Podcast Summary
Children's Paranormal Experiences: Children's paranormal experiences, even if they occur in mundane settings, should be taken seriously as they can be just as real and unsettling as those experienced by adults.
Children's experiences with the paranormal, even if they occur in seemingly mundane settings, deserve to be taken seriously. Reese's story from Australia serves as a reminder that dismissing a child's claims as an overactive imagination can be frustrating and even terrifying for them. Reese, who grew up in a rural area with a family that didn't believe in the paranormal, had numerous experiences that he couldn't explain. From a young age, he felt a "spooky radar" that alerted him to strange occurrences, such as feeling an unexplained presence in certain rooms. Despite his parents' disbelief, Reese's experiences only grew more intense as he grew older. Even a police officer, one of his father's housemates, reported hearing a stereo system turn on and off by itself. Reese's earliest memory of a paranormal experience was when he was very young and heard a voice calling him out of his crib for ice cream. The voice left large, sweaty footprints on the wooden floorboards, which he assumed were his father's. While it's easy for adults to write off children's paranormal experiences, it's important to remember that they can be just as real and unsettling as those experienced by adults.
Childhood paranormal experiences: Two distinct paranormal experiences during childhood left a lasting impact on the speaker, shaping their beliefs and instilling a deep fascination and fear of the unexplained.
The speaker's childhood was marked by two distinct paranormal experiences that left a lasting impact on them. The first experience involved following an unknown adult figure to the refrigerator and being given ice cream from the freezer, which they enjoyed at the time but later caused confusion and unease when they couldn't remember or explain the incident to their father. The second experience involved seeing a three-dimensional shadowy figure in their hallway that terrified them and instilled a deep fear of a particular room in their house. These experiences shaped the speaker's early beliefs about the paranormal and left them feeling both fascinated and frightened by the unexplained phenomena they encountered. Despite sharing these experiences with their siblings and attempting to tell their parents, they were met with skepticism and dismissed as overactive imaginations. These incidents stayed with the speaker and continued to influence their thoughts and feelings long into adulthood.
Childhood Paranormal Experience: A childhood experience of perceived paranormal activity in a spare room left a lasting impact on the speaker, causing fear and apprehension that persisted even after they were forced to move into the room. Despite uncertainty about the paranormal, the speaker was unable to sleep due to strange occurrences and persistent whispering noises.
The speaker's childhood experience of perceived paranormal activity in a spare room left a lasting impact on them, causing fear and apprehension that persisted even after they were forced to move into the room at age 12. The room, described as dimly lit and old, became a source of sleepless nights and strange occurrences, including whispering noises that the speaker believed were feeding off their fear. Despite these experiences, the speaker is unsure if they truly believe in the paranormal and cannot explain the origin of the sounds they heard. The move to the room was a difficult transition for the speaker, who had never slept alone before and had a strong bond with their brother. The first month in the room was particularly distressing, with sleep disturbances and persistent whispering noises that the speaker tried to block out with a fan. The experiences left the speaker questioning their own sanity and unable to record or document the occurrences effectively.
Bedroom disturbances: Disturbing events in a bedroom, including sleep pattern disruptions, falling objects, footsteps, presence, and physical contact, can leave individuals feeling scared, bewildered, and deeply disturbed
The speaker experienced a series of disturbing events in their bedroom, starting with the breaking of their sleep pattern and the sound of objects falling. They then heard footsteps and felt a presence in the room, which progressed to physical contact with an unseen hand. The hand felt like it had no sensation or texture, leaving the speaker feeling scared and bewildered. The incidents continued to escalate, with the speaker experiencing vivid nightmares and feeling their blanket being pulled off them. Despite trying to find comfort in other rooms, the speaker felt a deep sense of scarring from these experiences. Overall, the speaker's account suggests that the presence in their bedroom was a source of significant fear and discomfort, leaving them feeling physically and emotionally disturbed.
Paranormal experiences: Unexplained paranormal occurrences can cause fear and isolation, and seeking support from trusted individuals can provide comfort and coping mechanisms.
The speaker experienced unexplained paranormal occurrences in her bedroom, leaving her feeling frightened and isolated. She described a tug-of-war with an unseen entity that tried to pull her blanket off, causing her to feel as if her life was at stake. Despite her attempts to explain the situation to her family, they dismissed her claims, leaving her feeling helpless and alone. She sought comfort in her primary school crush and a self-proclaimed paranormal expert, who encouraged her to document the events and try various methods to cope, such as prayer. The experiences continued to escalate, affecting her sleep and school performance. The speaker's account highlights the fear and confusion that can come with unexplained phenomena and the importance of support from trusted individuals during such experiences.
Entity Encounters, Prayer for Protection: Prayer for protection can provide a sense of comfort and bravery during encounters with entities, even if they are not official religious prayers.
Speaking to an entity in the room seemed to worsen the situation, and praying for strength and courage helped the speaker feel braver. The entity, described as a shadowy figure, was much larger and more menacing than remembered from childhood. The speaker's prayer, while not an official one, gave them a sense of protection. After setting up their bed and reciting a prayer aloud, the entity disappeared, and it never returned during the speaker's time living in that room. However, the entity did make one other appearance, when a family member saw it behind the speaker while they were using a pull-up bar in an adjacent room. The entity fled when the family member screamed, leaving both of them terrified. Overall, the experience shook the speaker's belief system and left a lasting impression.
Sleep Paralysis and the Paranormal: Recurring sleep paralysis experiences with a hooded figure have led some to believe in the paranormal and question the existence of a higher power.
The speaker has had recurring experiences of sleep paralysis since childhood, during which they encounter a hooded figure. These experiences have left a lasting impact on the speaker, leading them to believe in the paranormal and develop a "spooky radar." Despite not being religious, the experience has also made them question the existence of a higher power. The speaker's family has also had similar experiences, and they believe that the figure recognizes and remembers them. The figure is described as having a black hood, and the speaker feels a sense of familiarity and recognition when encountering it. The speaker has learned to use their pinky to snap out of sleep paralysis and has developed a visualization technique to lift the figure off of them. The experiences have left the speaker with a deep belief in the paranormal and a sense of trust in their ability to sense the supernatural.
Childhood paranormal encounter: A childhood paranormal experience can leave a lasting impact, leading to reevaluation of beliefs and a weak attachment to the entity involved.
The speaker, Reese, had a paranormal experience involving an entity in his childhood home. This encounter led him to question his beliefs and formed a weak attachment between him and the entity for several years. Reese believes the circumstances of their paths crossing were by chance, but the attachment was likely due to the entity's interest in him. Despite feeling somewhat attached, Reese is no longer scared of the entity and has gotten rid of it before. The experience has had a significant impact on him, giving him much food for thought and causing him to reevaluate his beliefs. The family, in general, is not interested in the paranormal and likely dismisses the experience. Reese's story is an intriguing example of how a paranormal encounter can challenge one's beliefs and leave a lasting impact.