Could My Shared Hallucinations Really Be Demonic Possession?
Years ago, I was in rehab for drug addiction. I spent five months in rehab, followed by six months in sober living. This story happened during my last few weeks in rehab. I had met hundreds of addicts during that time, and many also had severe mental illnesses like depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.
I’ll never forget the day Mike (30-40 M) was admitted. The techs told us about his condition—he had severe schizophrenia and would often talk to voices no one else could hear. Sometimes he would get agitated, yelling at the voices, and have panic attacks. It was sad to witness, as this wasn’t an occasional thing for Mike; it was his 24/7 reality.
The rehab was like an old motel, but much nicer. Mike was placed in my unit, and I introduced myself. He seemed nervous, but I explained how things worked and told him to come to me if he ever needed anything. He nodded, and that was the last time we spoke for the next two weeks.
That evening, I heard Mike aggressively talking to himself, as expected. But it sounded so much like a real conversation. He was saying things like, "Shut the fuck up!" and "Leave me the fuck alone!" Hearing it for the first time made me feel bad for him, but what happened over the next few days made me feel something far worse.
A few days later, I was making coffee in the kitchen when I heard a voice say, "What are you doing?" I turned around, but no one was there. Just as I was trying to make sense of it, I heard Mike scream from his room, "ARRRGGGGHHHH! Get the fuck out of here!" I was confused and alarmed, but I tried to shrug it off. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time something strange happened.
Later that week, I heard Mike talking to himself again. This time, though, I heard a second voice. At first, I thought maybe Mike was just really good at imitating different voices, but something felt off. The other voice was too distinct. I turned down the TV to listen more closely.
Mike said, "Leave me alone, please!" The other voice responded, "Just go and do what I tell you. It's for the best." Then Mike replied, "No, that's bad! I won’t do it!" The other voice urged him, "Go to the kitchen and get the knife now!" Mike let out a scream of despair, and I was frozen in disbelief.
I could hear the conversation becoming clearer as I approached Mike’s room. It wasn’t just Mike in there. I swear there were two people. I knocked on his door, and the voices stopped immediately. I opened the door, and there was Mike, sitting with his head in his hands. He looked up at me and said, "I'm fine, thanks. Please shut the door."
I immediately went to the head nurse and told her what I had heard, mentioning the knife. They moved Mike to a place where he could get more help.
To this day, I can’t explain what I experienced. I’ve been clean for years, and I’ve never had hallucinations. I’ve tried to rationalize it, but part of me believes Mike wasn’t just schizophrenic—he was possessed. It’s something I think about often, but I don’t think I’ll ever get closure on it.
Our Thoughts
This story brings to light the blurred lines between mental illness and the paranormal. Schizophrenia, with its auditory hallucinations, is a tragic condition, but what makes this story chilling is that the narrator also heard the voices. Was this simply a powerful manifestation of Mike’s illness, or was something more sinister at play?
The fact that the narrator, a recovering addict with no history of hallucinations, heard the same disturbing voices raises unsettling questions. It’s hard to ignore the eerie possibility that Mike wasn’t just suffering from a mental disorder but was experiencing something far darker, like demonic possession.
Encounters like this leave us questioning the nature of reality and the unseen forces that might influence it. While many might rationalize it away, the lingering doubt keeps the experience alive in our minds.
Disclaimer: This story has been rewritten for clarity and originality. While inspired by discussions from various internet platforms, it should be regarded as speculative and not factual. The analysis provided is based on available information and reflects the author’s interpretation.
