continue to pray for your loved ones and lovingly share God's Word with them. The Word of God is living and powerful. If God be for us, who can be against us?

I pray with all my heart that this helps.
You and your husband are God's best.

 

[chelsers]

Great post Mark, it makes a lot of sense.

 

[beta7]

hi,
im sorry about what's happening with your husband. i can almost feel ur pain even though im not married myself. ur husband needs to repent and turn to God with all his heart. i dont think he really gave God his all otherwise evil would not overcome him this way. he is still alive and there is always hope in the power of Jesus to deliver him. pray for and with him. let him know that he is truly loved not just by God, but by his whole family including you. may God bless and deliver you both from this problem as you all strive to live in God's will.

 

[Slepsog4]

Mental illness is not demon related.

Mental illness can come from a variety of causes.
1. Hormone/diet/chemical related problems - these can usually be addressed medicinally
2. Guilt for personal failures, sins, neglect, etc.
3. Victimization from another person's sinful actions.

 

[Shawn1313]

No - I strongly do not believe mental illness is caused by demons.

 

[MaggieMye]

Mental illness can come from a variety of causes.
1. Hormone/diet/chemical related problems - these can usually be addressed medicinally
2. Guilt for personal failures, sins, neglect, etc.
3. Victimization from another person's sinful actions.
And just WHO do you think is behind all THAT?? Diet problems/glutony = sin; hormone problems are also often diet problems/sin; guilt comes from the devil while conviction comes from Holy Spirit; failure is not a word that God uses. OUR inadequacies are simply a meter that dictates how much more training we need. He sees NONE of His children as a failure.
Neglect of anything is also the SIN of omission. And then there is the spiritual law of generational curses that can put a child in jeapordy before they are even born! Who is behind sin? Right! Satan!
Victimization is a two-fold thing; on one level, it is pride...pride at being offended, at not getting one's own way, and at even PERCEIVING an offense when in truth there was none....pride. On the second level, such as childhood sexual abuse, any kind of tauma, fear, things that are done TO us; these traumatizations also open the door for the enemy to come in and set up camp. Their continued residence and often the inviting of their friends in, is behind the symptoms expressed in adults with emotional illnesses/mental illness, anxiety, depression, etc. Children are God's greatest treasure. Being members of the kingdom of darkness while in their unsaved condition has satan purposing to damage them so the they cannot be effective for the Kingdom of God. It is satan's mission to get people early in life through abuse, trauma and fear so that he can eventually maipulate them into committing suicide before they can get saved. ...Hence all the teenage suicides. IF the majority of adults in the world understood this, they would be quick to submit to the protective love of Jesus and they would use the authority that we, as believers, have been given by Him to protect our children from these spiritually dibilatating events.
Did you know that variations of Hosea 4:6 are repeated FIVE TIMES in Psalms?? There is a reason for that: IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE WORKINGS OF THE ENEMY SO WE CAN KNOW HOW TO FIGHT!! Ideally, we should be so full of the Word of God that anything that does not line up with it should be met with WAR!
Maggie

 

[Slepsog4]

Maggie,

James by the Holy Spirit says that we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. We don't need demons to cause us to sin.

Victimization is not about being offended because of our pride. Tell that to a 7 year old who has been repeatedly raped by a 50 year old uncle. Tell that to the person who was attacked and mugged simply because they looked like they might have some money on them. Tell that to the 8 year old boy whose day comes in drunk late at night and beats him awake and them unconscious again.

Many of these feel like they should have or could have done something different.

 

[Shawn1313]

Maggie,

James by the Holy Spirit says that we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. We don't need demons to cause us to sin.

Victimization is not about being offended because of our pride. Tell that to a 7 year old who has been repeatedly raped by a 50 year old uncle. Tell that to the person who was attacked and mugged simply because they looked like they might have some money on them. Tell that to the 8 year old boy whose day comes in drunk late at night and beats him awake and them unconscious again.

Many of these feel like they should have or could have done something different.

I just need to applaud you for this post.

Also, many mental disorders (such as schizophrenia) are strongly genetic. It's very sad.

 

[MaggieMye]

James by the Holy Spirit says that we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. We don't need demons to cause us to sin. Lust IS a demon. And when we give it permission to reside in our bodies, WE OWN IT. Lust is not restricted to sexual desire. People can and do lust after money and power. Covetousness is lust. It is the desiring of something that you do not have legal, moral, or spiritual right to….but you crave it (chocolate anyone??). Lust makes a person FEEL like they NEED something when the truth is that they do not. Lust is a child of Pride…the believing that one is entitled to something that they are not. Lust, the demon of lust, comes and URGES a person to act in ways that will allow a person to acquire the object that is being highlighted (by the demonic kingdom) to them. Demons can affect our thoughts…just consider how often we think ill of someone! That is a spirit of pride working in us to get us to ACT/SIN.

Victimization is not about being offended because of our pride. Tell that to a 7 year old who has been repeatedly raped by a 50 year old uncle. I addressed in the 2nd instance of victimization. Tell that to the person who was attacked and mugged simply because they looked like they might have some money on them. Understand that the Bride of Christ WILL be made up of Christian who are OVERCOMERS. IF the church had not ceased teaching the people how to OVERCOME EVIL…if it had not stopped teaching HOW to resist the enemy, these things would not happen. Consider that EVERY knee must bow to the name of Jesus Christ. Believers need not tolerate such attacks from the enemy because WE have AUTHORITY over those that are in the world!! Tell that to the 8 year old boy whose day comes in drunk late at night and beats him awake and them unconscious again. I addressed in the 2nd instance of victimization.

Many of these feel like they should have or could have done something different. Hos. 4:6, Prov. 5:23, 7:7, 9:16, 10:21. YES THEY COULD HAVE!!! No, I’m not talking about children…but then again IF they had been saved and then taught, yes, they could have avoided the trauma, for greater is HE that would have been in them than he that was in the world…doing evil. I'm not negating anyone's pain. I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty. I'm simply saying that the church today has a LONG way to go to get BACK to the powerful, spiritual, functioning Body of Christ that it was shortly after Christ's ascension…even up to 200 years after. And I'm saying that there IS a more excellent way!
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. [Wisdom, discernment, spiritual understanding, strength and courage to do His will. Col 1:9]
Every negative or unrighteous emotion can be attributed to demons. Some will shout, No that is our flesh! And rightly so. But the question is this: Have you crucified the flesh? Because if you haven't, there is an open door through which a unclean spirit can enter and AFFECT your thinking, causing you to submit to your flesh. WE CHOOSE to walk in the flesh or to walk in the Spirit. WE CHOOSE to submit to the workings of our enemy, to the influences in our thoughts, to DO the lustful deed. It is our choice. Scripture tells us to hold every thought captive for a reason. We have to discern if it comes from the Kingdom of Love and Light, or from the kingdom of deception and darkness.
Jeremiah 4:14
Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, That you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
Matthew 15:19
" For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
Mark 7:21
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water
Deuteronomy 11:16
" Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. Our hearts are easily deceived. Far too often we think we are doing well in our spiritual walks. But God judges the HEART and it is our heart that shows us the truth of our condition. …hold every thought captive. 2 Cor 10:5.

My son is schizophrenic and there is NO family history of it at all. But there are generational curses, iniquities, that have been passed down and manifest as mental illness. Satan is quite content with that because then my son will not be able to fulfill his destiny in the kingdom of heaven. Ever wonder WHY the doctors ask about family history??? IT'S GENETIC HISTORY! They are, without even understanding that they are, asking about generational curses in your family bloodline.
Shawn: Please don't take offense at this, but rather take the knowledge and ask the Lord to give you more and to give you strategy with which to fight for the person(s) you might know that are mentally ill.
Maggie

 

[Slepsog4]

You are clueless about demons and about victims. I hope no one ever comes to you for any kind of counsel. You would blame them for things others did to them.

 

[Shawn1313]

Maggie, I could not disagree more. I think that line of thinking is extremely harmful towards those who have suffered abuse.

 

[MaggieMye]

On the contrary; It is YOU that does not understand. I would show them how OTHERS are responsible for what happend to them. AND I would teach them how to prevent it from ever happening again.
Maggie

Are you a victim?

 

[Shawn1313]

Maggie, I understand your view perfectly, I just so happen to disagree. I have never been abused, robbed, raped, etc. thus far, in my life. I have been a victim of other's hatred, but I pray for them that God touches their hearts to end their hatred.

I do know victims, and I am glad their caretakers are compassionate informed people.

 

[Lauren]

I've generally believed that mental illness is a chemical imbalance, but at the same time I've found it confusing because there are accounts in the Bible where demons are cast out of people that appear to be "mentally ill".

 

[MaggieMye]

I'm glad to hear that you are not a victim. Consider that I've been a Christian for longer that you've been alive and have studied these things intensely.
You can agree or not. But IF I'm right, then you've just been introduced to a whole new way to help those you know that are victims....albeit you need to learn more. Ask God if it is His desire that you become more knowledgeable about these things. If He does, He will most likely increase your curiosity and desire to know.
Maggie

 

[Shawn1313]

Thanks Maggie. But I am a psychology major in college and have been learning about mental disorders and the like. I am in no way an expert, I don't claim to be. But learning about mental disorders has made me very compassionate towards those who suffer. It is not their fault.