Signs of human possession by demons, jinn in adults and children

There are many signs that indicate that a person is possessed by a demon, among them the manifestation of aggression towards everything, including the church, speaking in a voice other than one’s own, the obvious smell of sulfur, the ability to levitate. But the evil spirit is so cunning that it is capable of hiding and does not immediately reveal itself, so as not to go back to hell. What signs of human possession will help you quickly recognize a demon in the body? Let's look at all of them in detail.

Why do demons possess people?

Demons are creatures that do not have a physical shell, they are weak before the light, the word of the Lord and holy rites. Bright and righteous people do not succumb to them. The only way for demons to gain a foothold in our world is to inhabit a mere mortal. Thus, under the guise of an ordinary person, they receive protection and can possibly influence others indirectly by seducing the soul. Demons, through being in the human body, can receive all earthly pleasures.

Previously, demons were easily recognized due to the manifestation of aggression, because people became ignorant and evil. Today, the signs of demonic possession are not so easy to see, because in our time there are a lot of people with cruel habits who do not adhere to spiritual development. Evil spirits know how to hide and thus receive more fruits from their existence.

Obsessed people stop showing patience with faith and ridicule everything related to God and the church. In addition, such a person changes and begins to lead a prodigal lifestyle; carnal pleasures, addiction to food, luxury and power become closer to him. In addition, the church refers to demonic possession and the use of alcohol and drugs. And, as we know, many people now live under such characteristics. That is why it is not possible to accurately recognize obsession, but the number of people susceptible to it is greatly increasing.

Dependencies and addictions of possessed people

Demons in people often reveal themselves as suffering from addictions and various addictions, which include:

• Fornication, unquenchable passion and adultery. According to the church, sexual affairs outside of marriage are unacceptable, and it is believed that dark forces push people to do this. Possessed persons behave in a dissolute and lustful manner. They are not able to restrain their desire for the opposite sex, and from time to time for representatives of their own sex, so they often change sexual partners. While married, such people cheat on their spouses.
• Having bad habits. Possessed people are often drunkards or drug addicts. The demon residing in the human body forces him to use alcohol and drugs in order to speed up the process of personality destruction, and to conquer not only his body, but also his mind. Being in an altered state, possessed people behave harshly and inappropriately, and after sobering up they do not remember anything.
• Gluttony or gluttony. An insatiable appetite and constant thoughts about food may indicate the presence of a demon in a person. Any meal by such individuals looks like an amazing feast for a company of 3 people. In addition, they chew something constantly and everywhere - at home, at work, in transport, on the street or at a party.
• Envy. The successes of others motivate an ordinary person to improve himself and achieve his own heights. While possessed people, looking at the triumph and happiness of other people, begin to harm them in every possible way. The feeling of envy completely consumes them and forces them to do unimaginable things.

Signs of obsession

It’s just that the feeling that a demon has possessed a person does not appear. Among the first signs that can be noticed are the eyes of the possessed person. Cruelty, coldness, anger appear in the gaze, all this begins to frighten. A similar look can appear on anyone, not only on a loved one, but even on a neighbor or an employee at work.

If you notice this, then take a closer look at other signs:

• manifestation of irritability when talking about the Lord;
• fear or aversion to baptism and visiting holy places;
• dependence on something;
• debauchery;
• refusal to start a family;
• constant betrayals;
• anger that appears for inexplicable reasons;
• envy of others;
• depression;
• an unexpected illness that also passes unexpectedly and quickly.

The last two signs can manifest themselves when the word “exorcism” is pronounced in front of the possessed person.

Most often, demons inhabit those who are weak in soul. But all the symptoms, even with a small manifestation, can bring unpleasant extremes. Obsessed people can easily be confused with atheists, of whom there are many in our time. But atheists are not so persistent in their point of view and do not change before our eyes, do not speak caustically and with sarcasm on divine topics.

Visiting a temple becomes torture for these people; they try to find any reason not to go to holy places. Demons are afraid to prove themselves before the Lord, and even more afraid of returning to hell.

Great love and attraction to your spouse or your only lover cannot be considered an obsession. However, promiscuity, lust, the desire to get the attention of another person can already be considered the first signal that the Antichrist has taken possession of you.

This also applies to other sinful pleasures. If a person occasionally allows himself to drink alcohol, it is not a crime. But if he admires it and abuses it, this is a serious sign of obsession. An addiction to food also speaks of demons. Cooking delicious meals to please your family is a good quality. However, excessive addiction to food or, conversely, constant refusals to eat is a bad sign.

Signs of demonic possession are often confused with mental illness. You can focus on this only if the person has been friendly all his life and has changed dramatically. Of course, before drawing conclusions, it is better to research physical ailments.

The main sign is intolerance towards the church

An obsessed person will passionately hate everything that is directly or indirectly connected with church paraphernalia.

A normal person of another faith does not blaspheme or revile the church: he does not care about it. But the obsessive will take every opportunity to express his “expert opinion” regarding Christianity.

This may be an educated and intelligent person who is interested in many areas of life. He can be tolerant of all religions and sects. But as soon as you start talking about the church, undisguised anger begins to flow from his lips.

He cannot control himself because the demon sitting within him fiercely hates his adversary Christ. Thus, the demon reveals itself through blasphemy against the Lord Almighty.

Such people feel uncomfortable in church, they cannot talk calmly with clergy, and they are irritated by objects of Christian worship. But in a mosque or Buddhist temple they will feel fine.

How to distinguish obsession from illness

It is not always necessary to suspect possession if there are signs and symptoms that resemble depression, aggression, or physical abnormalities. Most often, this is not demonic possession, but simply a progressive mental illness.

In ancient times, such deviations were considered the devil's tricks. Today, with the help of progressive medicine and the ability to establish most diagnoses, the situation has improved.

There are several ways to determine whether a person is sick or possessed:

1. People with mental illness may do unpleasant things, but most of the time they are minor. Their behavior is inconsistent. Take a closer look at how a person behaves.
2. Try offering the person some water or juice if desired. Add some holy water there. The possessed person will choose plain water. However, chance cannot be ruled out; a person can take water at random. For accurate confirmation, many factors must coincide.

There's one more thing to remember. You need to know how to cast out a demon correctly and safely. The desire to cleanse yourself can also have a dangerous message. Cases have been recorded more than once when a person was physically ill, but exorcism sessions were performed on him, which led to death. By not showing a person to a doctor, by bringing him physical suffering, we are only pleasing the devil, who makes fun of him. True obsession should be seen elsewhere. In matters that destroy your life and those around you.

Sometimes people, mostly those who practice magic and black rituals, even give consent to the devil’s possession. In this case, no conflict arises between the demon and the human soul, which means that neither seizures nor strange behavior will be noticed. If the soul was captured by force, it will begin to fight with all its might and the changes will be serious.

The difference between demonic possession and mental illness

Symptoms of possession, such as the appearance of attacks of aggression, depression, changes in voice, withdrawal into oneself, can often mean not the presence of demons, but the development of a physical or mental illness. And although in the old days many mental illnesses were recognized as the works of the evil one, today a large number of mental illnesses are linked to physical problems in the body.

There is a good way to find out whether a person is possessed by a demon or mentally ill. As a rule, mentally ill people exhibit fairly harmless oddities and behave somewhat inconsistently. It is worth offering the intended victim 2 glasses of water or a drink, one of which will contain church (blessed) water. The possessed person will betray himself by consciously choosing neutral water. However, the element of chance should not be excluded; many signs must coincide.

You also need to remember that in the desire to define obsession, no matter what, there is also a bad message. There are known cases where, in thoughtless exorcism sessions, a victim of a physical illness was brought to death in agony, instead of being shown to a doctor. Isn't this a trick of the devil for his amusement?

True obsession manifests itself more in direct actions aimed at consciously destroying oneself or the lives of others. If a demon entered the body with the permission of the owner, as happens with representatives of black magic, sorcerers, sorcerers, witches or simply not very decent people, there is no conflict, so the union takes place without seizures or collapses. A person whose soul has been forcibly possessed fights the parasite as best he can.

Diseases as signs of obsession

Obsession can be hidden under any of the diseases. But there are some individual ailments that are especially suitable for demon possession.

Signs of jinn possession may be hidden under the following diseases:

• weak blood (anemia);
• damage to skin areas (dermatitis, spots on the face, eczema and even boils);
• limbs begin to become weak and dry out;
• noticeable sweating;
• cold skin;
• excessive obesity and vice versa anorexia;
• frequent fever;
• sleepwalking;
• epilepsy.

These diseases can be perceived as an obsession only after a person has consulted a doctor. If there is no positive reaction after treatment, you can seriously think about the tricks of the devil.

Read here effective ways to cast out a demon from a person.

How does the move-in happen?

“Sin enters the soul not at once, but gradually, passing through stages of development from an extraneous, external impulse knocking on the soul, to the master’s disposal of it,” says Father Konstantin Parkhomenko.

The Church divides demon-possessed people into two categories. In the first case, the demon acts as a second personality, a “dark double” of the person, that is, the victim exhibits signs of a split personality. In the second, the devil enslaves the human will to various sinful passions. For example, a person indulges in debauchery, gambling, begins to abuse alcohol or drugs, and is drawn to crime.

Who can the devil possess?

For a long time, obsession was taken as a test that God knew about. This was how a person’s faith was tested. If she was weak, then such souls went to Satan. Therefore, we can assume that demons can take possession of any soul.

In fact, there is a method of protection that may seem difficult to many - becoming righteous, believing and showing kindness to this world. It would be appropriate to say that the Orthodox Church does not practice exorcism. It believes that a demon can be driven out by atonement for sins committed, adoption of the righteous path and recitation of prayers. A person must become humble.

A similar opinion is held in Islam. They don’t believe that a person who prays can be possessed by evil spirits, even though they are always nearby.

Signs of obsession in children

Children are innocent and pure souls, but due to their still fragile state, they are highly susceptible to obsession. Before baptism, you need to take care of the condition of your child.

What signs can you use to determine if a child is obsessed?

• spots may appear on the body, sometimes similar to letters;
• eating food that people would not normally eat;
• an unpleasant odor appears from the child’s mouth;
• frequent tummy problems (bloating and damage to the mucous membrane);
• frequent and prolonged hiccups;
• body movements are strange;
• unnatural postures, active movement;
• strength that is unnatural for a child;
• manifestation of aggression;
• development of telepathy and the ability to move objects at a distance;
• manifestation of skills that did not exist before or should not have appeared at a given age (for example, pronunciation in another language);
• change in personality, voice, face in a short time.

Related diseases

Demonic essences can manifest themselves not only in brutal human behavior, but also in the form of physical ailments:

• general weakness;
• rapid fatigue;
• convulsions and seizures;
• migraine;
• causeless nausea;
• excessive thinness or obesity;
• tremor of the limbs;
• fever or low body temperature;
• mummification of body parts.

Naturally, you should not mistake all alarming symptoms for demonic possession; you must first consult a doctor to identify the cause of the disgusting state of health. If the presence of any disease is not proven, then, most likely, a demon has taken possession of the person and is trying in every possible way to harm his health.

The clergy also talk about such options, when a demon takes possession of the parent’s mind and in every possible way convinces him of the child’s possession. Ultimately, instead of going to the clinic, they try in every possible way to drive away the unclean from their own child, which often leads to his death. Usually, such people categorically reject classical medicine, arguing for a great distrust of it.

Distinctive features of possession

As for the question of how to understand whether a person is possessed, this question in itself should be considered in comparison with the state of possession and mental illness, since in the overwhelming majority of cases there are external signs of possession that clearly indicate the person’s ill health. But these signs, indeed, are sometimes similar to manifestations of certain mental disorders. It is hardly possible to find external criteria by which a correct conclusion can be drawn. It is obvious that saints can distinguish between these states and, accordingly, provide the necessary help. Other methods, as a rule, are either not rooted in the ascetic experience of the Church, suffer from excessive formality, etc. In addition, in our time, possession is often called a condition that is not such. This may be excessive enslavement to certain passions (alcohol, for example) or embitterment against God and the Church, but, despite the sinfulness of such a state, it is still not demonic possession. Taking into account the difficulty in finding criteria by which it would be possible to accurately distinguish possession from mental illnesses with similar symptoms, one should take into account the cases of cure of the possessed, described in the Holy Scriptures, in hagiographic literature and in the writings of the Holy Fathers.

In these sources one can see that the possessed have a certain reaction to contact with holiness. A reaction that is almost impossible to confuse with any mental illness.

website of the temple of St. Seraphim

How to identify an obsessed person?

Signs of obsession can manifest themselves on both a physical and spiritual level. For example, a person’s voice may change greatly, as if someone else is speaking for him. Sometimes he imitates animals, for example, barks. Temporary paralysis of the entire body or individual parts may occur. Sometimes there are incredible manifestations of strength: a possessed person can lift enormous weights, easily free himself from ropes and chains, if he is tied up and shackled, he can easily scatter several people leaning on him. Also, in some cases, the possessed person’s eyes change color, they become cloudier, and the color of the skin darkens. Others develop a huge belly, like dropsy, and may experience weight loss. Sometimes paranormal abilities appear: the victim levitates, speaks non-existent languages, writes under the dictation of spirits, and may smell of sulfur.

Spiritually, serious changes are also taking place. Obsession can manifest itself in the form of obscene thoughts or behavior, hatred of God, religion and religious paraphernalia. Many demoniacs cannot enter the temple, touch crosses, icons, candles, or holy water. During divine services, they can begin to rush about, howl, sob, shout blasphemous speeches, and curse, as the devil tries to protect their soul from divine influence.

Possession from a scientific position

Before we talk about how to identify possession, we should answer the question of what is possession. How to view this condition? Often attempts are made to explain everything from a scientific position, believing that we are talking about mental illness, which the ancients, out of ignorance and superstition, considered possession. It is impossible to accept such an opinion, since in the Gospel there is no basis for such an understanding. The Lord Jesus Christ cast out demons, and the apostles left a description of this. If hypothetically it can be assumed that the people misunderstood the essence of what was happening, then this is impossible in relation to the close circle - the apostles; namely, they recorded these cases. And they certainly, in case of misunderstanding of something, could inquire from the Divine Teacher about the essence of what happened, as often happened when the apostles asked the Lord after some events. Accordingly, the Gospel text itself does not provide the slightest basis for such an interpretation.

Of course, it cannot be denied that some forms of mental illness are similar to demonic possession. The famous Orthodox theologian Jean-Claude Larcher, who devoted his research to the topic of mental illness, shares madness of demonic origin and madness of somatic origin.

In Russian theological scholarship, the discussions of Archbishop Innokenty (Borisov) are devoted to this issue. The saint sees the reason why demons want to take possession of a person is that it is in man, as the connector of the material and spiritual worlds, that the demon reduces his suffering and feels, so to speak, more comfortable: “So, that which is lower than man, and what is above it constitute two opposite extremes. Consequently, for an evil spirit that has fallen into the opposite world, each sphere is painful and unnatural. But as creatures approach the center of these two opposite worlds, this torment decreases, so that in man, as the chain or center of these worlds, it is more pleasant for an evil spirit to dwell than in any other creature of the entire visible or sensory world" (On Creatures, higher human beings, or about spirits).

How do you know if you are possessed by a demon? What are the symptoms, signs of a demon in a person?

From a medical point of view, human behavior that may be considered “obsession” is called a hysterical attack.
Here are its signs and symptoms (www.medrf.ru):

May be due to problems with brain function (for example, when electrical signals cannot pass between cells normally, causing behavioral problems). This disease is often caused by the suppression of strong experiences.

Disturbances in the voice and physical condition are the result of the action of hormones, the production of which is also regulated by the brain, and disturbances in its functioning lead to sudden hormonal disruptions and, as a result, changes in a person’s condition.

In most cases, women suffer from this disorder, which confirms the version about the psycho-emotional nature of the disease, since women have a harder time coping with emotional stress.

Hysteria is often the result of prolonged, ongoing emotional overload. In a normal stressful situation, the body returns to normal after some time, as it has the opportunity to recover. But mental stress, when the body does not have the ability to recover in a timely manner for a long time, can lead to a variety of health disorders, such as depression, phobias, obsessive states, and hysteria.

In this case, properly selected treatment is necessary, and the help of a good psychologist is also desirable. But the most important thing is for a person to figure it out himself, to be able to understand what led to this condition - that’s the only way he can get better. You should not hope for a miracle - that all problems will be solved by medications - they are designed to restore normal hormonal levels, that is, the effect, but if a person does not find and eliminate the very cause of the problem, then it is the same as treating cancer with painkillers alone. Although this is also necessary.

But even if a person has taken all measures to recover, the recovery period can take a very long time, depending on the severity of the condition and how long it lasted - it is important not to wait for miracles, that “tomorrow” everything will fall into place, since this can lead to despair and greatly interfere with recovery. It’s the same as expecting that after a fracture a person will be able to jump tomorrow. If this lasted for years, then recovery in a very good situation can take the same amount of time, because the body gets used to a certain state and after a while begins to consider it the norm, and retraining your body again is a difficult and lengthy process. Too drastic changes can even become additional stress.

Often the reasons leading to hysteria are that a person cannot come to terms with something for a long time, forget some traumatic situation, and can constantly torment himself with painful thoughts, feelings of guilt, and despair. And dealing with this is the most difficult task. This is very, very difficult. And here the most important thing is to remember that our body and even our psyche are amazingly capable of self-healing, if we can create the necessary conditions for this, reserve great patience, and do not despair and give up. Avoiding new traumatic situations may seem impossible, but it is necessary. The body must remember what a calm, normal and healthy state means - this is the only way progress can begin.

If you start treatment on time and take all the necessary measures, then the hysterical attacks that have begun can quickly stop without going into the acute phase. This is often hampered by delays in treatment issues due to an incorrect understanding of the causes of the disease and, as a result, turning to alternative healers in the hope of help.

As for medical treatment, it is not always easy to immediately correctly determine the severity of the condition and select the ideal treatment (after all, each situation is individual). Therefore, if treatment with some drug is not suitable (the drug may be too strong or, on the contrary, may not have the necessary effect), then you should not immediately give up medication - it may take some time to find the most suitable treatment.

How to exorcise a demon?

If a person suddenly begins to behave strangely and show signs of possession, it is necessary to call an exorcism specialist. It is better for an unprepared person not to engage in amateur activities, so as not to end up becoming a “vessel” for evil spirits.

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As a rule, exorcists read special prayers, ask to name the demon in order to gain power over it, expel it from the body and seal the portal. Some people seal the demon into a specific item.

In order for the exorcism ritual to be successful, the following safety precautions must be observed:

• Limit the patient’s movement around the rooms so that he does not harm himself.
• Do not provoke the possessed person under any circumstances. Agree on everything, since he is not able to control his condition.
• Before the exorcist arrives, it is better to remove the icons so as not to provoke attacks and preserve the health of the possessed as much as possible.

Rituals to expel a demon are unsafe, therefore they must be carried out indoors, without the presence of children and the elderly.

Before independently diagnosing “obsession,” it is necessary to consult a competent “physical doctor” - a psychiatrist, and a “mental doctor” - an exorcist, since there is a very fine line between the state of obsession and mental disorders, which an ordinary person is not able to determine. It is also important to observe all precautions when contacting both an possessed person and a mentally ill person. If a person has a mental illness, it is better to undergo traditional treatment. The ritual of exorcism in this situation will bring one harm.

How to help someone who is possessed

In the Gospel, the Savior healed a demon-possessed youth who threw himself into fire and water. And He gave the answer on how to get rid of demons: “This generation is driven out only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).

Righteous John of Kronstadt gave the following interpretation of the words of Jesus Christ: “How great is the power of fasting and prayer! No wonder: during fasting the soul becomes dominant over the lusts of the body, generally subjugates it to itself, and the devil very often acts through the flesh; The faster, therefore, conquers both the flesh and the devil - which means that then he is close to God in his moral state and can do the powers of God most easily. If prayer is added to this, which brings down to us the blessing and help of heaven, then man can truly command not only material nature, but also fallen spirits. How did the Lord Himself defeat the devil? By fasting and prayer.”

Some time ago, “reprimands” began to be especially popular among Orthodox Christians. A reprimand is a special type of prayer performed on demon-possessed people to exorcise evil spirits. In the breviary this prayer rite is called “Following a prayer service for the weak, overwhelmed by unclean spirits.” Such prayers really help get rid of unclean spirits.