Haunting is a type of paranormal activity involving ghosts or spirit entities. It is typically characterized by strange occurrences such as eerie noises, feelings of unease or oppression and other experiences that cannot be easily explained.
People who believe in haunting often describe these experiences as being accompanied by the apparition of a ghost. They may also report feeling as though someone is standing over their shoulder or close behind them, and seeing shadows that appear and disappear. They may hear mysterious footsteps or sounds that seem to be coming from the walls or ceiling, and find themselves unable to turn off the lights even when they are alone in the room.
Other signs of a possible haunting include recurring nightmares or waking up feeling as if they are not alone in the room. Often these strange happenings occur at night, a time when people are more likely to get spooked. They can be especially frightening when combined with sleep paralysis, a neurological phenomenon that can turn an ordinary physiological experience into a terrifying supernatural encounter.
Strange occurrences such as unexplained noises, feelings of unease and dread, and the appearance of shadowy figures are often the earliest signs that a home is haunted. Sometimes, however, these phenomena can be explained by something else such as an infestation of mice or carbon monoxide poisoning. Other times, the cause of supposed paranormal activity is a natural phenomenon such as infrasound, or changes in the earth’s geomagnetic fields that stimulate the temporal lobe of the brain and can trigger anxiety and fear.