👻 “Is Anyone Inside Me?” – When Science and Spirituality Clash
Imagine one fine day, you’re sipping your bubble tea when suddenly… a deep, husky voice emerges from your mouth: “Who am I? Who are you?” Your loved ones panic, while you have no idea what’s going on. Is this possession, or just an unexplained psychological phenomenon?
In this article, we will clearly distinguish between two perspectives:
🔹 Spirituality: The belief in possession by spirits.
🔹 Science: Psychological phenomena and disorders that could be mistaken for possession.
📌 What is Possession? What Do Science and Spirituality Say?
🔮 The Spiritual Perspective
According to folk beliefs, possession (or spirit possession) is a phenomenon in which a spirit or supernatural entity takes control of a living person’s body, influencing their actions, speech, and even thoughts. Many cultures, both Eastern and Western, acknowledge such cases.
📖 In Japan, the phenomenon of “tsukimono” occurs, where a possessed person may exhibit unusual strength or speak in a long-forgotten language.
🧪 The Scientific Perspective
Modern science provides a different explanation:
✔️ Dissociative Disorder: People with this condition may exhibit multiple personalities, each with different voices and behaviors.
✔️ Schizophrenia: Causes hallucinations and delusions, making the person believe that they are being controlled by an external force.
✔️ Mass Hysteria: When many people believe in something, they can exhibit similar reactions, leading to mass possession phenomena.
📚 Source: American Psychiatric Association (APA), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
So, are you really possessed, or is it just a psychological phenomenon? Let’s examine the signs.
🕵️♂️ How to Recognize Possession (Or Not!)
1️⃣ Spiritual Signs of Possession
According to myths and legends, individuals who are possessed may exhibit the following signs:
- Sudden change in voice, speaking in a foreign language they have never learned.
- Loss of control over actions, crawling on all fours or performing strange rituals.
- Avoidance of religious symbols, strong reactions when hearing prayers, seeing crosses, or charms.
📜 For example: In a case of possession in South Korea in 1999, a girl was believed to have been possessed by her ancestors’ spirits, speaking a language that had long been extinct. Some of the scariest Korean ghosts, like the “Cheonyeo Gwishin” (virgin ghost) or “Mul Gwishin” (water ghost), are believed to possess people who unknowingly disturb their rest. Legends say that those who encounter them often experience nightmares, sudden illnesses, or even unexplained voices whispering in their ears at night.
2️⃣ Scientific Explanations for “Possession”
These signs may be symptoms of psychological disorders:
- Dissociative Disorder: People may develop different personalities, each with strange speech and actions.
- Mass Hysteria: When a group of people believes in something, they can react similarly, leading to “mass possession” episodes.
- Jerusalem Syndrome: Some tourists visiting sacred religious sites experience hallucinations where they believe they are “chosen” or controlled by supernatural forces.
📚 Source: Robert E. Bartholomew & Simon Wessely, “Mass Hysteria in Historical and Contemporary Context” (2002).
😱 Why Are Some People “Possessed”?
🔮 The Spiritual Perspective
Folk beliefs suggest that those who are possessed often have one or more of the following conditions:
- Cursed or wronged by spirits, unknowingly insulting a spirit.
- Being in places with strong negative energy (graveyards, abandoned houses, old hospitals).
- Weak-minded, easily influenced by ghost stories or superstitions.
📜 For example: In Vietnam, some people believe that walking out at night during the “Ghost Month” can lead to being “possessed by spirits.”
🧪 The Scientific Perspective
Science suggests that “possession” may relate to:
- Sleep Paralysis: Causes hallucinations, making the person feel as though someone is controlling their body.
- Stress, depression, anxiety disorders: People with unstable mental health are more susceptible to believing in supernatural influences.
- Environmental influences: Dark and cold places can trigger fear responses in the brain, leading to “ghostly” hallucinations.
📚 Source: Neuroscience of Sleep Paralysis – Journal of Sleep Research (2018).
🛡️ How to Prevent “Possession” – Science or Spirituality?
🔹 From a scientific perspective:
✔️ Maintain mental stability, avoid excessive anxiety.
✔️ Get adequate sleep, as sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations.
✔️ If you notice unusual signs, seek help from a neurologist or psychologist.
🔹 From a spiritual perspective:
✔️ Avoid places with negative energy if you have a weak mind.
✔️ Avoid engaging in spirit summoning or using Ouija boards without proper knowledge.
✔️ Wear protective amulets (such as a wooden bracelet or a charm for safety) – although their effectiveness isn’t scientifically proven, if it helps you feel at ease, there’s no harm.
🎭 Do You Believe?
Whether you subscribe to science or spirituality, the phenomenon of “possession” remains a controversial topic. If you or someone you know exhibits unusual symptoms, seek help from mental health professionals before relying solely on folklore or spiritual practices.
What about you—do you believe in possession, or is it just a psychological phenomenon? Share your thoughts with us! 😉
