Re: Fear sparks mass hysteria among 100 students at camp

The following news story from Bangkok is a vivid case-in-point illustrating
how fear opens one up to demonic possession. Fear feeds on fear, invites
demons and the resulting paralyzing mass hysteria.

The peace-bringing faith that in Christ we can overcome all evil is the
antidote to insulate one from such hysteria. With Christ there is no need
to fear.

I will link this story to Lynn Ridenhour's hallmark essay on demonic
possession and overcoming through faith in Christ.

www.greaterthings.com/Ridenhour/me_in_restoration/Demons.htm

Sterling

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Bangkok Post 2/4/01

http://www.bangkokpost.com/today/040201_News15.html

BELIEF IN GHOSTS SPARKS HYSTERIA
Students freak out at school camp

by Aphaluck Bhatiasevi


Community leaders have been warned that teaching children to believe in
ghosts and evil spirits can lead to mass hysteria.

Deputy mental health chief Somchai Chakraphand was speaking after visiting
Nong Nam Sai Pithayakhom school.

About 100 students experienced mass hysteria at a camp organised by the
school in mid-January.

Their fear was provoked by the traditional belief in ghosts among the local
elderly population, Dr Somchai said.

The community, in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima, is sited in an area
believed to be a former graveyard.

Most residents, including monks, believe the students' illness was caused by
ghosts and evil spirits.

Dr Somchai said the students were made to work hard all day at the camp,
which made them very tired and stressed-out. "This built up on top of the
general belief that spirits and ghosts haunted the area. "The students' fear
increased and this led to hyperventilation and eventually to breathing
problems," he said.

One person's fear provoked a chain reaction in many others.

The girl who screamed first believed she had seen a ghost while singing and
playing around the camp bonfire. Her behaviour and fear provoked fear in
other students, which in turn developed into physical health problems, Dr
Somchai said. Dr Sucharit Suwannacheep, adviser to the Mental Health
Department, said the fear increased confusion among the students and this
further led to panic. In some cases, the students became quite rigid, Dr
Sucharit said.

Multiple personality symptoms are often observed in people suffering from
mass hysteria, he added.

Kittikorn Meesapya, a mental health expert, said mass hysteria could also
occur among factory workers who were stressed by pressure of having to
complete their work within a limited time. Sometimes, in cases like these,
people perceive a false reality, he said.

This most often occurs in women and children who are very sensitive. The
most effective method to avoid such problems is not to put emotionally
sensitive persons in a position of stress, as this could provoke fear and
lead to mass psychogenic illness.

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Forwarded by Greater Things News Service
http://www.greaterthings.com/News