To believe my house is haunted?

👏👏👏👏👏 This! Some of these replies are so rude

@2pence i like what you’ve said. I have asked several scientist friends/tutors the following;
If we’re basically energy and energy never disappears but only alters; how can we say that when we die our energy hasn’t altered to a spirit/ghost/ form that can affect the environment around us?
They cannot give an answer. Yes there is no universally accepted proof of ghosts but also no universally accepted proof of non-existence.
I‘m on the fence, I have had experience of woo in an old house but if I unpicked it there might be a logical explanation. Except my dh, total non-believer, admitted when we moved within a year (I was pretty scared living there) that he too experienced the scary stuff but knew if he voiced this that my suitcase would have been packed and I’d have gone back to DM’s house.

Yes, but scientists wouldn't say we have no explanation for this thing so we're going to put it down to something that we have absolutely no proof for! And you also have no proof that they don't have a mental illness, although I was not and am not suggesting that, at least we know mental illness actually exists which does make it a far more likely explanation.

Bizarre how those who believe in ghosts get mocked while those who believe in an afterlife through religion must be respected at all times.

Carbon Monoxide alarm is a good idea at any rate. Sage incense sticks are sold more widely than smudge sticks so could be a cheaper alternative.

We're all meat puppets operated by electric neuron activity at the end of the day. Who's to say where that energy goes when our bodies reach their expiration date.

It's a hard thing to do at 3am but even if there is something in your house that can tip boxes and switch the TV on, you yourself hold far more power. You are alive, conscious and in your physical body.

The unknown is scary but we're never going to know everything about life and the universe, we don’t have that capacity.

I used to believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. I grew out of it. Same thing here.

Not the same thing at all!

Obviously you need to check things like carbon monoxide. For your own safety.

Secondly, although there may be some odd things, plenty may be coincidence and your imagination playing tricks and hyping everything up.

This is particularly important when you consider the current thinking around poltergeist activity - the woo brigade apparently think it's not ghostly activity, but somehow caused by energy (?) from a person in the house. Hence the association with stressful/emotional times of life, association particularly with teenagers and especially teenage girls. So if there is anything in this, you don't want to be hyping it all up as it would just continue.

According to this line of thinking, even if there is some kind of spirit, the excessive poltergeist stuff isn't directly caused by them.

In terms of anything lurking, as PP have said, kindly but firmly ask them not to scare you.

I'm not even sure I believe in ghosts, but this is my advice in case!

You always get the a**eholes that like to jump on a thread they have absolutely no interest in, just to ridicule someone. It's quite sad really that people have nothing better to do. Can't see the point myself, but it must make them feel better. There aren't many very open minded people on MN these days. The majority are the shallow, sarcastic and only their view is right ones. It's a shame.

Anyway OP, I believe what you're saying. If I listed all the things that have happened to me from being a small child, we'd be here all day! And when I've sat and tried to rationalise all those things, I can't!
There is more to this life than we know, it's ok to be sceptical, but when there's no rational explanation, then you're left with the spookies! 💐

No, they don’t. Certainly they don’t call in Catholic priests, which for some reason Mners are always recommending, even to non-Catholic posters, presumably because of The Exorcist.

Yes, dioceses are technically required to have a priest trained as an exorcist, but that was from before the days of declining numbers and ageing parish priests covering multiple parishes. In practice, my home country, like many others, has one Catholic exorcist in total (so he’s not going to be jumping into his car to speed several hundred miles to your house because your Lego fell over), and the Catholic church’s presumption is always that the person reporting is anxious, unhappy, mentally unwell or at risk in a relationship, not that Satan has demonically possessed their remote control.

I know the former exorcist for here for years (had been our curate when I was a teenager and my parents stayed in touch after he moved on) and he’s now in his 80s. Said that he’d only ever conducted four exorcisms in his life. That’s over about 60 years.

You'd be better off calling your parish priest if you’re nervous in your house, but all they will do is say a prayer, which you can just as easily say yourself, if you’re a believer. And if you’re not, it’s not clear why you’d want a priest.

I believe you OP but then my old house was the same , and we couldn't all be mentally ill ie boyfriends, friends etc
. It was passed down to my parent from my grandparents (dads side) so things were always happening since then aswell . My late Nan (mums side) house sitted once (never again)

It is only mumsnet where things are easily dismissed and disparsged. Ghosts homeopathy past lives life after death. More cynics on here than anywhere!

I used to believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. I grew out of it. Same thing here.

Either a Mariah Carey tribute singer or a good typo😁

OP, I don't know what to make of it all but I'd be unnerved too. However, as others have given explanations as to why these things could be happening I prefer to believe those rather than think of ghosts (otherwise I'd have trouble sleeping!) 😬

I get so pissed when I read 'woo' posts and people say ghosts aren't real. Are you mental etc etc. You don't know any more than the next person! Just because you haven't experienced the same things, you simply have no way of knowing for sure.
Even scientists have only scratched the surface of what is possible and what isn't.
Fine if you don't want to believe but it's so incredibly bloody rude to suggest someone should go and get some mental health tests done, or the, 'Of course they don't exist', or 'Get a grip'. You literally have no definite idea.
Oh and I'm on the fence just to be clear. I certainly wouldn't call someone mental just because I don't understand what they may or may not be experiencing.

Stop! 🤣🤣🤣

This. Obviously, ghosts are not real.

However, perception of supernatural activity could be caused by mental illness or a physical cause like carbon monoxide poisoning or a brain tumour.

That's potentially fatal so you really should get yourself checked medically.

I have every sympathy OP but some of the responses have got me laughing out loud. Be a bit different at 3am - then I’d be downstairs with the light on and a big German shepherd at my feet.
My logical side thinks there must be an explanation for all these but then my woo side thinks it could be a ghost.
I would definitely sage the house, ask a priest to visit etc.
Another vote for carbon monoxide alarm, they’re not expensive but I thought landlords were supposed to supply them.
Whatever the reason for these experiences, try and carve out some time for you to do something you enjoy and which relaxes you.

you have my deepest sympathies. I’ve lived in a haunted house before, it was awful. I would get a priest to come and bless the house. I’ve lived in a few places since and nothing like that ever happened again, I KNOW that house was haunted, it was horrific.

the tv turning on could be dodgy electrics or a leak near some wires though so maybe get an electrician to come and check them?

Burn white sage then tell it to go to the light. Say the Lords prayer - that often works quickly.

People saying mental illness, see a doctor etc have never experienced this. I agree most so called hauntings have worldly explanations but not all.

If you don’t believe in ghosts, that’s fine - your opinion. That will be until experiences that can’t be explained happen to you. In my case, even stone cold logical scientist DH developed a strategy of simply ignoring and not talking about it because ‘no such thing or proof of ghosts’, despite witnessing unexplainable events. The head in sand approach doesn’t help. It’s extremely unsettling when you’re stuck in a house where things are happening.

OP, I believe you. While you’re now (understandably) possibly noticing more because paranoia has set in, if getting a priest in will help you feel settled, do it. Remember that while it scares you, it can’t hurt you. Some people do recommend talking to whatever ‘ghosts’ are and asking them firmly but kindly to leave.
Admittedly, iI moved house!

Definitely 'smudge' your house, in other words burn sage. You can buy smudge sticks from new age/hippy type shops.

Start from your front door and work around each room and your house clockwise. Open doors and windows. State it's your home and you respectfully ask that anyone else please moves on.

The stuff absolutely stinks!

I believe you. I'm moving house next week and now I'm thinking what if it's haunted 😂 it's an old house too.

A dose of reality. If the OP wants to know what’s happening CCTV cameras are very affordable now. And others have suggested carbon monoxide. There are no such things as ghosts. Let’s be real.

Totally uncalled for.

You know it’s not haunted. Grow up.

Please get a carbon monoxide alarm.

New houses have unfamiliar noises too.

Ghosts do not exist. That said, if it makes you feel better, why not get a local priest in anyway? May calm your mind.