Do I need a priest? Long.

[snipsnsnails]

I know everybody says this, but this kind of thing does NOT happen to me!

Two weeks ago, our family stayed overnight at a friend's house. We stayed in her guest room, where my DH and I shared a platform bed. In the middle of the night, I woke up because my 20-month old was rustling in her pack-n-play at the foot of the bed. I checked on her and went back to bed. I laid on my side and drew the covers up over my head b/c I didn't want her to wake up and see us there. As I'm falling back to sleep, something whispers in my ear (something garbled about downstairs), the cover is moved off of my face (not falls off, is moved down) and I feel an icy chill from my cheek to my foot. Everyone in the room was asleep and not moving but me.

Last night, I wake in the middle of the night. I can't get back to sleep, so I go to lie down in the living room on the couch. I'm in there for about 20 minutes looking at my phone. I turn it off and a moment later, I hear a small child's footsteps walking down the hallway and get the same chill. I cringe because I think it is my 3 year old getting out of bed, but I sit quietly for a few minutes and realize it's not anyone. I sit up and check things out but no one is there.

Uhhhh, send some holy water, stat? How much of a chance is there that I was having two vivid dreams and how much chance I should've already called Ghostbusters?

[wysiwyg]

You'll need an old priest and a young priest.


Not really, but that is terrifying. D:

[cleo29]

I don't know. I do believe in ghosts (and I am sure I can hear all the eyes rolling on ML ), and I think some people are more "open" to them. Your story does sound freaky. You could always have a priest bless your home, but I am not sure you need it.

[Deleted]

ACK! One of the spooky situations was at home and one was at a friend's house? ACK!!

[Booze Raccoon]

Fuck that. I'd have the Vatican on speed dial.

[thejen626]

If you're really freaked out, you could burn some sage. It's called "smudging" and it cleanses your home. I did it once because I was freaked out by some weird things happening. It stopped after that.

[darthnbjenni]

Sept 21, 2014 20:58:31 GMT -5 @licia said:

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? This might be what's happening. I have stories like this - always during the night - and it's because of sleep paralysis. You think you're awake, you hear and see things, but you're not, you're really dreaming.

Sleeping on my back, being overly tired or having napped during the day bring this on in me. It's scary, but it happens so often for me, I just try to count to 10, and fall back into a deeper sleep, or wake up completely.

I do this at least once a week. Mine always involves spiders, ants, or snakes. The ants and spiders are crawling all over me and I can see/feel/hear them, or the snake is dangling over my face from the ceiling. I finally wake up all the way as I'm freaking out and sitting up straight in my bed. 

[snipsnsnails]

Sept 21, 2014 20:59:37 GMT -5 @weeble said:

ACK! One of the spooky situations was at home and one was at a friend's house? ACK!!

Yes!! I thought maybe my friend's new construction was built on a haunted spot and I was going to have to break it to her, but the common denominator is me!!!

[snipsnsnails]

Sept 21, 2014 20:58:31 GMT -5 @licia said:

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? This might be what's happening. I have stories like this - always during the night - and it's because of sleep paralysis. You think you're awake, you hear and see things, but you're not, you're really dreaming.

Sleeping on my back, being overly tired or having napped during the day bring this on in me. It's scary, but it happens so often for me, I just try to count to 10, and fall back into a deeper sleep, or wake up completely.

Hmmm, this is interesting, as it's the only natural (not supernatural explanation). But could I be doing normal things while it's happening-kind of like how sleepwalking happens? Last night, I checked my phone right before it occurred and then right after, so I could see my glasses and also note the time it happened.

[snipsnsnails]

cleo29-the weirdest thing is that I am normally terrified of scary things, but both times I wasn't necessarily terrified, just more confused and bewildered, I guess?

My SIL is Wiccan and always says the spiritual realm will sometimes speak to people in ways that the people will feel most comfortable. I'm not Wiccan, but I've thought about that before. Like, some spirits will appear as a butterfly to someone. Or some will come in a dream. Or some will do more than that. That it depends more on the person, not the spirit. I don't know that I believe any of that, but it is interesting to think about.

[agnes]

The blanket story is giving me chills. I don't believe in ghosts and love scary stories.

[mskitkat]

I strongly recommend not binge-watching American Horror Story. Why the fuck I thought this would be a good idea in a new-to-me house is beyond me.

[snipsnsnails]

Ha, I avoid all scary things! I never ever read scary stories or watch scary movies or tv shows!

[jennistarr1]

Sept 21, 2014 20:58:31 GMT -5 @licia said:

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? This might be what's happening. I have stories like this - always during the night - and it's because of sleep paralysis. You think you're awake, you hear and see things, but you're not, you're really dreaming.

Sleeping on my back, being overly tired or having napped during the day bring this on in me. It's scary, but it happens so often for me, I just try to count to 10, and fall back into a deeper sleep, or wake up completely.

Exactly what I was thinking...typically when you are overly tired or stressed

[isabel]

You're giving me the creeps.

[yourmother]

I suffer from night hallucinations, kinda like what Licia is describing. EXCEPT, I'm in a trance and eventually wake up confused and then realize it was just dream/hallucination. I freak out less because it's become so common.

But I have to admit that what you're describing does not seem like a hallucination. The way I understand from you, you're awake mode. If this is the case I would double up and do the sage and being in a priest. Fo sho.

[bbaggins]

Sept 21, 2014 20:58:31 GMT -5 @licia said:

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? This might be what's happening. I have stories like this - always during the night - and it's because of sleep paralysis. You think you're awake, you hear and see things, but you're not, you're really dreaming.

Sleeping on my back, being overly tired or having napped during the day bring this on in me. It's scary, but it happens so often for me, I just try to count to 10, and fall back into a deeper sleep, or wake up completely.

Sleep paralysis is no joke and I absolutely hate it. I get them so often that I can usually talk/wake myself out of them when I get the sensation of it coming on. Ugh. Hate when it happens though. 

I don't know what to tell you about the covers though. That's just fucked up.

[gummybear]

I know I am going to sounds nuts here and I am not a regular so you'll probably all think I am crazy, but I lived in a haunted house (we had legitimate ghost hunters examine it and confirm it). I was the one the ghost liked and bothered the most. What they told me is that most ghosts are harmless and are looking just to be acknowledged. They want their presence to be felt. So if you keep having these experiences, what you can do it to speak in a loud, firm voice that you are aware that they are there, and it's OK, but to please leave you alone. They pretty much can co-exist without bothering you as long as you let them know you know they are there.

Wouldn't you know it works. At least it did for me. I swear I am not crazy!

[Deleted]

call Ghost Adventures, and the Vatican post haste.

[snipsnsnails]

gummybear, my family lived in a house that was haunted! I was just a baby (birth-7months old), so I remember nothing, but my 2 older brothers and mom remember it and tell stories sometimes. We moved out (it was a rental home before my parents were buying another home) and 2 days later, it burned to the ground. : /

Holy moly, maybe this has been happening to me for longer than I thought? I'm only half kidding with that. Eeeek.

[snipsnsnails]

Where's @reannalynn ? Doesn't she work in this area?

[gummybear]

Sept 21, 2014 21:06:08 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

cleo29-the weirdest thing is that I am normally terrified of scary things, but both times I wasn't necessarily terrified, just more confused and bewildered, I guess?

This is how it was for me too. I can't watch scary movies, even the dumb ones. When I tell people about our house it sounds so scary and people always wonder how we lived there but when it was happening it wasn't scary at all. Just odd, kind of mesmerizing. We were always wondering what would happen next. It was actually pretty cool, esp. when the ghost hunters came.

[katie80]

Sept 21, 2014 21:25:50 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Sept 21, 2014 21:06:08 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

cleo29-the weirdest thing is that I am normally terrified of scary things, but both times I wasn't necessarily terrified, just more confused and bewildered, I guess?

This is how it was for me too. I can't watch scary movies, even the dumb ones. When I tell people about our house it sounds so scary and people always wonder how we lived there but when it was happening it wasn't scary at all. Just odd, kind of mesmerizing. We were always wondering what would happen next. It was actually pretty cool, esp. when the ghost hunters came.

We lived in a haunted house when I was very young (moved out when I was 3), and this is exactly what my parents said. Once they realized what was happening, it apparently wasn't scary anymore and they just lived with it. I remember very little of this, but I can't even listen to them talk about without getting scared (which they think is silly)

[TC]

Sept 21, 2014 21:25:23 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

gummybear, my family lived in a house that was haunted! I was just a baby (birth-7months old), so I remember nothing, but my 2 older brothers and mom remember it and tell stories sometimes. We moved out (it was a rental home before my parents were buying another home) and 2 days later, it burned to the ground. : /

Holy moly, maybe this has been happening to me for longer than I thought? I'm only half kidding with that. Eeeek.

Uh... I was leaning towards no priest but now I'm 100000% convinced you are being haunted. Good luck with that! 

[joshlyman]

I would call a priest, rabbi, imam, Buddhist monk, Tom cruise and one of those people with sage. Just to cover your bases.

[gummybear]

Sept 21, 2014 21:25:23 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

gummybear, my family lived in a house that was haunted! I was just a baby (birth-7months old), so I remember nothing, but my 2 older brothers and mom remember it and tell stories sometimes. We moved out (it was a rental home before my parents were buying another home) and 2 days later, it burned to the ground. : /

Holy moly, maybe this has been happening to me for longer than I thought? I'm only half kidding with that. Eeeek.

Probably! Some people are just more sensitive to this stuff. I know I am. I won't talk to psychics or go to legitimate haunted houses this time of year. I'd rather not be in the situation.

[Deleted]

As usual, I recommend a smudging.

[sapphireblue]

Sept 21, 2014 21:01:59 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

If you're really freaked out, you could burn some sage. It's called "smudging" and it cleanses your home. I did it once because I was freaked out by some weird things happening. It stopped after that.

I did this once too. I was living with four roommates in an old flat in San Francisco. After months, we all admitted to each other that we had all felt "presences". We never got more detailed than that. I didn't tell any of them because I thought they'd laugh at me, but I bought some sage and got some advice from the local Wiccan store (it was the Haight Ashbury, there was more than one, lol). I burned it through the whole flat, in all of the corners of every room when no one else was home.

After a few months I asked my housemates if they were still sensing anything and they all said no. Only then did I tell them what I had done. So I think it works, or could work in some circumstance, anyway.

[icechalk]

I get sleep paralysis and it's horrifying. It's worse when I am napping or sleeping somewhere unusual, or really physically exhausted. I always hear things (awful voices, hissing sounds) and feel things (pressure on my feet once when an old woman sat on them whispering my name) and generally have a sense of doom/dread/terror.

I can remember even as a very Young child having it happen. I was napping on the couch, and I woke up and was paralyzed. I could hear footsteps coming closer and knew it was something awful and horrible coming for me. As a young teenager I had some very difficult ones and when I finally was able to move was truly freaking out and scared the hell out of my parents. I actually had one this weekend, the first in a while. Even though now I know it's all just in my mind, and I try to breathe through them, I can still get very frightened.

I don't know if that's what you experienced? Your story did spook me. I hope whatever it is, it stops!

[eb777888]

I also get sleep paralysis and have for years. It is terrifying and I've had strange experiences but they've all been while I'm sleeping, lol. Like, not while chilling on the couch.