Schizophrenia--is it possible the voices are real?

Question

Mutiple personalities--is it possible that it involves possession?

Those nearing death often act like they see and hear things others don't---is it possible they're communicating with spiritual entities?

Basically--do you think there is any connection between mental illnesses and the paranormal?

Answer 1

You cleared this up your self "mental illness and the paranormal" they are two very different things they are not related for that specific purpose. As two different subjects the paranormal causing strange slightly similar like "symptoms" of mental illnesses such as hearing voices may be spirits or the like.
But keep in mind mental illness is a real thing, medication works on treating illnesses, I am sure a pill would have no affect on a possession of the body.
Both things are possible as two very different and separate things, maybe sometimes we will mix up the two, maybe someone who is hearing spirits voices we will think is a schizophrenic but often we can tell when it is a mental illness because schizophrenia cannot be based on just hearing voices. Hearing voices can be a cause of many other things, stress, medication, other illnesses of psychosis (possibly spirits) but w determine whether someone has a mental illness by the fact they present more than one of the symptoms.
So if the person is only hearing voices and medication (after trying different kinds and different therapies and treatments) is not working then go see a medium.

Answer 2

That thought is rather unsettling actually... but if it were true, it appears its something that science is unable to prove... YET. And honestly, I have never thought of it that way. But at the same time, I doubt it's possible. At least, scientifically speaking... when one nears death - their brain is thought to start firing off random thoughts and memories... also, when one is dying - the information he or she can be supplying (by acting like they see/hear things) is not reliable (100%).

On the other hand, looking at a link between multiple personalities and possession - brings the individual's mental stability to a serious questioning... You have to keep in mind that sometimes people are more 'obsessed' with an image - they start to behave that way. Take for example, kids who have imaginary friends. You know their made-up friend aren't there - its more of a case, where the kid is mentally making it all up to entertain themselves...etc. Then you also have to consider that mental illness is a serious issue, and that possession is something that doesn't come into question about the individual... mental illness can make people appear like something they're not, and it doesn't happen 'just-like-that' (as apparently that’s what happens with Ghostly possession) - but rather it's THERE as a result of something which personally effects the person (emotionally and mentally speaking).

I can't really draw a full conclusion, because:
1) Science is still developing to answer our questions and
2) We don't know everything about the human brain
But remember, those that claim they can communicate with the 'other side' are often discarded off as 'crazy'. Just say, if no one judged them that way - could they really be talking truth? Suppose, mental patients were really a way for the dead to talk to us? Right now, for many this is probably a nice up-coming idea for a thriller... but all we can do is wonder, until someone proved it fact.

Answer 3

Schizophrenia involves definite brain structure abnormalities and the symptoms can be generally controlled through anti-psychotics, but not always. The voices are real to the person but as far as real they are not.

Multiple personalities are generally the result of SEVERE abuse as children. An escape mechanism for the person the abuse is inflicted on..

Near death experiences are a strange topic and the theories abound, One of the most probable is that as the person actually
nears death a massive firing of neurons simulate the seeing of the white light at the end of a tunnel.

I believe that ther is no connection between mental illness and the paranormal. At least none have been exhibited.

Answer 4

Know what, the only reason I am being open about this question is because I am alcoholically trashed, which is a rare (maybe once or twice in the last 3 years period) due to finding out some medical issue regarding a close member of my family.

My ex wife. I was married to her for 4 years. Who had not schizophrenia, but a similar illness, schizoaffective disorder. I dealt with this daily. I thought that psychiatrists were too narrowminded...and dealing with their own issues... thus they entered psychiatry...anyway. It often occurred to me...what if my wife is really hearing these voices. Who is to say where they are coming from or why? Who am I to say it isn't some spirit in there. what do I know about God and the supernatural really.

Anyway, your definition of real: What is your definition of real.

I am assuming you are defining 'REAL' as some other entity actually speaking or implanting these ideas into the mind of someone whom we define as 'schizophrenic'.

So perhaps the voices are real, perhaps the voices are not real.

The fact is: The voices are definitely NOT coming from our physical plane of existence in the real world. Perhaps the schizophrenic person is telepathic and can pick up the comments made by spirits. The solution is: Do not listen to the voices. They have nothing to do with us. It is like a television commercial. Recognize we are able to make our own damn decisions about life and need no selfish input.

So......what is 'real' is an opinion.

What we choose to respond to is our own choice.

Choose wisely.

Answer 5

I pretty much agree with Stuka. I wouldn't treat this in a scientific way because that is closing possibilities. If someone has strange but realistic and overwhelming experiences then I believe they are real. These are experiences anyone could have given the right circumstances. For instance someone who is given a hallucinogenic drug without their knowledge is going to think they are crazy because their experience is totally real. Some unfortunately are born or grow into a state where these experiences are common. The rest of us don't experience them so we don't accept their reality. Once again that is just a closed mind.Reality for the one who experiences it is just imagination for the one who does not. As for possession, that's a pathetic Christian explanation. Communicating with spiritual entities? Certainly but not likely their dear departed. Mental illnesses and the paranormal? Yes but there is no scientific proof that I know of. Have I had any experience of this? Yes.

Answer 6

First of all, just to be clear, multiple personality disorder has nothing to do with schizophrenia.

If you've ever worked in a schizophrenia ward of a mental hospital, you wouldn't ask that question. All of the people there are dysfunctional in many more ways than just hearing voices. Of course you could say that only the crazy ones have been hospitalized, but even in the psychiatric literature, schizophrenics are affected in many other ways besides hearing voices.

Another reason why I doubt that's true is that anti-psychotic medication is effective in silencing the voices.

So, to answer your question, anything is possible, but I would say it was highly unlikely.

Answer 7

The Paranormal covers phenomena such as,Clairaudience,the ability to hear voices and sounds that others cannot.Telepathy is the phenomenon of sending and receiving messages,particularly in times if trouble.It is an impression of sensing.and knowing ESP.One must remember that if the possibility of mental health comes into question connected to this phenomenon,Psychics work to controlled boundaries,keeping within spiritual guidelines.They do not go past the safety barriers,they work in conjunction with others for this very purpose.If people pass that safety barrier,they are at risk with their own sanity and well being.They may listen to the wrong voice and go over to the dark side.Psychics,clairvoyants,mediums,rest at certain times of their working year,to avoid being stressed,drained and exhausted.A physical metabolic cause for Psychotic illness is more likely i.e.toxins causing imbalance in the brain,hereditary illness is sometimes diagnosed,Psychotic tendencies are an imbalance of certain brain activity. Lindsay.(the missing words are/ mediums rest )

Answer 8

It's all about the electro-chemical connections in the brain. If the brains chemical neuro-transmitters and receptors get out of balance, memories, random thoughts and abstract ideas can become the current reality for some. To the Schizophrenic, the voices and alternated personalities are real because the brain tells them they are. All of our experiences are, after all, just a series of random inputs processed by a 5 pound lump of fat, protein and blood with just enough chemical electricity running through it to light a very small electronic diode.
Paranormal? In the world of our brain, if you get too little potassium or too much sodium, it changes moods, sexual desires and wakefulness. Just about any imbalance could have you seeing little green men and swearing you just heard Elvis in the next room!

Answer 9

What you believe about mental illness all depends on the lense or world view. Some cultures totally believe that schizophrenia and even depression is a product of demon possession, being tormented by evil spirits, etc. While in Western society it is largely explained as an organic/psychological impairment. To the person suffering from the disorder... the voices are very real and usually very intrusive as well as disruptive. And I do believe that as we are all spiritual beings in human bodies, we can be influenced by things that science cannot explain that injures our personalities.

Answer 10

* No, the vioces are not real, and the mentally ill should stay away from paranormal investigation because they cannot distinguish between their illness and the paranormal.

Unfortunatly the paranormal attracts the mentally ill because the so desperatly want to feel their illness is something paranormal..

This is just my opinion based on experience with people and I am in no way any kind of professional.*