this is very difficult and embarrassing to ask...i had in the past had gotten involved in a charasmatic group...at the time i was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks to which they had said i was possessed by demons...and i needed to pray it out of me...but i cannot get any relief by prayer... only guilt...i am fearful and obsessed with these thoughts and i feel that no matter what i do i will never be in favor with god...and will go to hell therefore so paranoid about dying....also i was abused as a child by my father and maybe that is why i cannot relate to a god that could love me so much...is there anyone out there that could possibly in this position or is it that i am truly going insane which is another one of my great fears that i cannot tell anyone or they will commit me therefore i keep everything to myself i have tried therphy and i know what the therapist says is true and not realistic but i cannot force these thoughts out of my head...i really feel i am going crazy
Hi, Tormented. There are some very wise answers here. I am not affiliated with any Christian religion, but from what I know:
Prayer can be very helpful, but you need to be praying for the right thing. Anxiety and panic are medical illnesses affecting a physical organ, the brain. Therefore, praying for the demons to go away is misdirected. You may find it more helpful to pray for strength in getting through your current ordeal and in finding answers to manage your illness.
With the right group of people, being part of a religious community can be a very positive experience. Also keep in mind that you may need medication and counseling and that the people who work in the mental health field, and these people should not be regarded as separate from God's work.
Are you bipolar?
You were made the way you are. The random events and choices you made, have got you to this point. Forget about the past you can do nothing about. Concentrate on this moment now. All that has happened is past you and out of your hands. What can you do to help yourself right now?
If you feel you are having difficulty, you can think about it and pray about it all you want. It is taking action that will get you results. What is that saying you always seem to hear? "God helps those who help themselves." You cannot wait for God to come down and save you from your situation. He gave you feet, arms, a body and a head to think with. Use them to get some help.
Oh, and next time someone tries to tell you, you are possessed by a demon, kindly tell them, if you believe in God, "I am putting my trust in the Lord, not in you." There is an old Italian saying, that translates something like this, The pigs went with Christ. Meaning, when Christ died, all sin and evil (demons) were banished from man and Earth. Christ cast the demon Legion into a herd of swine and they ran into the sea and died. Stop believing in what you were told, you are not evil or possessed.
Now, please make an appointment with a psychiatrist or go to a clinic, so you can get the educated opininon of a professional. If you need help you will find it there.
Good luck and best regards..
I am a Christian. I know that I have a loving God. I know he answers prayers, it may not be the answers we want. I pray every day that he will help me make it through the day. I pray that he will bless all those who have Bipolar, or any other mental illness. I also believe he never gives us more than we can handle. But sometimes I do question his ways. It wouldn't be normal not to. He expects us to ask him and to question him. I also know that I have to listen for his soft words. I try to read the bible everyday, and try to learn from what I read. It gives me peace most of the time, but sometimes I don't find the peace I'm looking for. Should I blame God? It's easy to do this, but I try not to. I pray that you find relief in prayer. Have you read the book called The Shack? I think you might enjoy it.
Is it possible that your religion is getting in the way of your mental health, and that you need either to drop it or to alter it? Whatever religion is for, it shouldn't be making you feel worse.
I am a born-again Christian and I do not deny Christ or the salavation I received. That being said, I did walk away from organized religion over three years ago because I needed to discover who God really is and what He is all about on my own and not through the dogma that has been feed into my brain since I was a child.
I am not saying organized religion is wrong I am just saying that it was wrong for me for a period of time because it interferred with my becoming healthy and stable. I was tormented by guilt because of things I had done in the past and because I couldn't "be" what "everyone" was telling me I should be. God is capable of looking past your actions and into your heart and you will change as you are ready to and not because someone tells you to believe.
I still have some friends who try and get me to come back to God and they don't understand I never left God and He never left me. I simplified the message Jesus gave on earth and try to adhere to that little bit right now. Anytime anyone tells you that your are possessed or sinful in other ways and that has caused your disorder is wrong. Anyone who tells you that the medication is just a mask to hide the true problems is wrong. If you have been properly diagnosed and are being treated and the medication is doing what it is supposed to you are on the right track.
I would suggest that you seek a qualified Psychologist who will work with you or if you can't afford it there are county and state agencies that have therapists and there are also mental health associations with support groups and social clubs. Do not be afraid to question what you are taught or told because that is how you find your true inner peace no matter what religion you practise. Prayer can give you peace in your current situation and it also can be a great comfort during a tough time but it is just one part of being stable and not the whole thing.
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