What Does a Demonic Presence Feel Like?

Summary

Fr. Paul Truebenbach discusses how, from an Orthodox Christian perspective, demonic influence may be experienced either as frightening oppression or, more subtly, as something that feels comforting, justified, or empowering. He recounts a frightening experience at a camp and says that after a priest performed exorcisms, the place felt peaceful.

He also warns that strong feelings of certainty or relief do not necessarily mean a choice is spiritually sound. Temptations may feel good at first but lead to harmful consequences over time.

He emphasizes discernment rather than assuming that every troubling or worldly feeling is demonic. In his account, spiritual growth helps people distinguish grace—associated with peace, warmth, love, and wholeness—from self-focused impulses. He recommends seeking guidance and developing humility, while noting that this is the speaker’s religious framework.

Strategies and Practices Discussed

• Don’t rely on feelings alone. A choice that feels right, relieving, or empowering may still have harmful long-term effects.
• Consider the longer-term consequences of gratifying impulses, using overeating as an example of short-term pleasure followed by harm.
• Seek counsel from a trusted spiritual father or confessor and be willing to hear correction.
• Cultivate humility rather than treating confidence or a sense of justice as proof that you are right.
• Learn to recognize grace through spiritual practice and time spent in places such as monasteries, which the speaker describes as helping him experience calm and wholeness.
• Read ascetic literature as a resource for spiritual discernment.
• Use prayer in times of fear. In his personal account, the speaker says he prayed the Jesus Prayer while holding his rosary.
• Avoid attributing everything to demonic influence. Some experiences may simply reflect worldly attachments or other causes.

Presenter and Sources

• Presenter: Fr. Paul Truebenbach
• Sources and references mentioned: St. Cleopas Ilie (Elder Cleopas of Romania), St. Sophrony Sakharov, and a saying attributed to Mount Athos.