"Demons" and Mental Illness

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I have some friends, who are good people, who are educated, and they still hold to this concept.

I told them that a friend very close to me has bipolar disorder, because I need help with dealing with this person, and the response was, "Bipolar disorder is a demon. That's all it is. You just need to cast it out."

I've heard this stuff before. "Bipolar is demonic, schizophrenia is demonic, depression is demonic, multiple personality disorder is demonic," and on and on.

I thought, really? How can people go there? Don't they know that you just can't say stuff like that? Bipolar is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain (according to my understanding).
But, then I could hear them say, "well, the chemical imbalance is caused by a demon."

I didn't dare tell them about my Asperger's. Didn't want them thinking I had a demon or something.
Anyone else run into this??? It's maddening.

Because we live in “critical times hard to deal with,” people today are subjected to considerable stress. (2 Timothy 3:1; Luke 21:26) And since all are subject to the debilitating effects of sin and imperfection, it is no surprise that even some God-fearing people have succumbed to mental illness. (Romans 5:12) Even Jesus acknowledged the need to seek medical attention when necessary: "Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do." (Matthew 9:12)

But knowing that mental illness is a disease helps one to have a balanced view of it. Irene, for example, feared that her illness was caused by an attack by the demons. While it is possible that in some cases demonic forces are involved, the Bible does not teach that all illnesses are caused by the demons. (Ephesians 6:12; compare Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:32-34; Acts 5:16.) More often than not, when a person hears voices or manifests bizarre behavior, an illness such as schizophrenia may be involved.

Irene was greatly relieved to learn that her illness was not of demonic origin. She sought medical help and found some relief. Recall, though, that the Bible tells of an ill woman who “had been put to many pains by many physicians and had spent all her resources and had not been benefited but, rather, had got worse.” Only Jesus Christ was able to heal her. (Mark 5:25-29) Medical science today is likewise limited. True, one can take reasonable steps to attain a measure of relief. But rather than getting trapped on a treadmill of searching for an elusive cure, some may simply have to learn to live with and endure the problem.

Knowing that God deeply cares for us, however, can ease much anxiety. 1 Peter 5:6, 7 tell us: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt YOU in due time; while YOU throw all YOUR anxiety upon him, because he cares for YOU." This can be done in prayer. “Jehovah has sustained me through this and many other trials,” says Irene. She also has the hope of a coming new system under Jesus Christ in which “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isaiah 33:24; 2 Peter 3:13)

As someone who suffers from Aspergers I find comfort in the scriptures to help me manage my condition.

(Revelation 21:4) And [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.
(Psalm 37:11) But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.

That "abundance of peace" will not only be external but internal as in body, and mind. I hope this helps you and your friends. :)

Last edited by kxmode on 12 Jul 2012, 11:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Because It's sad to see in this day in age people still believe in magic and demons vs. science and actual medical diseases!

Erm, no. Where the heck do you live? Is there a witchdoctor's hut next door?

............. Who the hell is Irene?

I mean, did you really just copy and paste something from some Gospel tract or book and pretend that everybody here would be too stupid to realize that nobody mentioned "Irene"???

I mean, I know this is a copy and paste. Somebody ELSE copied and pasted it on another forum. http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/expe ... -on-demons (See "blondie", the second post in the thread) So.... really? Couldn't you have at LEAST responsibly quoted it?

Actually, edgewaters, I live in the magical land of Telia, where such behavior and thought processes are common (sarcasm).
No, I'm afraid this kind of thinking is more common than one would think. I just don't know how the heck to respond.

These are some interesting posts.... I didn't expect being trolled by a Jehovah's Witness.

lol ignorance and trolling aren't the same thing. Though trolls will feign ignorance in order to grind the gears of others.

Also, wouldn't BPD and BP be classed as mental health disorders rather than diseases? They are rarely inherited, and are caused by trauma and other effects at varying stages of a life cycle.

Esther, do you live in a rural part of your country?

I don't know, does knowing fire can be put out with water make fires any more comforting? Does knowing someone cares for me while I'm being whipped or stoned to death somewhere barbaric in the world make me feel happier about my existence here or anywhere else? I really would like to see you hold that sentiment when buried neck deep in sand while this happens! The thing about this particular disorder is a huge fear of trust and comfort from others is omnipresent in a fair few and if anything it can cause anxiety and discomfort. It is not the same as Asperger's.

Last point, maybe this would be better in the section for other mental health issues.

You have stupid friends, get some new ones and your problems will be solved.

Leave copies of 'The God Delusion' and 'The Classic Nude' on your coffee table, if your prospective friends start frothing at the mouth and screaming something about needing their spiritual armour, show them the door.

Welcome to PPR.

I agree - it's probably better in the mental health section. But, I wanted to take my chances dipping my toes into this forum...
That's the first time I've used the word Troll.
According to Mayo Clinic, it's called a disorder, but has some characteristics of a disease - inheritability, caused by chemical imbalances, etc. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipola ... ION=causes

As far as the last question - no, I don't live in a rural part of the country. I did live in a smaller town where my friends live now, though. I don't see what it has to do with people thinking BPD is caused by demons, unless one is referencing the stereotypical "superstitious country folk" concept.

I would hope to god they are speaking in metaphors.

There are certainly who will never let down their guard about metaphors. I despise these people because I feel they are being deceitful.

If they truly believe this, well they are no different than a cult member in my opinion. Either that or paranoid schizophrenic.

I've seen TV programs about evangelical churches in America holding sessions where people come to the front of the crowd and some nut-job puts his hands on their head and shouts at Satan etc demanding the demons leave the person. This amid lots of crowd hysteria and shouting. WTF?

I can expect this sort of thing in some backwards African village but in America?

In Africa they still burn to death women who are accused as being witches or possessed by demons.

There are some really effed up people in the world. Religion is a very sick business.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7wKfyUizGA[/youtube]

Welcome to PPR. It can get...intense, around here. If you can stand the heat, though, it's also HILARIOUS.

ArrantPariah - what have you done....I ended up following that YouTube link through to the bitter end and that is extremely freaky...Thanks, I think...

I've never come across anyone who thought others were posessed by demons in IRL but I do have a very small generally non-religious social circle

We have superstitions and religions for this. The idea that our own minds can break down, for no obvious reason and without any way to prevent it, is positively horrifying. That lack of control scares us. It's not really much better if you believe in a kind and powerful god that watches over us, because that makes no sense - why would he let that happen?

So we invent other gods (sorry, religious folks, but Satan is just as much a god as the bloke with the beard as far as human psychology goes...). Some of them are evil and want to harm us, and the battle is thus between the good gods and the evil gods (demons). Mental illness is an attack by the evil gods - quite WHY they want to cause mental illness is an area not to question too deeply, but otherwise it makes sense. It gives cause to a random and meaningless event, and offers hope of a cure. If you cast out the demon, you cure the mental illness.

Religions love this idea, as they can go through bizarre exorcism rituals to drive out the evil. If it "works", it affirms how wonderful their god is (though I wonder why he didn't step in earlier...). If it relapses, the demon is back. Still a success, but the victim succumbed to sin. If it fails, they aren't strong enough in their faith. Simple! Complete nonsense and sometimes harmful nonsense at that, but it benefits the religious group itself - they are doing something, albeit something completely pointless, and this makes them feel better.