- I would hear things like,"You should kill yourself."

And I would hear a lot ofwhispers like. (whispers)

- [Narrator] For years,

Alexis Hoffman says shewas tormented by voices.

It had started in 2009.

She was a freshman in high-school,

and had just come out ofa physically, sexually,

and mentally abusive relationship.

She became angry, and wasfilled with guilt and shame.

- My heart became callousafter the abusive relationship,

because I felt like I couldjust never get right with God.

Like, I felt like I was too far gone,

like I had messed up too much.

- [Narrator] Having pushed herChristian upbringing aside,

Alexis would spend the restof her high-school years

filled with drinking,drugs, sex, and cutting.

By now, her parents, Ted and Robin,

had realized the lifetheir daughter was living.

- When the only thing thatyour daughter ever gave you

was joy, and then you find outthat she's doing drugs, sex,

you know, alcohol, it breaks your heart.

- [Narrator] By her senior year,

she was being tormented by nightmares.

Then came the voices.(voice whispers)

- They tell me I'm useless and ugly,

that I'm worthless and dirty.

They tell me to justdie, and I believe them.

I remember having thisobsession with like stabbing.

I would sneak out in to the kitchen,

and I would start takingone knife at a time

and bringing it in to my room.

- [Narrator] One day, hermom found the stash of knives

and suicide notes.

Immediately, she tookher daughter to the ER,

and Alexis was admittedto a psychiatric hospital.

- I am just talking to God, and saying,

"Lord, you said, your wordsays that she is yours,

"and you will not letanything happen to her,

"and I know that your wordis true, and I believe you."

- [Narrator] Over the next four years,

Alexis would be in and outof 20 different psych wards,

diagnosed with bipolar, andschizophrenia, among others.

Even being heavily medicateddidn't quiet the voices,

or ease her torment.

- My life was a living hell.

And not only my life, but my family's.

- There's no joy, just empty,

just not knowing what was gonna happen,

and me not knowing either how to help her.

- When you looked in to her eyes,

there was an absolute dead stare, always,

and she never, ever had that.

She always had the most beautiful smile,

and her eyes were always sparkling.

And it wasn't my little girl.

- [Narrator] Now unableto hold down a job,

and on disability, Alexis wasprone to violent fits of rage.

She had no control over heractions, often blacking out.

- When Alexis got mad,whoo, it was not pretty.

It was scary.

I had even said to my husband,

"We should get locks on the bedroom door."

- [Narrator] One time, shewoke up in a pool of blood

after cutting herself 40 times.

- And I would be so ashamed,like what did I just do?

Like, that's not me.

Why did I do that?

That is not how I act,

like I don't know why I keepdoing this, who is that?

- [Narrator] Exhausted,Alexis told her family

she was going to kill herself.

- I've got these voicestelling me what to do,

I'm seeing things, and I said,

"I'm just tired, I'm so tired.

"I'm at war with myself,and I can't do it anymore."

- Robin and I were preparing ourselves

for her to kill herself.

And you talk about, that's tough,

when you have to prepare yourself.

- [Narrator] The nextday, Robin took Alexis

to a healing conference

where Pastor Tom White was ministering.

Alexis went to the alter.

- I thought to myself,these meds aren't working,

these doctors can't help me,and I said a prayer to God.

I said, "God, if you're real,then I need you to show up,

"and I need you to show up in a big way.

"And if you don't, I'mkilling myself tonight."

- [Narrator] Then PastorWhite prayed for her.

- I could see here eyes going crazy.

I knew that she had devils.

I just looked at her and said, "Come out."

And she fell to the floor screaming.

- I remember my mouthjust opening so wide,

and these screams ofhorror were coming out.

Screams, hissing, growling,

I just felt stuff come out of my body.

Like, I could physicallyfeel things leave.

- She got free, and got delivered,

not because of anythingexcept the authority

in the name of Jesus.

- I felt a peace that Ihad never felt before,

like I could hear myself think.

I felt restored, and I felt new,

and the love of God thatI felt in that moment

was like nothing I've ever felt before.

- [Narrator] Alexisrededicated her life to God,

and asked for forgiveness of her sins.

- I was repenting like forpast things, and everything,

but I knew in my heart of hearts too

that those were cast in tothe sea of forgetfulness,

and I was this new path with Him.

- We were up all night just praising God,

and just the miracle that happened.

- If you're wonderingif God can heal people

with a mental condition,the answer is yes,

because He healed my daughter.

- [Narrator] Alexisstopped all her psych meds,

and has been free frommental illness ever since.

Today, Alexis is married to Jonah,

she's a substitute teacher,

and loves her new purpose in life,

helping others findfreedom from mental illness

through Jesus Christ.

- If there's one thing I could tell you,

it would be to cling tohope, and that is Jesus.

Keep going to Him, don't gettired or weary of going to Him.

He's the only solution to your problems.

(gentle music)