Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and
Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)
(now called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID))
Books on deliverance and/or inner healing that cover healing from Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) are rare. See the list at the end of this section. While seekers with these problems may not be common, deliverance and inner healing ministers never-the-less need to be able to recognize seekers who have been exposed to Satanic Ritual Abuse, and may experience multiple personality disorder as a result. Most seekers will not disclose they are suffering from SRA, and may not realize they are experiencing MPD. The purpose of this section is to make ministers more aware of the symptoms and other indicators of SRA, and to be able to minister to victims if the minister has the skills and experience, or refer them to qualified Christian counselors who can help.
What is Satanic Ritual Abuse?
SRA consists of all the emotional, physical and sexual abusive acts that take place during satanic worship and rituals. Much of satanic worship consists of activities and experiences that mock main Christian values such as: ceremonies that mock the death of Jesus on the cross, black mass, a nude body representing Mary the mother of Jesus, fecal matter takes the place of bread, and blood (ideally human blood) and urine take the place of wine and water. Sexual orgies, violence, pain, torture, animal and human sacrifice are all part of such worship. Satanism is Christianity turned on its head. Jesus’ love is mocked by Satan’s hatred mistrust.
Most exposure for children begins when they are age 3-5 years. It is not the purpose of this material to describe in detail what happens during these worship time. However it may be important to know the general areas common to SRA. (from a study done by Margaret Smith, Ritual Abuse p 10)
Sexually abused by adults 94%
Photographed nude 8%
Drugged during abuse 59%
Mutilation or killing of animals/humans 58%
Silenced by threats of harm to family 64%
Use of robes, candles, and/or knives 48%
For those children abused in day care centers, the percentages were virtually 100% for each victim. There are graphic descriptions of these experiences in the books listed at the end of this section. Suffice to say children are tortured by parents, made to perform sacrifices of animals or humans, used as objects of sexual orgies, and threatened with torture or death of they tell anyone.
Symptoms and other indicators of ritual abuse Ryder, Daniel, Breaking the Circle of SRA, pp 67-75.
Sleep disorders: insomnia, fear of falling asleep, inability to stay asleep, regularly wake at certain times of night, nightmares, night terrors
High pain tolerance, painless childbirth, unaware of injury to self
Seizures/epilepsy with or without organic evidence
Liver malfunctions
Adrenal gland malfunctions
Digestive tract disorders
Genitourinary problems
Chronic bladder/kidney infections
Frequent skin irritations, disorders
Headaches/migraines
Asthma
Overweight
Gynecological maladies and symptoms:
Vaginal/penile/rectal scarring
Frequent, persistent vaginal discharge
Urinary tract infections/diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases
Uterus is sterilized/scarred/absent
Unusual scars (shape, location, design) various places on body
Exaggerated reactions to particular olfactory stimuli: the smell of blood, urine/feces, alcohol, formaldehyde, burning hair, smoke from fire, incense
Significant pain/numbing/psychic paralysis in different parts of the body
Exaggerated startle responses: loud noises, surprises
Easily triggered into “flight or fight syndrome
Hyper-vigilance
Panic attacks
Allergies
Missing digits (fingers, toes
Chronic pain
Behavior Indicators of Ritual abuse survivors
Seeks out any form of pain, cutting etc.
Noticeable aversion to drinking water (prefers coffee, soda, juice)
Extreme fluctuation in behavior and skills
Self-mutilation/self-destructive behavior:
Cutting skin
Burning skin
Hitting self with fists/objects
Head banging
History of driving vehicle at high speeds or in dangerous manner
Placing self in physically dangerous locations
Seeking out physically abusive relationships
Artwork/poetry has themes of death, pain, occultism
Suicidality
Long-standing history of suicide attempts
Obsessive thinking about or planning of suicide
Speaking in unknown languages
Chemical dependency
Alcohol
Other drugs, illegal or prescription
Eating disorders
Anorexia
Bulimia
Bulimarexia
Compulsive overeating
Extreme mood swings
Speaking in different voices – extreme intonation changes
Draws or doodles occult/satanic symbols
Often fascinated by or drawn to aspect of:
The supernatural
The paranormal
Psychic phenomena
Multiple psychiatric hospitalizations with minimal alleviation of symptoms
Amnesiac periods/fugue states (a pathological condition: one is apparently conscious of his/her actions, but has no recollection of them after returning to a normal state).
Easily induced into a trance state
Fear of being photographed/videotaped
“Fires” or switches therapists frequently
Avoids or seeks out physical contact
Sexual dysfunctions:
Hyper-sexuality
Sexual perversion
Bestiality
Sadomasochism
Frigidity
Frequent unexplained crying or laughing
Frequent regressive behavior
Strong negative responses to certain holidays
Fear of one’s birthday
Compulsive washing of body/genitals
Sense of panic when one becomes the focus of attention
Bedwetting (as a child or adult)
Strong reaction to circles, even discomfort when sitting in group formed in a circle.
Psychological indicators of ritual abuse
Fear of talking to therapist, authority figures
Extreme reaction to animals killed on roadways
Frequent diagnostic labels:
Multiple personality disorder
Dissociative disorder
Paranoid schizophrenic
Borderline personality disorder
Manic/depression, bipolar
Psychotic disorder
Addictive disorders
Depersonalization disorder
Psychogenic amnesia
Psychogenic fugue
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Frequently labeled “malingerer”, “liar”, “hypochondriac”, and “imaginative” as a child.
Occult obsession/revulsion:
Drawn to or repulsed by occult themes, books, art, concepts
Imagined taste of blood in mouth
Extreme claustrophobia
Pervasive sense of impending doom
Convinced they are “possessed” by evil
Belief that they are controlled by something/someone outside themselves
Imaginary friends/playmates as a child or adult
Unexplained loss of time-hours, days, more
Intense paranoia/dreams of family being hurt/killed
Auditory/visual hallucinations
Sense of surrealism, unreality
Feeling that they could belong to Satan.
Black and white thinking
Sense of being “dead:
Contempt/rage at God, Jesus Christ, Christianity
Different styles of handwriting
Exaggerated trust issues
Flat or blunted affect
Claims of being “haunted, “seeing spirits
Acquired items they cannot account for (clothes, books, jewelry, toys, etc)
Use of “we” rather than “I” in referring to self
Unusual fears/phobias
Denial of behavior witnessed by others
Sudden shifts in unusual behavior
Conversion symptoms, hypochondrias
Numerous diagnostic labels
Hearing voices/chanting inside or outside of body, voices often urge/demand self mutilation or suicide
Belief that they are crazy
Belief that they are always being watched or followed
Depression
General sense of terror
Repressed tears or repressed screaming
Perpetual fear of abandonment
Belief that they will be institutionalized for the rest of their lives.
Ritual Abuse Survivors’ Obsessions/Repulsions
Death
Dead humans/animals
Costumes/masks
Fire
Violent, bloody films/books
Mutilation (self/others0
Telephone
Certain colors (red, white, black)
Raw meat
Blood
Feces/urine
Satan/demons
Knives, blades, sharp objects
Menstruation
Bestiality
Pornography
The supernatural realm
Occult themes
Possible Fears and Phobias of Ritual Abuse Survivors
Christian symbols/artifacts:
Crosses
Bibles
Altars
Robes
Chalices
Churches
Authority figures
Lawyers
Law enforcement personnel
Doctors
Judges
Teachers
Therapists
Incarceration/imprisonment/confinement
Hospitals
Medications
Any type of surgery
Bones
Needles
Blood
Feces/urine
Certain symbols/designs (often occult)
Coffins, trunks, boxes, cages
Cemeteries
Ropes, chains, wires
Water
Raw meat
Crying babies
Pregnancy
Pits/holes
Certain letter/number configurations
Certain animals:
Goats
Cows
Pigs
Rabbits
Cats
Dogs
Birds
Rats
Snakes
Spiders
Camera/video equipment
Being photographed
Electrical stimuli
Hypnosis, relaxation techniques
Mirrors
Receiving mail, phone calls
Particular colors (red, black, white)
Ministry to SRA Victims
If the minister is sure there are no “alters”, having the seeker repeat the following may be helpful as part of the inner healing ministry.
Special Renunciations for Satanic Ritual Involvement (from Winning Spiritual Warfare by Neil Anderson pp 22-23)
I renounce ever signing my name over to Satan or having had my name signed over to Satan
I renounce any ceremony where I may have been wed to Satan
I renounce any and all covenants that I made with Satan
I renounce all satanic assignments for my life, including duties, marriage and children
I renounce all spirit guides assigned tome
I renounce every giving of my blood in the service of Satan
I renounce ever eating of flesh or drinking of blood for satanic worship
I renounce any and all guardians and Satanist parents who were assigned to me.
I renounce any baptism in blood or urine whereby I am identified with Satan.
I renounce an and all sacrifices that were made on ny behalf by which Satan may claim ownership of me.
Special Announcements for the Kingdom of Light.
I announce that my name is now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life
I announce that I am the bride of Christ
I announce that I am a partaker of the New Covenant with Christ
I announce and commit myself to know and do only the will of God and accept only His guidance
I announce and accept only the leading of the Holy Spirit
I trust only in the shed blood of my Lord Jesus Christ
By faith, I eat only the flesh and drink only the blood of Jesus in Holy Communion.
I announce that God is my Father and the Holy Spirit is my Guardian by which I am sealed.
I announce that I have been baptized in Christ Jesus and my identity is now in Christ
I announce that only the sacrifice of Christ has any hold on me.
I belong to Him. I have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb.
Cutting
While SRA victims are not necessarily all cutters, and all cutters are not necessarily SRA victims, it may be helpful to include information about this recent phenomenon. According to Sherri Piscopo who presented at the 2011 ISDM annual meeting on this subject, 40% of youth have tried cutting in the past 3 years. It is prominent across all economic classes, and mostly by teens but some adults. The pain seems to be a way to remind them that they are still alive and hurting. A new form is erasing, that is- erasing their skin until it bleeds. Cutting/erasing is a symptom of something else going on inside their lives. It is a form of living suicide. Sherri has some good suggestions about how to deal with cutters.
From Sherrii Piscopo – 2011 ISDM annual meeting
It is a spiritual problem
Includes burns, bites, banging head, pulling out hair
Mostly in ages 13-15
It is really a cry for help
For them it is coping mechanism
It is addictive
Can be caused by Peer pressure
They don’t know how to release emotions
They have mental health issues going on
They hide cuts because of shame, rejection, hurt
You can’t stop them from cutting
Moves them toward suicide
Becomes popular – no pain
Tattooing is another form of cutting
Cutting may be a blood covenant
Replace emotional pain with physical pain
Pain is a way to remind me that I am still alive. A numbness and fact that they are hurting. Common place today.
In all prominent across economic classes. Mostly in teens but some adults.
Consider it another way of coping with their stresses. A form of temporary relief
Symptom of something else going on inside their lives.
It is acceptable
40% of our youth have tried cutting in past 3 years.
A form of living suicide.
How do we minister to cutters.
Can reach out to them
Connect with those cutters.
To give help, form a relationship first
Use love and forgiveness, love on them
Refer them to a professional
Don’t judge them, don’t panic
Let them speak
Use questions:
How will your cutting effect your relationship with God
Don’t ignore, deny or minimize the cutting.
Get help from Christian professional counselors
Get them to sign a privacy waiver so we can have open dialog between the counselors and the pastor staff.
Get to the root of the cutting.
Usually it is an issue of fathering and mothering.
Get to the issues so we can get rid of the behaviors.
Fill them up with Love, joy, confidence,
Accountability comes out of relationship.
Have them journal what they hear from God, and what they are feeling.
Don’t be afraid to work with doctors. Doctors are not evil.
Don’t tell them to come off meds.
Counseling and deliverance both required.
Characteristics of Eating Disorders
It is acceptable
Out of control
Complex, difficult to treat
Binge eating
Girls most boys 5%
Work with depression, substance abuse
Very unhealthy ups and downs
Depression
Inner healing and deliverance is treatment
Love on them a lot
You have to want this
They feel in control
Parents never satisfied
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formally called multiple personality disorder (MPD)
There are two ways that nature copes with experiences that are too painful, physically, mentally and/or emotionally. When children are exposed to this extreme pain, their minds try to stop it. When the mind is successful, children are able to completely forget about the abuse and the pain caused through traumatic amnesia. When they are not they develop other personalities or alters in a process referred to as dissociation.
Dissociation is nature’s way of protecting children (and adults) who have experienced severe trauma and/or SRA and allowing them to survive psychologically by creating “alters”, the technical term for another personality. Some believe this is a God-given gift enabling children to survive these intolerable, emotional experiences. There may be a few altars, or several dozen. Alters are parts of the person’s real personality that need to be put back together. These “splits” are not separate entitles, but are all parts of the entire person that need to be integrated. This usually takes many sessions and considerable time.
Most SRA/MPD victims will disclose their SRA to a counselor reluctantly, or not at all. They have learned to distrust everyone. They may have been programmed not to remember anything about the SRA experiences, and probably will not know they have DID. SRA victims fear man’s betrayal. They will have extreme difficulty accepting that you care, or really love them. Love to them is associated with sex. Handle with extreme care; you are dealing with a delicate life and death situation. A Christian psychotherapist who believes in inner healing and deliverance prayer is the ideal person to help SAR victims. If one is not available, a reputable non-Christian psychologist is more likely to help than a deliverance/inner healing minister who is inexperienced in this kind of need.
If you suspect that a seeker has been exposed to SRA, or has DID, listen with compassion. They will expect you not to believe them. Few others do, sometimes even their parents. Be patient, the survivor will probably not remember everything that happened and may seem confused. It will be difficult for him/her to believe that you are truly concerned about their welfare.
Alters have names as demons do, and therefore some inexperienced ministers may think they are evil spirits and try to cast them out. This is probably the worst kind of ministry. Alters have distinct differences from demons. The resources listed below will help ministers to know the differences as well as help them identify those they suspect may be SRA sufferers, and who may have DID as a result.
Unless the intercessor has had professional training and experience in dealing with SRA victims and DID, the best strategy for the intercessor, is to become well informed on the symptoms of SRA and DID, and then refer the seeker to a professionally trained counselor.
Resources
Neil Anderson, Winning Spiritual Warfare 1990 ISBN 13: 978-0-89081-868-8
James Friesen, Uncovering the Mystery of MPD, 1997 ISBN 1-56819-062-7
Diane Hawkins, Multiple Identities, 2009 ISBN 978-0-9708073-6-6, Restoration in Christ Ministries, http://www.rcm-usa.org/index.htm
Francis MacNutt, Deliverance from Evil Spirits, 1995, 0-8007-9232-7, Chap 17, pp 223-235 (best introductory material)
Daniel Ryder, Breaking the Circle of SRA, 1992, 0-89638-258-3 (an excellent book by a Christian counselor)
Margaret Smith, Ritual Abuse, what it is, why it happens, how to help, 1993, 0-06-250214-X (in depth information about SRA and MPD)
The following professional associations focus on trauma and disassociation www.sidran.org, www.issd.org