Shadow people

[Jenasaurus]

wondered if anyone has experienced something similar to this and could help me find someone to talk to about shadow people. I have been having a few issues recently with seeing dark shadows and thought it was my imagination. But last night I woke up to see a black shadowy mass hunched over me. I screamed and my daughter came to check on me. I am sure I wasn’t asleep and it feels like the earlier shadowy figures out of the corner of my eye were probably real too. I want it to stop as it feels sinister to be honest. I sleep with a night light on already but it still appeared. Not sure who to talk to as they may think I’m insane. The only thing I have going on on my life at the moment that may be causing me heightened emotions is my son is moving out into his new place at the end of the month but I am happy for him. He keeps asking me if I will miss him and will I cope when he leaves but I am honestly excited and pleased for him. I love him dearly but he is almost 30 and needs to become independent so it’s natural. I also work with my other son and have my daughter living here so not lonely. Has anyone ever encountered something like this or know what it is and how to stop it. Do you think sage may work or is it all in my head.

A few years ago when I was going though emotional trauma I had a couple of episodes of sleep paralysis. This wasn’t the same though as I was able to scream and move this time while the shadow was hunched over me.

Prepared (in fact I hope) to be told it’s in my head

I missed a space and full stop, should read times of stress or trauma. I have severe hypnopompic hallucinations

firemanking I don't even drink xD

Charles bonnet syndrome possibly? this affects the blind and visually impaired. This is what they initially put my night-time visits down to as they give almost identical visions. Charles bonnet syndrome is like the brain is filling in the blanks caused by vision loss.

My DS has just reminded me of a time about 10 years ago when a similar thing happened. I woke the whole house screaming as I had seen a man dressed as a footman leaning over me. I didn’t scream immediately as I thought I was imagining it. The his face loomed in closer and he leered at me. That was it and I screamed. My ex checked the house for an intruder as I did the normal thing after screaming and pulled the covers over my head so didn’t see when he vanished.

Although I realised it couldn’t be anything real as although dressed as a doorman his face was the same as the caretaker at my DC school

Footman not doorman

My DS also said. Don’t you remember that his DB my middle DS refuses to sleep in his bedroom for a while as he had seen the silhouette of a man in a TV he had been given when it was off. It was a TV given to him by my late dad. One of the old large backed TVs that my dad had in his room when he was at the end stages battling cancer. I had seen a similar image in the TV at times and we decided it must be an old image somehow stuck on the screen. But it wasn’t there all the time only perhaps when the sun hit the screen at a certain angle. My DS at the time was about 17 and not a believer in things paranormal so it was a bit weird. But all that happened at our old house and not my new place.

I have to say though most things are explainable just not very nice and scary at the time.

I get this too, somewhat linked to medication by doctors but with the basis in simply another symptom of my mental health

Peduncular Hallucinosis - typically involves hallucinations of people or things that are familiar to the person. Quite rare though!

I'd be off to see a doctor.

The other thing with Charles Bonnet syndrome is that (if I remember correctly) it's obvious to the sufferer that the things they see aren't real - like seeing monkeys playing in your garden or something, and knowing they're not really there.

As a pp said, its associated with vision loss and is something to do with the brain trying to fill in the gaps.

The other thing with Charles Bonnet syndrome is that (if I remember correctly) it's obvious to the sufferer that the things they see aren't real - like seeing monkeys playing in your garden or something, and knowing they're not really there.

It really is obvious. I see things with such clarity that the first month or so I thought my vision was coming back. I was unbelievably upset why my ophthalmologist explained what it was.

OP did you check out the hallucinations I mentioned?

Yes I did check out the link. It’s very interesting. Something even odder my friend came to see me for dinner and I told them about what happened last night. He said his 23 year old DD had the exact same experience last night as well. Now that’s strange

Have you ever smoked cannabis?

Once a few years ago

Funnily enough cannabis is used to treat glaucoma in some countries

OP, when I was in my late teens/ early twenties I used to get visitations from the shadow people too! I was a bit lost, drinking too much and not looking after myself well at the time (not suggesting that’s true of you!).

When I was 18 and sleeping next to my boyfriend at his house, I saw such a figure bending over him. It got more and more solid and human like and I started screaming and woke him up. Nothing there. In the morning his mum called to say his granny had died, so he was convinced that that had been her coming to say goodbye to him!
I know now that it was a hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucination.

When I was about 18 and still living at home I was convinced I was being haunted by something. Every night something would sit on my and either try to suffocate me with the bed covers or try to pull them off me. One time I was convinced something was sexually abusing me in bed and it felt incredibly real. I physically felt it. I would hear footsteps in my room, drawers opening, wardrobe door opening and closing as though someone was going through my things. I was terrified beyond belief

cookiechomper I had EXACTLY this too! things moving loudly in my bedroom and physically and sexually assaulted. Thought at the time my flat was haunted. I have never told anyone about this before!

Had nothing like it again for 25 years now.

I think whilst it's true the mind can most certainly play tricks, for me I knew it wasn't that for me. I think when it is actually something, you damn well know it.

That being said if something is opening drawers and physically assaulting you I wouldn't put that down to being all in the mind either xD I think in that situation it would be odd to assume you were crazy before thinking 'there's something in the house'. But then, I guess you never know...the brain is an amazing thing afterall. But I would have called a priest or something before a doctor in that scenario that's for sure.

There's definitely shit in this world we don't understand.

I would go to the gp if it were me I think. I would be very frightened and worried it might escalate. I knew a chap who was perfectly normal, hard working, healthy, suddenly started hearing voices randomly then more and more. Until it got on top of him and he became very paranoid and was sectioned. Really scary for him and a long road to full recovery. Not saying this is the same but absolutely no harm talking it over with your doctor.

I was going to say get your eyes checked as my mum has a similar thing with shadows and she has glaucoma, but I see you also have it. It may be worth a checkup just in case.

Any new medication? Several cause peripheral Shadows etc.

No medication at all my glaucoma is on the edge of normal high side of normal but it may be worth getting it checked as my mum. Grandad and uncles all got it at my age.

Definitely worth a check up then. Consultant has prescribed daily drops which touch wood seems to be helping.