The Science Behind Exorcism: is Demonic Possession Possible?

Hello, friends. In 2005, a popular Hollywood movie called The Exorcism of Emily Rose was released. What made this horror movie different was that it was based on a true story— the real-life story of Anneliese Michel, one of the most famous exorcism cases in history.

Anneliese Michel was born in 1952 in West Germany. At 16, she fainted in school and, according to her friends, was in a strange, trance-like state for a few minutes. That night, she felt a heavy pressure on her body and woke up to find she had wet the bed. This happened again about a year later, and her parents decided to take her to a doctor. However, the doctors didn’t find anything unusual.

Then in 1970, Anneliese was diagnosed with tuberculosis and hospitalized. While in the hospital, she started seeing strange colors and hearing voices. Doctors diagnosed her with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, which is a type of seizure disorder. But what happened next was beyond the usual symptoms. Anneliese began having severe hallucinations. She saw things others couldn’t and heard voices telling her she was cursed. This led to deep depression.

She also started praying on her knees hundreds of times a day, to the point where her knees were badly damaged. Things got worse—she began hiding under tables, barking like a dog, and eating strange things like spiders, coal, and even a bird. Her parents were confused and doctors couldn’t help, so they sought religious help. A bishop began performing exorcisms on her.

During these exorcisms, Anneliese claimed that six demons were inside her, including Lucifer, Hitler, and Judas. Some believe that audio recordings of these sessions still exist.

Her story became one of the strangest cases in the world. But it’s not unique. There are other cases, like an American man who, after losing consciousness, woke up speaking Swedish even though he had no connection to the language before.

Scientists believe that what happened to Anneliese was not due to demons, but a mental disorder called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which was previously called Multiple Personality Disorder. In this condition, a person can have several personalities or “alters.” These alters might have different names, ages, and even memories. In fact, a person with DID may not remember what another personality has done.

A famous case of DID is Kim Noble, who has more than 100 personalities. Her personalities switch often, even when she’s with her family. This can be dangerous, like when one of her younger personalities took over while she was driving, leading to a car accident.

People with DID may not even realize they have the disorder. They often experience memory gaps and confusion about time. Therapy can help, but the condition is complex. The goal of treatment is to reintegrate these separate personalities into one identity.

Unfortunately, Anneliese Michel didn’t receive the right help. Over a period of 10 months, she underwent 67 exorcisms. In the end, she died from malnutrition and dehydration because she wasn’t eating or drinking properly. At the time of her death, she weighed only 32 kilograms.

Her case became a national scandal in Germany. Her parents and the two priests involved were charged and convicted of negligent homicide because they didn’t provide her with medical help when she needed it.

Experts now believe that Anneliese had three mental illnesses: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Anorexia Nervosa (an eating disorder), and a hyper-religious personality, which made her believe she was possessed. Her extremely religious upbringing contributed to her delusions about being possessed by demons.

So, while it may seem like a case of demonic possession, it was likely a combination of her mental health issues, upbringing, and lack of proper treatment. This story is a reminder that mental health disorders can be complex, and it’s important to seek the right medical care.

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