Just a question to see if anyone else has been through this...?

Question

My grandmother has been into 'horoscopes' for a good portion of her life. For the last 18 years or so, she's lived with us. She has the most outrageous hate for people, makes up all kinds of lies and "conspiracy theories" about our neighbors. She hears who she thinks is a "guy" tormenting her and trying to disturb our family/neighborhood. We haven't had a neighbor that she hasn't had a problem with. She talks/screams back at this 'guy' she hears. Her sense of science and reality is gone. She thinks this 'guy' can cause sounds to come from a object. (A refrigerator running, the cental heat and air machine 'pulling' in sounds as if they are air, sounds in people's houses that are many houses away, etc.) Diagnosed with 'schizophrenia' a long time ago; but that's not all science. It reminds me of Proverbs 25:28. Just wondering if anyone has experience something similar in their own family? I don't believe in the nonsense approach of, "just a bad mind". Or she's "just crazy". A cop-out.

Love Shepherds - Well...she's been to this and that doctor/psychologist, the police to talking about her 'situation' as she thinks it is, etc. Nobody did anything for her or believed her, of course. But for this condition...she doesn't believe anything is wrong with her. And if you've been around those people, they will not go to the doctor for something they don't believe is wrong with them and is 'real' to them. Does one force such a thing? Not that good of an idea to do so...I'm sure many of you know how that goes.

Loki - If you are a believer at all, that verse means something. If you're a nonbeliever, why are you wasting your precious (and only time, if according to you) in here fighting with others about who is right or 'correct'? You start your own disagreements to pick about by purposefully walking into them.

She's been on various 'pills' that doctors put her on. Does doping the mind fix or change the condition? No. Her mind has deteriorated with this garbage she fed it.

The results came back as I had thought. 'Nonreligious' people believe in the physical 'can't-see-beyond-what-my-eyes-and-mind-can-see" approach. But you don't know the details of your own life, how you got here or anything of the sort to be able to delve into deeper things and deal with them, apparently. Nor do you want to approach that.

Christians and others believe beyond that. If you're 'nonreligious' - WHY ARE YOU IN HERE? Just because of what you don't believe, doesn't mean you are right, either. She has exposed herself to lots of things in life (former Christian who 'gave up' because she couldn't handle it)...and fell to the other side. She didn't become 'athiest' - she went to psychic, horoscopes, etc. The flip-side you say isn't there. As well as refusing to learn and use her mind anymore, for whatever reason...which can lead to medical conditions. Again, I ask you, would *you* have someone forcibly take *your* family member and force her to take meds for it? Is that love?

Answer 1

This really isn't a religious issue, this is a medical issue. Your grandmother needs to see a doctor ASAP. If she's been diagnosed with a mental illness as serious as schizophrenia, she needs to be on medication. One of the signs of schizophrenia is hearing voices and being paranoid. Your grandmother is showing those signs. If you want to help her, you need to get her to a doctor soon. She's suffering mentally and could harm herself or someone else.

Answer 2

My mother-in-law has very similar problems. It is schizophrenia. Much of it can often be controlled through medication but medication really just softens the symptoms. There is no real cure. You have to understand that for people afflicted with this horrible disease, the things they see and hear are as real to them as the chair you are sitting on is real to you. It's not an easy thing to deal with during the bad times. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. You have to make sure she is taking her medications exactly as prescribed.

I am as Christian as anyone can be but I do not believe that this is possession or a result of any type of sin on her part. If you knew my mother-in-law, you would know that to be the case.

All of us are placed on this earth with very specific things to learn. Each of us are placed in specific conditions to give us the greatest chance possible to become the most that we are capable of being. Remember when the apostles came to Jesus asking why they were not able to cast out devils from a certain person? They asked Jesus why. Jesus' response that some cannot be cast out except by fasting and prayer. I have come to believe that this because that person was not really possessed of a devil but instead had some mental illness. Put yourself to fasting and prayer that you may know how best to help your grandmother.

Answer 3

rbarc, I get what you are saying. Though you missed part of that verse that was quoted...

Mathew 17: 14, "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Waaait a minute, now. Yes, Jesus did address that particular kind. Which is not stated what 'kind' it was. Though it indicates that it was a *boy* ...hence "age may not be a factor". Yes, He did state that it only goes out by prayer and fasting. But the first and main answer He gave when they asked why they couldn't cast it out, was - Because of your unbelief. The description that the child often fell into the water and/or fire...sounds almost epileptic. Now, while this isn't a Bible study...that's worth noting 'medical symptoms' and has a lot to do with this. If you nonbelievers will listen to a scientist or doctor...but not believe or listen to your Creator - who is worse off? You listen to your own kind - a person just like you, who has just learned a little bit about the human body. Did you know that just about anyone can go to college to become a doctor? Did you know that doctors have been in the news as drug addicts, serial killers, etc.? Sure you do...you watch the news.


"I have come to believe that this because that person was not really possessed of a devil but instead had some mental illness. Put yourself to fasting and prayer that you may know how best to help your grandmother."

Verse 18, Jesus cast the demon out BEFORE the disciples asked Him why they couldn't. And it does say that it was cast out. So that's making the Scripture void and out of context (and no, I am not trying to condemn you in any way...just stating what it really says, as we all make mistakes). So...apparently that 'mental illness' was not quite of the mind. Note also that it calls him 'lunatick'. Hmm...coincidence? Don't think so. Similar to the same people that say the cop-out (as stated above by the asker of this question) "Oh, that person is just crazy"..."They're a lunatick". People don't just go crazy...even scientists will explain that to you, so I do indeed back up their answer - that is a major cop-out to say those things. Medicines...we see every day on the news about people getting sued for giving medicines that didn't do what they should have (or did the opposite and destroyed a person's body). Is that really the answer? Doctors are like scientists who use many human patients to 'test' their knowledge of what medicines to prescribe and how to treat something. The humans are oftentimes guinea pigs. Sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn't. Not all medicine is bad...but there's not a cure for everything with medicine. Especially if it's not a problem medicine can cure. What would medicine do from a science point of view, even apart from talking about spirits and God? Well...it would block out or lessen symptoms of whatever it is. Isn't that similar to putting a band-aid on a wound, or putting a tourniquet (spelling?) on a leg that has been cut off. It might interrupt the symptoms...it might stop the bleeding. But you'll get gangrene if you play the game long enough and act like that's a big fix.


And if people want to go into the "it's a mind thing...mental illness" approach - then answer me this - Why are some people 90 years old and their mind is clear as a bell, and usually even better than people half their age? My church is full of 90+ and even 100+ people. Explain that one to me. There's your physical evidence your eyes can see. If you don't believe it...you come meet them in person. But there's nothing your science can put to that. It's pretty obvious that something happens to the people that they allow in their life, while other people do not allow those things and keep their mind sharp and focused.

Answer 4

The hallmark of schizophrenia are hallucinations and delusions. Sounds like the doctors have a pretty good diagnosis for your grandmother. Be sure she takes her meds daily. I was a psychaiatric nurse for 8 years. I've seen meds help people alot.

Answer 5

Those are the classic symptoms of schizophrenia. I have no idea why you are reminded of that Bible verse. The Bible is no place to go for helping people who are mentally sick. If you really want to help your grandmother, you need to get her to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment and make sure she takes her medicine.

Answer 6

I am going to go with miss mom here. Once a spirit is attached to you, it will consolidate, and corrupt even more. These are from the devil! I believe that all mental illnesses (well most, not those with obvious problems) like depression are spiritual. You need to take control of the situation, and get rid of them! The Lord has given you power and authority, use it!

Answer 7

Friend, it sounds like your grandmother may have Alzheimer's a bit too. Take her to a doctor. Medication may help. Sometimes we just don't have control. If you continue to believe it is a cop out, you will both just continue to suffer.

Answer 8

I do think demon possessions occurs, as well as oppressions - to be honest, it sounds like a medical issue to me. I'm not a medical practitioner, but given her age and past diagnosis, I think seeking medical help makes good sense.

Answer 9

I've met someone who had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. With the aid of drugs, he was okay, and he now publishes a magazine on the subject.

Answer 10

Scripture is very clear that many mental illnesses are results of demonic activity/possession. Because your grandmother is not saved and covered/protected by the Holy Spirit she is succeptible to demonic possession. (Believers/Christians can not be possessed but we can be harrassed by demonic activity, but even then, they can only harrass as much as we allow, once the 'name' of Jesus is brought up they are to flee). If your grandmother would go, take her to a good bible believing church, that believe in spiritual healings (she doesn't have to believe in it herself, because the demon does...Jesus and his disciples cast out demons because they were strong enough spiritually to do so and because the demons knew who they were). Praying for your family.