My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy

Dear Pastor,

Ever since I was in my teens, I have been hearing voices. My parents took me to the doctor, who gave me medication, but it never helped. These voices tell me that I should kill myself.

I had a boyfriend when I was 19 and a male voice in my head told me that my boyfriend was having a relationship with another girl who didn't like me, so I should be careful because she would kill me. One day I said it to my boyfriend, and he said he was not in a relationship with the girl I am talking about. He said he didn't know what I was saying, and it seemed to him that I was going crazy.

One day I complained to my mother about what was happening to me and what the voices were telling me to do. My mother told me that her friend told her she should take me to a seer man. When they took me, the man looked at me and said he saw me coming to him from the previous night. He told my mother that she has a pretty daughter and that persons put an evil spirit on me; that is why I was hearing voices that were telling me to kill myself. My mother told him that she didn't have enemies and she lived well with people, so who would put evil spirits on me? He told us that he could remove the spirit but he had to buy certain oils and pick certain vines and give me a bath. He told my mother I must get the bath seven days after I saw my period, and it would cost us $20,000.

My mother got the money and seven days after my period ended, we went back to see this man. He did not want my mother to remain in the room and wanted me to take off all my clothes. I told my mother I did not want this man and I to be in the room when I am naked. My mother told me nothing would happen to me, but she would stay in the other room. I took off my shirt and my pants, but I kept on my underwear. He told me I have to take off all my clothes; I told him no, the only persons who have seen my nakedness as an adult are my mother, my doctor and my boyfriend. I started to dress and exited the room. My mother asked me what was the problem and I told her that he asked me to take off all my clothes and I refused. So my mother asked me if I didn't want to get better. I said yes, but I was afraid the man may rape me. My mother asked this man if he couldn't get the spirits out of me without giving me a bath and he said no. But he said that if I change my mind at any time, I can come back to see him. He took $10,000 from my mother for the things that he bought and for the time that he wasted on me.

I told my boyfriend what we went through and he was very upset. He said the man is an obeah man and he was trying to con me. I am still hearing voices, and I am wondering if I should go back to see this man. I am 24 years old. Whenever I am with my boyfriend, I don't hear the voices. But when I am alone, they tell me to do crazy things. Please help me.

M.J.

Dear M.J.,

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling. I believe that you need to see a psychiatrist. What I suspect is happening to you will not go away without the help of a psychiatrist. Go to your family doctor and asked him to refer you to a psychiatrist.

This so-called obeah man is a thief. I am also glad you refused to allow him to take off all your clothes before him, and for him to give you a bath to stop so-called spirits from haunting you. Your mother is eager to see you get better, so she was willing to allow you to consent to have this man give you a bath in the nude.

You know what you are suffering is no joking matter. But I do not believe that anybody has put evil spirits upon you. I repeat, judging by what you have written to me, you need the help of a psychiatrist.

Pastor