No, you are not crazy, especially if you're a born again child of God. Sanity begins when a person is received into the family of God through salvation in Christ. Sin and demonic influence is the root of crazy, an unsound mind. You were sound enough to listen to the Lord and follow His instructions to stop all contact with someone who is controlled by demon power.

What is Paranoid Schizophrenia?

This is the medical explanation of Paranoid Schizophrenia according to the Mayo Clinic Website.

Paranoid Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, which is a subtype of schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia don't perceive and respond to the world as most other people do. People with paranoid schizophrenia hold untrue beliefs (delusions, believe something to be true that essentially no one else in their culture believes) or they hear things others don't hear, (which is the perception of sound, usually voices, that no one else hears.) These sounds may be a single voice or many voices, either talking to the person or to each other. The voices are usually unpleasant. They may give a constant critique of what the person is thinking or doing, or they harass the person about real or imagined faults. Voices may also command the person to do things that can be harmful to himself or herself or to others.

A person with paranoid schizophrenia misinterprets experiences and then holds on to those interpretations despite evidence or reasoning to the contrary. Delusions are commonly focused on the perception of being persecuted and often result in the mistrust of other people.

Early signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal, unusual behaviors, anxiety and decline in daily functional abilities, may begin gradually before the primary symptoms of schizophrenia. Delusions may result in a violent outburst if a person believes a perceived threat creates a dangerous situation in need of self-defense. A person with paranoid schizophrenia may also have delusions of grandeur, holding the belief that he or she has superhuman skills, is famous, has a relationship with a famous person or is a historical figure. These delusions can be dangerous, as when a person believes he or she can fly and acts on that belief.

To a person with paranoid schizophrenia, these voices are real. The person with paranoid schizophrenia may talk to or shout at the voices. However, after years of relatively successful disease management, some people may learn to recognize the voices as manifestations of the disease.

Most researchers believe that schizophrenia results from problems with early brain development. Studies have focused on the way brain cells communicate with each other through nerve pathways. Too many or too few connections in the important pathways of emotional regulation may lead to psychotic symptoms. More specifically, certain areas of the brain that are rich in the chemical dopamine seem to be affected most often in schizophrenia.

The contributing factors associated with the development of these brain-pathway problems are controversial and are being carefully investigated. Some of the areas of current research include risk-associated genes, exposure to certain viruses or malnutrition in the womb, and stressful childhood environments in genetically susceptible children.

Schizophrenia is a group of serious brain disorders in which reality is interpreted abnormally. Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, requiring lifelong treatment. But thanks to new medications, schizophrenia symptoms can often be successfully managed, allowing people with the condition to lead productive, enjoyable lives.

Medical Science Diminishes Biblical Truths

Medical science is doing their best to research and develop ways to help people but they refuse to acknowledge the spiritual aspect in the things they call diseases. Anything that is outside of the scope of God's plan for a person's life can be labeled a disease. Disease is something that robs, hurts, deteriorates or kills a part of the human body and comes through the "curse" that Satan lives under. The Book of Deuteronomy defines what's in the curse. Satan puts thoughts into the mind of every human being; he continually pushes his lies in the hope that we will choose his way of thinking, speaking and acting.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

People have a hard time realizing that every thought is not their own. Since Satan is from the spirit world he must work to gain power through people. He does that by instilling thoughts into a person's mind. God's is the same way. He desires us to yield to his Spirit: his thoughts and his way of doing, (starting with what he has had written down for us in the Bible) then he can express himself through us. Our choices are so important, God gives us the right to choose and will never impose himself on us, but Satan pushes his way in to take over any part of a person’s life that he can.

What medical science is labeling is the effects that satanic influence has placed on the human body. For instance, by drinking alcohol you can develop the disease of alcoholism. Smoking, doing drugs, sexual impurity etc., all destroy different parts of the body including the mind that God gave us to use for living good and happy lives. Things that destroy the body come from the curse and are pressed into a person's mind as something they should do to fulfill emotional tools, which Satan supplied in the first place, such as flattery, popularity, ego, self-indulgence, pride etc. It's not God's will for people to do something wrong to harm their body. Those things are displeasing because He wants us to be healthy, live long and spend eternity with him.

1 John 5:17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

Many things people do come by satanic or evil influences, tempting us through our sinful nature, (the nature we were born with, a nature that is not yet covered with the blood of Jesus). The more a person knows about the will of God and acts accordingly, the less influence Satan has on their life and are free from what science calls disease. Doctors and medicine are great and a wonderful benefits to society but it's better, and a whole lot cheaper, to recognize when Satan is attacking us and use the Word of God to over power him. It's our right as a Christian to fight disease God's way and live free.

Sometimes people don't want to accept the fact that demonic power has attacked them or one of their loved ones. If your human, then Satan is out to destroy you, if for no other reason, just because you are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). I don't like to "white-wash" Satan's work by giving it a medical name, although medical names do help in describing symptoms. I would rather call things as the Bible calls it, especially if it's something I'm fighting against for myself or someone else. It gives me more understanding on how to fight the "good fight of faith" by keeping Satan as the object to defeat. Here are just two cases in the Bible of demon power taking over a person's mind in a way that is strong enough to control the whole person. Jesus call each situation as it was and used God's power to deliver them instantly. The first is a man with Schizophrenic symptoms and the second is a boy who has Epileptic symptoms who probably received them through no fault of his own, since he was only a child.

A Demon-possessed Man - Mark 5: 1-20

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

This was a man with demons inside. They controlled his mind and his actions, including his tongue and his strength. Jesus knew it wasn't a disease to subside with medication and treatment. It was demons who needed to be cast out and it didn't matter how they got in him.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Now the demons are causing the destruction of the pigs just like he had been destroying the man. Demons don't care who they destroy, it's in their nature. (John 10:10 The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.)

(Mark 5 continued)

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

They should have been rejoicing and praising God for that man's new life.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

He was free from the bondage that Satan held him with, it wasn't a disease but many demons. When you accept having a disease you are accepting the demonic power that is giving you the symptoms. They are real symptoms that the human body can feel and experience, if you don't fight them with the power of God, through using His Word, they will become medical facts as you accept them. As children of God, when we use His Word (what's in The Holy Bible according to our circumstances) it changes earthly facts and brings us total deliverance.

The Healing of a Boy With a Demon - Epilepsy - Matthew 17:14- 21

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said." He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (KJV) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Medical science has given names to many types of demonic oppression and possessions. It gives a person a false sense of what's wrong with them. Therefore, they put all their trust in medical science instead of God's greatness. There are so many people that suffer through life, daily taking medicine to control some "disease", which they could be delivered from instantly if they only lived close to the Lord and believed what the Bible says; and many of those people will die years before God intended them to.

I want to give you answers to why you felt division in your home, during the time you were visiting your friend, that are according to God's word and the findings of medical science together. Those demonic spirits attacked you hoping to capture either you or one of your family members. You must learn how our enemy, the devil, works so you can effectively control his efforts to harass you or your family in the future.

If Schizophrenia is the result of demon oppression how does it work to take someone over?

Satanic oppression or possession had entered your friend. God only knows how. It could have been at the time of an accident, sickness, an emotionally weak period etc. It could have started when she was a child, demons attack when we are the most vulnerable and work with patience and cunning to remain in the position they have gained. If we don't resist them they can invite other demons to live within the same mind they're controlling, giving them more power. When a person continually accepts something from the curse, by saying or acting with approval to things such as doing drugs, drinking alcohol or listening to satanic influenced music, even cursing etc., they are opening their hearts (the part of the mind that makes choices) to demonic power. That's how demons grow in number within a person, like the man in the tombs and many people we see today. Satan wants a high place of power in a person's mind so that he or she will believe all that he instills there and will act out his will. He uses people to destroy their own lives and the lives of those around them.

As satanic oppression moves in on a person's mind it becomes void of human thoughts for maintaining life, such as in social or occupational dysfunction. That's why people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia are likely to be diagnosed with comorbid conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders. In psychiatry, comorbidity doesn't necessarily imply the presence of multiple diseases, but instead the inability to supply a single diagnosis that accounts for all symptoms.

Demons controlling the mind of a person diagnosed with Schizophrenia are working toward a complete take over. That's why medical science must treat a person for their entire life. On the other hand, God's way, with the power of casting out demons as Jesus did, a person can have complete deliverance immediately. Medicine only subsides or diminishes demon activity through chemical changes in the body, for one example: suppressing dopamine activity with Zyprexa. Although it calms the brain and allows some clarity in thinking, it has devastating side effects. It's much better to use faith and believe God's Word for complete total freedom, freedom that has no side effects as medicine does. Here are two scriptures to use in confessing God's Word over our mind and keep it healthy.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Medicine is man's earthly way of helping people. However, through the miraculous power of God's Spirit working with our faith and obedience in accordance to His Word, we can put Satan completely out of our lives; leaving our chemical balance normal, as God intended it to be. I thank God that he made our bodies the way he did and gave medical science the knowledge to help people, but I'd rather stay healthy God's way (through knowing what He wrote in the Bible and confessing his promises for my life because I'm obedient to his ways) and not experience all the side effects that medicine produces.

In Satan's take over of a schizophrenic mind, demons produce delusions and auditory sounds. Take a look at the symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report.

These sounds may be a single voice or many voices, either talking to the person or to each other. The voices are usually unpleasant. They may give a constant critique of what the person is thinking or doing, or they harass the person about real or imagined faults. Voices may also command the person to do things that can be harmful to himself or herself or to others.

When demons possess the mind of a human being they live there, of course they know every thought that person has. They conduct business there, so they discuss evil things and produce strategies amongst themselves to destroy the person and as much of their environment as possible, including their loved ones. As for harassing, that's simply what Satan is all about, harassing people, only he's doing it on the inside of a person instead of causing trouble and problems around the person as he does with all of us. To be free of sin and over power his harassment here on earth as well as for all eternity is the reason we desire to receive salvation through Christ. It's God's protection for us.

Demons continually endeavor to grow in strength and number within a person. Of course the voices are unpleasant, their demons. In the beginning it causes confusion. Deterioration of a person's clear thinking, that is organized and has the ability to prioritize all things concerning their life is the a major effort in Satan's kingdom. Control by confusion is a powerful tool that Satan uses in the attempt to weaken people's mind for his take over. That's why one of the symptoms of schizophrenia is disorganized speech and thinking.

(More symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report)

A person with paranoid schizophrenia misinterprets experiences and then holds on to those interpretations despite evidence or reasoning to the contrary.

It stands to reason that demons speaking from a point of occupying a person's mind is going to be more powerful with their twisted interpretation than real evidence or reasoning, simply because they are in control. What goes into a person's mind, through the five senses has to go to battle with demons in order to be processed and they will interpret to that person what ever they desire to further cause destruction.

(More symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report)

Delusions are commonly focused on the perception of being persecuted and often result in the mistrust of other people.

The lie of persecution, that demons place in a person's mind, is just one aspect of Satan's biggest most powerful tools "divide and conquer". First of all the Bible gives us detailed instructions on how to handle real persecution. Satanic thoughts of persecution are usually based on conditions that he puts in the mind, not facts. If he can wedge any kind of a division, one being mistrust between people, whether it's a married couple, a teenager and his or her parents, even church members, then he has a better chance of severing a relationship where people care for one another. Divide and conquer gives demons a clear path of opportunity to take control over people's mind because they have no support system from the very people that love them most. Mistrust is a fear based emotion, all fear is from Satan who has already been condemned to eternal punishment, putting unfounded mistrust in a person's mind is his way of getting that person to accept the same curse that God put him under.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Fear results in a sense of being overwhelmed or a hopelessness, causing a person to give in to the desire that Satan intended in the beginning of his attack. Satan always has a better chance at using a person's mind when they are alone, sad, hurt and in a weakened condition, that's why we are told to walk by faith (what's written in God's Word) not by sight (the circumstances going on around us).

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

(More symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report)

Early signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal, unusual behaviors, anxiety (any feeling ranging from nervousness to panic attacks) and decline in daily functional abilities, may begin gradually before the primary symptoms of schizophrenia. Delusions may result in a violent outburst if a person believes a perceived threat creates a dangerous situation in need of self-defense.

Demons work at establishing patterns of fear in the mind with delusions, which will repeat themselves producing increased fear as a person experiences different situations throughout their days, weeks and years. What a person feared a little last month has been increased, through a thought pattern, to require a more aggressive response today. Just as the Holy Spirit increases our love toward others to increase a person's ability for self-control, Satan uses the increase of fear to push a person out of control. Demons use the same process to increase other symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia.

(More symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report)

A person with paranoid schizophrenia may also have delusions of grandeur, holding the belief that he or she has superhuman skills, is famous, has a relationship with a famous person or is a historical figure. These delusions can be dangerous, as when a person believes he or she can fly and acts on that belief.

(More symptoms from the Mayo Clinic report)

After years of relatively successful disease management, some people may learn to recognize the voices as manifestations of the disease.

It's important to know what a manifestation is. The dictionary describes a manifestation as: An indication of the existence, a reality, or presence of something. One of the forms in which someone or something, such as a person, a divine being, or an idea, is revealed.

In the report from Mayo Clinic, they finally concede to the fact that people with schizophrenia are experiencing manifestations and recognize the manifestation of voices as valid, or a real part of their "disease" but never refer to the manifestations as to who's voices (spiritual beings) are really speaking. I would suspect because they don't know how to stop the voices, which would give a person back the control of their mind, but God does.

As a person accepts the manifestations of satanic captivity over their mind, it allows demons to increase their activity toward total take over, which causes more damage to a person's mental capacity for taking care of their own lives. Once more, spiritual demonic possession increases in power and the human spirit of free choice decreases. Our protection, as Christians, is to learn what's in God's Word and how to use it to put Satan under our feet. (Romans 16:19-20)

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (This happens through the study of God's Word) Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When a doctor says, "You have.....disease", he is establishing in a person's mind what Satan has chosen to attack them with and they have limited help through medicine. It's not wrong for a Christian to seek the help of a physician but the ultimate avenue for healing should be through the power that's provided for us through the truth of God's Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

What a schizophrenic person is seeing or hearing is very much real, even though doctors and medical reports calls it hallucinations because they don't have knowledge of the spiritual side of human life.

Hallucination - Perception of something seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. An experience without an external stimulus and with a compelling sense of one's reality, usually resulting from a mental disorder or as a response to a drug.

What our society calls hallucinations many time are a reality coming from Satan's spiritual world through demonic power that is attacking a person's mind. Many people have no problem with receiving from God's spiritual world. We receive salvation which is a miracle in its self to be free from sin and ready for heaven. We feel His presence in leading us through our thoughts. Even sinners speak about religious beliefs, angelic beings and godly experiences, but to believe how Satan works at taking over human beings seems so foreign to so many people; yet the proof is everywhere in today's society, which re-enforces the cunningness that Satan has possessed from the beginning of time. (Genesis 3: 1-24)

The speed of demonic take over is dependent upon how much a person yields their mind to the demonic manifestation, such as drugs, pornography, music etc. For example, a person who listens to demonic music, such as rap, or looks at pornography will begin to dress, speak and act according to the demonic spirit that designed what they are indulging in. If you add drugs to the situation then the person's mind is altered from human control, leaving it open for demonic invasion. Then that person will sink into destruction and depravity at a faster rate. God gave us a mind that functions on many levels, yet it's the most complex piece of equipment to figure out because it not only learns and functions in the earthly realm but is susceptible to the spiritual realms, God's as well as Satan's. God gave us free will to choose what we desire to put into our mind to keep for our future and what to throw out. To use our mind without the leadership of God's Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts will bring a bountiful supply of disaster into our lives. That's why the Bible instructs us to fill our minds with the things of God for our own protection from demonic influences.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Some of the statistics I've found for schizophrenia are: the lifetime prevalence of substance abuse is typically around 40%. Social problems, such as long-term unemployment, poverty and homelessness, are common and life expectancy is decreased; the average life expectancy of people with the disorder is 10 to 12 years less than those without, owing to increased physical health problems and a high suicide rate. God's way of total deliverance is so much better than man's way of lifetime treatment.

The demons that affected your friend's mind followed you home in the hope they could take you over. They are always looking for another human being that will allow them to stay in their presence. You were wise to recognize the changes in your home, many people overlook changes like you experienced or attribute them to another source. This is why you had that feeling that something less than godly had a grip on your household. What you called "bad luck" was disturbances from demonic influences at work to cause destruction to your family. Satan will perform events to weaken our defense against his activity. It's up to us to know the Word of God use faith for His promises and blessings. We are to learn to take authority over anything that tries to disrupt the will of God for our life and for those we love.

Note: "Luck" is Satan's counterfeit for the "blessing" that God gives to those who are obedient. Obedience means, we must use faith (believing in His Word) and is accompanied by our thoughts, speech and actions in accordance. Salvation is free for just believing Jesus is God's son and will save us from our sins when we repent. The in-filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift. We just have to ask for Him to fill us and have faith that He will, expecting the initial evidence of speaking in a heavenly language to be inspired by Him to praise God. However, the covenant promises are to be received through faith. If Satan can get a person to believe in luck or chance, because they win something or receive something that is unwarranted, then he has capture that part of the mind away from the power of God's supply for their life. A person can't believe in faith and luck both in their mind. They belong to two different spiritual worlds. Believing in luck cancels out any faith a person might have. People who say they believe in both wonder why their faith doesn't work and their not receiving great rewards. Satan doesn't require anything in return for what is called luck. If he sees that a series of good events will hook a person into believing and depending on his counterfeit, then he has no problem spending time to capture a human mind with that belief. With God there is never chance, uncertainty or anything labeled "luck". He states his covenant very clearly in the Bible, if we follow his instructions, that He so lovingly had written down for us, He will fulfill every promise according to our obedience and faith.

God honors people with blessings, physical, mental, material as well as spiritual who receive His Word as faith into their heart and live within the obedient guidelines of His truth. It's a stable, continuous sure thing. Satan deals with chance or luck which is never stable because it can be good or bad because, like Satan and his other works, it has an evil foundation system. Notice people say "bad luck" but never say "bad blessing", Satan's language sets a person up to accept defeat in their lives. God never does that. He wants to bless everyone; but they have to receive those blessings His way, by learning in the Word what's rightfully theirs through the salvation covenant.

You write, "My instinct told me to stop all contact with this person." God was speaking to you and giving you direction because He loves you. You ask, "Am I crazy, or is this possible?" Yes, it's not just possible, but what you experienced is absolutely real. There is a God who loves each of us so very much and his greatest desire is to save us and keep us in His protection. It doesn't matter what we've done that was wrong in life, He wants to cleanse it away and give us a new beginning in His family. His love for us is so great that His only Son gave his blood to wash away our sins. Jesus gave the only sacrificial price that could open the door to heaven's throne for us that we once again can fellowship with God, just as Adam did before he sinned. If you or anyone you know does not have that love relationship with God, our heavenly Father, then please go to our salvation prayer page and pray to receive Jesus as your Lord. Then begin to study God's Word and learn all that you can about overcoming the powers of darkness. Read my article What is Faith? for help in allowing God to bring you into His great light of knowledge, wisdom and safety.