Can Spirit Possession Begin When We Identify Too Deeply With Our Pain?

Some people become so deeply entangled with their pain that it starts to define them. Not just a passing storm in their life—but their whole weather system. They no longer see themselves as someone who suffers from time to time, but rather as someone who is a sufferer. That shift in identity may seem subtle, but it changes everything—from how they move through the world to how they speak about themselves.

Instead of saying, “I experience depression,” they declare, “I am depressed.” Not “I struggle with anxiety,” but “I am anxious.” Not “I lost my job,” but “I am unemployed.” That identification with pain becomes a narrative loop, a strange anchor in a chaotic world. At least it gives an answer to the question: “Who am I?”—even if that answer hurts.

The Hidden Rewards of Suffering

Suffering can offer strange benefits—ones we rarely acknowledge. It may attract sympathy, lower expectations, or draw people’s attention. Others might treat us more gently, offer help, or avoid asking too much of us. There’s even a certain allure in appearing deep, mysterious, or emotionally complex. Some believe their pain gives them meaning, as though they’ve earned the right to speak from the depths.

But what if the pain disappeared? Who would they be then? Would others still care? The fear of healing—though often unconscious—can be surprisingly strong. Because leaving the pain behind means letting go of the identity it created.

This pattern often begins early. Children who receive love and attention primarily when they’re sad, sick, or struggling may learn that suffering is the surest way to be seen. Over time, pain becomes familiar, even comforting. Joy, in contrast, may feel unfamiliar—or worse, unsafe.

As adults, these early imprints shape our behavior. Someone may sabotage their own happiness because it doesn’t “fit” their identity. They might struggle to celebrate others’ success, believing that no one truly understands what it’s like to suffer. Small issues are magnified, dramatized—because in the absence of pain, they feel lost.

Slipping Into Darkness

Over time, this mindset leads to a slow but steady decline. People start to vibrate on lower emotional frequencies—bitterness, hopelessness, despair. And in that state, they begin to attract spiritual influences that resonate with those same energies. Specifically, the souls of the deceased who haven’t crossed into the Light.

These spirits, still tethered to their own unresolved pain, sense such individuals as glowing beacons—sources of energy they crave. So they draw closer.

Spirits who have not moved on bring with them the weight of sorrow, regret, fear, envy, and unrest. For someone who identifies with their own pain, this can feel oddly validating. As though they’ve finally met someone—albeit a spirit—who understands their grief.

This deep resonance may result in something more than just influence. It can lead to possession. The spirit and the person become so closely entwined that neither knows how to separate. It’s a moment of profound crisis.

For both the human and the spirit, this union is agony. The person is overwhelmed by intense emotional torment—more than they’ve ever known. The spirit, though fed by human energy, becomes trapped within the narrow confines of the person’s emotional body. Like being locked in armor, every movement adds to its suffering.

Neither can breathe. Neither can escape. The only resolution lies in spiritual intervention.

The Path to Release

Releasing a spirit is not instantaneous. It often requires a carefully guided exorcism—a long process of disentangling what has been fused together by fear and grief. Even then, many spirits resist. The Light feels unfamiliar, even threatening. To them, it represents the unknown. And the unknown is terrifying.

For the person, too, it’s not easy. They may unconsciously call the spirit back. After all, pain has become a part of them—and pain has a way of feeling like home.

Healing begins with courage—the courage to explore parts of yourself untouched by suffering. To choose joy, even in small moments. To notice what lights you up: a hobby, a smile, a warm memory. To build connections that aren’t rooted in sorrow or sympathy.

You don’t have to erase your pain. You don’t even have to forget it. But you can choose not to build your entire identity around it. You can respect your past without becoming it.

Pain may have been a chapter in your life. But it doesn’t have to be the whole story.

About the Author:

Michael, a co-founder of The Dr. Wanda Pratnicka Center, holds a B.A. degree in psychology and is a spiritual teacher and healer, with a specialization in spirit removal. Under the mentorship of his wife Wanda Pratnicka, Michael gained profound spiritual insights into the nuances of spirit attachment phenomenon, and for many years, he played a crucial role in assisting her with the remote spirit removal process. In his leisure time, Michael finds solace in meditation, immerses himself in the timeless beauty of classical music, and cherishes tranquil walks by the sea.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

1. You can find more information about common symptoms of spirit attachment / possession here:

SYMPTOMS OF SPIRIT ATTACHMENT

2. How to check whether you or your loved one are experiencing a spirit attachment?

REQUEST CHECK-UP

3. Want to learn more about how we remove spirits?

SPIRIT REMOVAL PROCESS