possessed by satan, or, thinking you are a savior, demons that lock you away.

I should be ok on meds to go back to church this year, don't you think?

You should really get professional help, from someone who you have established a relationship with and knows you and your triggers. Google Mary Ellen Copeland and she'll have a model of an Wellness and Recovery Action Plan, you can work on with your psych/therapist. She even has models of crisis plans. My fear is from the wording of your question that you maybe looking for what you want to hear versus what you need to hear. Take care and good luck

thanks, yeah, I know...I'm changing to go out to university hospitals instead of the Nazi's at my local center and then maybe I'll get advice from them once I'm there. Thanks, I'll look up Mary Ellen Copeland; I like reading Guideposts too.

JMO I think all mental illness is of Satan.

Harassment-Oppression and Possession

It is important that those who confront Satan and his angels in any kind of ministry of deliverance determine first (by earnest prayer and heart searching, subjectively, and a careful examination of the victim, objectively) whether the individual seemingly possessed is simply manifesting the symptoms of a natural illness (epilepsy, for example) which might be a form of mere harassment, or whether the individual is in fact subject to direct demonic control.

We recognize that often it may be difficult (if not impossible) to determine whether an individual is possessed, or merely the victim of demonic harassment.

Natural Illness or Supernatural Possession?

Many sincere Christians, unfamiliar with human physiology, are greatly surprised to discover that certain of the more gross, abnormal, bizarre forms of behavior often superficially associated with "possession" are often also present in certain kinds of mental illness in which demon possession does not appear to be a factor. We speak of such things as: foaming at the mouth; noisy, obscene blasphemous utterances in unnatural, altered (and often guttural) vocal registers, or shrill, spine-chilling screams; falling into trance-like states; and violent bodily seizures in which the unfortunate victim may suddenly be thrown to the floor, or violently against wall or furniture. All of these symptoms, sometimes seen in genuine cases of demon possession, are also common responses of victims of various "natural" mental disorders. Thus the ignorance of an individual concerning the nature and operation of nature’s laws could (and often does) result in that person’s seeking to explain these phenomena by means of the spirit world, and thus finding demons where none exist.

We quickly grant that all mental (as well as physical) illness is a by-product of sin, and may be said, in the ultimate sense, to be caused by Satan. But a knowledge of certain forms of mental illness is extremely helpful, because apparently some mental illnesses are primarily caused by biochemical, environmental, genetic factors; abuses of alcohol and/or other drugs; and, simply physical illness (Again, in some instances, Satan may also become involved more directly.)

Casting out devils is found throughout the pagan, Jewish (Mt 12:27; Acts 19:13), and Christian world. When Jesus commissioned the 12 (Mt 10:1-8) and the 70 (Lk 10:1-17), He did not exclude Judas from having this gift, even though he was not fully surrendered to Christ. So having this ability is not necessarily a sign of being a genuine believer:

(Mat 7:21-23 NIV) "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Satan has deceived many in the manifestation of casting out of devils:

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). The words of inspiration carefully studied and prayerfully obeyed, will thoroughly furnish unto all good works.

Bear in mind that it is none but God that can hold an argument with Satan. The sentiments of the enemy are to be met with a plain "Thus saith the Lord."

I would only use meds for short term solutions. You will want to turn to proper nutrition and natural health for healing - and prayer of course. Also essential oils can help:




Flower Essences: Mind-Body-and-Spirit Alternative Medicine for Physical Disability

Laurance Johnston, Ph.D



A popular, holistic healing alternative, flower essences are sun-infused solutions that possess flowers’ subtle vibrational energy imprint.

Unlike herbal remedies or aromatherapy’s essential oils, flower essences mediate their healing without pharmacologically active molecules. Representing a higher vibrational octave of the plant’s herbal or molecular properties, flower essences energetically restore balance on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Because physical disability has so many nonphysical components at the deepest soul level, flower essences greatly expand the healing armamentarium available to individuals with physical disability, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Because no biologically active molecules essentially exist in a flower-essence solution, it can be difficult for a biochemist like me, trained to explain biological phenomena through molecular interactions (e.g., neurotransmitter interacting with a receptor on the neuronal cell surface), to understand how essences can possibly work. It requires that we revisit a concept inherent to most ancient and indigenous healing traditions - that our body’s physiology and biochemistry is a function of us being, first and foremost, beings of energy.

Flower essences were developed based on intuitive observation, and, until recently, have lacked scientific scrutiny. However, to put this lacking into better context, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment concluded that only 10-20% of medical interventions physicians practice are scientifically proven. Most conventional, as well as alternative, medicine is based on a history of use and experience. The results of modern science’s carefully designed clinical trials are only a small fraction of our healthcare reality.

Flower Essences = Energy Medicine

Flower essences’ mind-body-and-spirit healing is difficult to explain with traditional biomedical precepts. To help us understand it, we need to briefly review some key principles that distinguish conventional, allopathic medicine from energy-based healing traditions.

Mind-body-and-spirit perspectives have, in fact, been integral to most healing traditions throughout history. In Western medicine, however, a philosophical schism grew between spirituality and healing as church authorities deemed spirituality off limits to scientists. As a result, a medical system evolved in which mind and spirit had no relevance to health.

Reflecting Isaac Newton’s seventeenth century physical laws and Rene Descartes’ philosophy of mind-body duality, a mechanistic medical approach was adopted that saw the body as a machine composed of parts. Fix the parts, and you fix the machine.

In contrast, the energy approach to healing believes that our mind, body and spirit are holistically integrated because we are beings of energy. The emphasis is on the whole not the parts. Over the ages, our energy system has been described in many ways, such as qi circulating through acupuncture meridians, prana flowing through chakras, vital force, or electromagnetic energy fields by modern physicists. Because mind-body-and spirit healing sounds too intangible for scientific scrutiny, scientists had to invent a new, intimidating-sounding discipline called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) to help explain the mechanisms by which emotions and attitudes can affect physical health.

The differences between the mechanistic and energy-healing perspectives have profound implications when it comes to disability. For example, conventional medicine assumes that physical health produces happiness and, therefore, considers that emotional reactions, meaning of life, and belief systems to be irrelevant to medical practice. In the energy model, happiness leads to physical health, and, consequently, our beliefs, the meaning we attach to routine events, and our emotional reaction to these events are crucial to health promotion and maintenance (see Trieschmann, R.B., Rehabilitation Education Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.217-227).

Some people speculate that our attitudes and emotions are transformed into our biochemistry and physiology through subtle electromagnetic fields that permeate and surround our bodies. It is through these fields that flower essences are said to exert their effects. Specifically, the flower’s electromagnetic patterns that have been released into the solution interact with the body’s electromagnetic fields, restoring energetic balance and, in turn, physical health.

People have compared flower essences’ subtle energetic influences to the uplifting effects we experience listening to music or seeing majestic views. For me, the problems of the world disappear when I hear Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” or watch the sky fade into subtle lavender hues as the sun recedes over Colorado’s snow-capped Indian Peaks. The contour and arrangement of light and sound energy, including aspects that are not consciously perceived, evokes profound feelings. Through a cascade of PNI mechanisms, these feelings manifest into beneficial and measurable physical changes.

Bach to Basics

Flower-essence healing was influenced by the thinking of Paracelus (1493-1541), one of history’s most prominent physicians, and the well-known German poet and nature scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). Called the “doctrine of signatures,” Paracelus believed that plants’ physical forms revealed their therapeutic potential by correspondence with human anatomy. Goethe’s holistic approach to natural science, perhaps due to his poetic insight, reflected the soulfulness of and connection to nature, an approach that contrasted to the prevailing scientific method of reductionistic analysis

Although a part of ancient healing traditions, English physician Edward Bach (1886 – 1936) catalyzed flower essences’ modern re-emergence. A conventionally trained physician, Bach (photo) specialized in bacteriology and vaccine development. He later shifted to homeopathy, philosophically a close relative to flower essences. In 1930, Bach quit his practice and devoted the last six years of his life to developing his now well-known 38 flower essences.

Bach’s holistic healing view was emphasized in his writings. For example, in Heal Thyself, he says: “Disease is in essence the result of a conflict between soul and mind and will never be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort… No effort directed to the body alone can do more than superficially repair damage and in this is no cure since the cause is still operative and may at any moment again demonstrate its presence in another form.”

Because each plant has the potential to be transformed into a unique healing essence, many new flower essences have been developed in response to the therapy’s popularity. Although a miniscule amount compared to the $100-billion pharmaceutical industry, the U.S. flower-essence market has grown to over $5 million.

Preparation

Flower essences are prepared by placing flower petals - the plant part believed to have the most life force - into a glass bowl of water. The bowl is placed under sunlight (photo), which melds the flower’s energetic imprint into the water. Although nothing physical gets transferred, using highly specialized photographic procedures, the flower’s energy imprint has been observed on the solution after removing the flowers. This sun infusion is called the mother tincture, which, in turn, is often diluted and preserved with brandy. You commonly administer essences by placing several drops under the tongue.

Selecting Flower Essences

Determining an essence’s healing properties is an intuitive, observational process – so to speak, a communion with nature that reflects Paracelus’ statement “If you wish to know the book of nature, you must walk its pages with your feet.”

Patiently observing the plant and perceiving its manifold characteristics results in insights that are translated into healing attributes. These attributes are usually defined at the emotional and mental level and often verified through user feedback.

Because of the plethora of available essences, selecting the right ones can be difficult. Traditionally, you would attempt to identify your underlying, health-affecting, emotional and mental issues and then match these to essence healing attributes as listed in various resources or repertories. For example, the Bach Sweet Chestnut, Gorse, Wild Oat and Wild Rose essences are indicated for depression or despair-related health issues.

Due to the difficulty in accurately identifying health-affecting core issues, a muscle-testing procedure - called kinesiology - can be used to select essences. You hold an essence in one hand while another person attempts to gently force down the opposite outstretched arm. If the remedy energetically resonates with you, it will subconsciously increase your strength, and you will resist more force than with an unneeded remedy.

Machelle Small Wright, Perelandra flower essences creator, has simplified this procedure by developing a self-test involving finger strength, as well as alternative procedures when disability inhibits finger testing (see Flower Essences: Reordering Our Understanding and Approach to Illness and Health, Perelandra, Ltd., 1988).

Although kinesiology theoretically eliminates the need to identify often complex and vague underlying mental and emotional health determinants, it requires some skill gained through experience. Without the skill, flower-essence selection can be a hit-or-miss process.

Fortunately, several combination remedies are available that provide wide-spectrum healing protection. For example, the Bach Rescue Remedy, composed of five key flower essences, exerts a stabilizing effect for many physical and mental stresses. This product alone represents 43% of the U.S. flower-essence market. Based on nearly 70 years of case studies, the remedy is considered the emergency first aid of flower essences because it prevents the disintegration of our energy system after physical or emotional trauma, thereby, promoting physical recovery.

Another popular combination remedy is the Flower Essence Society’s Yarrow Special Formula. Developed in response to the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear plant disaster, the remedy protects your energy field’s integrity from harmful environmental influences, especially from all types of unnatural radiation that now ubiquitously affects modern society (e.g., dental x-rays, airport detection devices, computer monitors, cellular phones, etc.).

Flower-Essence Science

Concepts of soul healing and molecule-independent energy mechanisms are troublesome for most scientists. Nevertheless, Dr. Jeffrey Cram, a clinical research psychologist with extensive scientific credentials, has shown in several controlled studies that flower essences can, indeed, exert measurable physiological effects.

Specifically, Cram’s studies show that the aforementioned combination remedies can reduce the stress response induced by various situations as measured by skin temperature and conductance and various electrophysiological parameters, such as brain waves and muscle electrical activity. Intriguingly, the flower-essence responses were especially notable at locations corresponding to specific chakra sites, which according to ancient wisdom are the points in which the flow of life-force, pranic energy into the body is the greatest.

Cram is also conducting a study examining the use of flower essences to treat depression. Preliminary results indicate that the essences have comparable effectiveness to many antidepressant drugs.

Spinal Cord Dysfunction

Flower essences expand the healing armamentarium available to people with spinal cord dysfunction, enhancing health and wellness and, therefore, potentially reducing the side effects associated with a heavy medication burden. Unfortunately, little focus has been placed on the therapy’s healing potential uniquely relevant to spinal cord dysfunction.

Some people theorize that spinal cord dysfunction profoundly disturbs the body’s energetic patterns, inhibiting physiological healing. With this view, any therapy that stabilizes these patterns has healing potential. Wright speculates that flower essences are one of these therapies.

“I would love to get essences in on spinal cord injuries,” she states. “This is the thing I think that would take spinal cord injury right over the top because now you’ve got an electrical pattern that’s going to be addressing the very base of your electrical operation; the nerve center. And I think when you’re talking about regeneration and you put that electrical system on, it will regenerate.”

In one of her audio resources, Wright uses her finger-test procedure to establish a flower-essence treatment regimen for a woman with multiple sclerosis. The procedure revealed an intricate regimen, suggesting that the woman’s multiple sclerosis was due to numerous, interacting factors. As the woman continued her regimen over time, her MS symptoms gradually and permanently disappeared.

The book Flower Essences and Vibrational Healing (Gurudas, 1989, Cassandra Press) briefly alludes to several essences that may have relevance to spinal cord dysfunction. For example, bo (native to India), California poppy, and chamomile flower essences are listed as useful for multiple sclerosis; and comfrey and khat (native to Africa) essences are indicated as potentially beneficial for rejuvenating or regenerating damaged neurological tissue (all available from Pegasus Products). The poppy and chamomile essences supposedly enhance the body’s assimilation of gold, the lack of which according to the medical intuitive Edgar Cayce is responsible for causing or aggravating many neurological disorders, especially multiple sclerosis.

Conclusion

Because spinal cord dysfunction has so many non-physical aspects at the deepest soul level, flower-essences’ mind-body-and-spirit approach may have the potential of expanding our healing spectrum beyond therapies that are just directed to the physical. Although flower essences’ underlying philosophy has, until recently, fallen beyond the pale of orthodox scientific thinking, if there is one scientific truth it is that today’s cutting-edge insights are often tomorrow’s anachronisms.

As Paracelus stated, “That which is looked upon by one generation as the apex of human knowledge is often considered an absurdity by the next, and that which is regarded as an superstition in one century, may form the basis of science for the following one.”

Acknowledgments

Thank you most sincerely for your replies, I'm not exactly sure how to respond...I've never considered voices a part of satan, but rather just mis-firings of the brain that inflict much verbal damage, you can never actually be good enough for the voices; you may be surprised to know that I was just as surprised by all of this bombardment, and wondered where the heck it was coming from, so, yes, I was aware of being interrogated through psychosis, it wasn't actually being possessed, though, yes, I've had moments of sudden bursts of crying or emotion in reaction to a person who calls himself Christian actually round-about attacking me, or causing me pain, what I call "God-smacking" and then I have a reaction, its actually calling up the forces of evil very easily.

This month's copy of AARP is a good read about brain power and using imagination in useful ways to cure chronic pain, a condition that i suffer from, am subjected to daily. I would recommend reading this magazine for anyone who needs creative ways of dealing with life's issues and traumas.

The last time I went to the prayer garden I discussed with God about whether I would come to back to church. For the most part, the love I feel for my kids is my holy contribution, and reception of love. I guess that's why I came here too, cuz I want to feel loved, and give love freely.

Imaging scans demonstrate that when one hears voices it is the vocal area of the brain that is being stimulated, ie- you are actually talking to yourself; perhaps replaying old tapes or repeating what others have or might have said to you. I don not want to discount anyone elses beliefs, but some of them can be a little concerning, for example, the Center for Alternative Medicine with an ove $90 million budget has not turned out one report of alternative practices being worthwhile. Most of their evidence is case studies, "well it helped my cousin, etc." so if it works try it. You may also want to check out the National Empowerment Center www.power2u.com they should have many helpful articles for you from people who have and or are recovering from mental illness.

You mean sub-vocal speech? yeah that's probably true. There is a great deal of trauma that a person can be subjected to
and respond in this way with voices, however, there were many
things that led up to this, when they co-inside then its actually better since you want the trauma to stop and then
you get treatment and the voices stop. I will check out those
sites you listed, actually sometimes I think I'm 40 and don't need meds anymore, well, that's disaster waiting to happen.
You guys are very kind, thank you.

If you work at it, then there will be a time when you don't need meds, but not just because you turn a certain age. Take care.

No, that's why I said they were Nazi's cuz last month I went
off of meds and they totally nearly threw me in the hospital,
so now I'm back on them, even higher actually. What does it
take to come off of them?
I know that every brain is different.

They are using the medical model that is why, the NEC was founded by a recovered schizphrenic who just happened to be a psychiatrist as well. This is process, find someone you trust to help you walk this path.

do you mean holistic, I'll look up what you are talking about, sorry. I'd like to see if the next generation of psych docs will start thinking of healing with putting outta commission. That's my main gripe. I feel so dead.

By definition Recovery means whatever it takes, be it CAM, meds, talks, walks, etc.

Which psychiatrists are you talking about, cuz I wanna meet them, let me tell ya. The resident docs at UIHC are real good, they don't treat you like an invalid.
Truthfully, it will take a heck of a lot to get through this
brain. I don't know about talk therapy or walks or exercise or
anything with prayer.
Dont you think I should stay on meds?

Yes, take your meds

Yes, you should be okay to go to church on your meds.

Are the meds giving you a flat affect or any problems?

I've worked with schizophrenics. Since when do they "recover"?

The recovery rate for Schizophrenics was around 88% at the turn of the century, utilizing mainly "Moral therapy", with the advent of the medical model the concept of recovery has become obsolete. However, check out the references the movement is being adapted by many states in terms of their regulations and guidelines, at least in terms of residential treatment.

I would like to add prayer to this regiment.


I will recall that I am a child of God. I am one who is created out of Love. I am chosen, good, holy and have purpose...a task to perform here on Earth before I return to the Father. I deserve to be treated as a person who has value and dignity.

I will embrace my illness this day looking for what it is teaching me about the mystery of God and Life.

will not allow the stigma of mental illness to defeat me this day. I will choose to have power over stigma by detaching myself from the stigma.

I will talk to someone today who will encourage me to see my goodness and holiness as a child of God. Maybe we will share a prayer together for one another.

I will read a passage from Scripture or something from a book of devotion, inspiration or spiritual reading that will encourage me to trust and hope in the power and love of God.

I will seek twenty minutes of solitude, silence, prayer this day. If my mind won’t quiet down, if my thoughts keep racing, I will offer that as my prayer to God. If necessary and helpful, I will listen to soothing instrumental music or inspirational/religious music to quiet me and remind me that God is present.

I will walk outdoors marveling at a sunrise, a sunset, the song of a bird, the soothing colors of nature...the serenity of green grass, a blue sky, the softness of the pastel colored blossoms of Springtime and the peaceful waters of a river, lake or stream that ripple and flow. I will remind myself that everything in nature is a reflection of the Creator and pleases the Creator just as it is and so do I just as I am.

I will delight in the knowledge that we are each created different because it is in our differences we make a more powerful and beautiful whole. We each reflect a different aspect of the mystery of Life and God. Individually and together we are a Masterpiece!

In God is my hope and my joy. I will give honor, glory and praise to God knowing and trusting what God has in store for me. We do not seek or like suffering but our suffering can make us strong in many ways and more compassionate and loving to others...our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Knowing for sure that although I long for God, God’s longing for me is even greater. I will rest in that knowledge this day.

You seem so lucid. Cant you just get a grip on yourself and tell yourself you LIKE church and you will behave yourself when attending?
Jesus died for you too. Unfortunately Church is an institution made by us common men/women and lacks some of the qualities of Jesus preaching sermon on the mount.