My dd is very upset by some paranormal thing 'following' her, please advise

[lottieandmia]

We are on the last day of a holiday in Devon and dd2 has told me throughout the holiday she keeps seeing a see through figure which has a derby hat and a long coat but no face and keeps approaching her with red and yellow lights. if she moves, it moves in front of her.

I know this sounds crazy but she is really upset, not at all like this at home and my dm has seen the ghost of a little girl on this holiday too.

She does not want to go to bed. Is there anything I can do to stop her seeing it? She's 9. We are going home tomorrow so hope that will be the end of it.

[CoteDAzur]

I didn't say "manipulation". Children sometimes make up stories, and some of those are told for attention from friends and family.

It doesn't mean they are manipulative. It is a normal part of growing up.

[allthingspossible]

lottieandmia
She is no schizophrenic and nor are you and your mam woo. That was v unhelpful by the other posters. She is a young child and has experienced a paranormal experience. It is frightening and unsettling for her, so sleeping with her as you already said you are doing is the best thing tonight and setting off in morning. It would be interesting to find out the history of the old Georgian place as it originally was once you are back home and have time to deal with it then.
I have had a few experiences myself. I know the ones as a child were most unsettling, as I felt vulnerable and ignored by the adults around me who didn't believe me. I had more experiences as a teen and in my early 20's living in many student digs that were old converted buildings. Some people are more sensitive than others and can hear/ and or see things. It doesn't always make sense why.
Now I have a very open mind and am quite spiritual in my belief system as believe there is an awful lot out there beyond what we experience on a day to day basis living in now time
Hope you all manage some sleep tonight before the journey home [unmumsnetty hug ]

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Perplexed If you did a survey on Mumsnetters on how many of their dc had "seen" things you'd find the amount very high indeed. It's not a case of "She's seeing things ffs!" but more a case of "how do I make her feel safe again? How do I minimize this?"

[CoteDAzur]

"How do I minimize this?"

Maybe start by not assuming that it is real?

[breatheslowly]

But Neo, do children persistently see the same thing and at the age of 9?

[breatheslowly]

Allthingspossible that is a very unhelpful post as you are giving even more credence to this being real. OP - minimise it and never talk about your beliefs in this stuff around your DD and you shouldn't be troubled with it all again.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Cote I said nothing about it being real

Breathe I have a 9 year old..very well adjusted indeed but with a huge imagination. Once the lights are out she sees ALL kinds. I know that they're just shapes etc...shadows...but to a 9 year old, they could be anything when she's alone in her room. 9 isnt'; very big at all you know.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Schizophrenia is something that takes highly trained MH professionals months if not years to diagnose, especially in children. It is a serious lifelong illness. It is bang out of order for anyone to even suggest it over the Internet to a poster whose DD has been having a scary experience while on holiday in a strange house.

[allthingspossible]

breatheslowly

I am not and was not at any point suggesting that OP actually does anything other than sleep with her child reassuring her and leaves in morning. Investigate after it they wish. The only scaremongering going on is from unhelpful posts like yours suggesting to OP that there is something seriously wrong with her child and hot footing it off to a quack doctor at the earliest opportunity. That surely did not help the OP at all, in the slightest. Talk of hallucinations etc as if the poor mite was deranged somehow

[HaveIGotPoosForYou]

I think if it continued on when the OPs daughter was at home and other things started to happen then schizophrenia and other mental health issues should be addressed.

But at the moment this is a young child who probably has been freaked out by something. Whether it was a certain noise, saw something on the television, saw someone creepy looking etc and it manifested into seeing something, namely a 'ghost'. It probably feels very real and upsetting for her so minimise it in the sense that nothing is going to happen to her, but don't make her feel stupid as that is not helpful.

I'd just let her talk about it if she wants to and to be there for her if anything else scares/bothers her.

[allthingspossible]

I sincerely apologise to all medically trained mental health professionals for using the term "quack" in my previous post. It was actually meant tongue in cheek. I do admire your work. Sorry for my rant.

[CoteDAzur]

If she actually thinks she has seen it, of course hallucination is the most probable explanation. Why are some of you finding this offensive?

If she hasn't really seen it, she might just be making up a story, something to interest mummy in a subject she possibly knows mummy is already interested in.

I never knew that woo people are so aggressive

[AgentZigzag]

The way your post was written Cote, it did come across as though you were taking the piss.

You'd take your DC to see a doctor just because they told you they'd seen something they couldn't explain Perplexedpirate?

What an overreaction and waste of time. Or were you just using MH problems to have a dig at the OP too?

[perplexedpirate]

If she was upset to the point that she couldn't sleep alone, of course I would.
Why wouldn't you? Is seeking medical advice when someone is having disturbing hallucinations really overreacting?

[AgentZigzag]

(taking the piss as in insinuating the DD must have MH probs, not taking the piss out of the OP for being woo Cote)

[breatheslowly]

Allthingspossible. I just said take her to the GP if it persists. Not hot foot it to a "quack", though I would much rather see a "quack" when I am I'll than anyone else, what with their 6 years of med school, years of post qualification training and evidence based approach to treatment.

On the other hand you have said "she has had a paranormal experience" and are encouraging her mum to believe in this stuff by saying how upset you were when you had a "paranormal experience" as a child.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Even if this child is hallucinating, there would be many other things to rule out before schizophrenia would be considered. It's like telling a parent whose DC has had a headache while on holiday that it's probably a brain tumor.

[AgentZigzag]

Of course I wouldn't go running off to the drs for that Perpelexed

I'd just think she was tired and her eyes were playing tricks, as they do.

I wouldn't put it down to hallucinations in the same way I wouldn't think she was seeing some dead bloke.

There are plenty more plausible answers.

[lottieandmia]

I think I would know if she had a mh problem but if she did then it would surely present when we're out of the place too. I'm not really going to engage with suggestions she has schizophrenia or that I don't give her enough attention so she makes up crazy stories.

I suppose the reason I posted was to see if anyone was familiar with what she saw because she became very upset about it today. I just want to go home now.......

[perplexedpirate]

I'm a bit confused as to why it's being been as 'having a dig' and 'very, very rude' to suggest someone might have a MH health problem.
I suggested taking her to a GP as they can rule out various conditions if this persists. It must be horrible for the poor child.
But this is a very odd, aggressive thread, so I'm off.
Good luck OP, I hope your daughter's OK.

[lottieandmia]

Exactly Dione. Generally I just keep an open mind about everything. If it continued at home and became worse of course I would take her to the GP immediately. But I do also think that sometimes things happen that we don't have the answers to. That doesn't mean I automatically think she's seen a ghost though.

[breatheslowly]

Once my DD is beyond the age where imaginary friends are common the I would take my DD to the GP if she "saw things" persistently. I'm. Not a doctor, but I do know that seeing things as more than a transient vivid imagination thing is unusual and may be worth investigating.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Lottie, please don't be upset by the ignorance and lack of understanding shown by some of the posters here. Settle yourself and be the calm, reassuring presence your DD needs tonight.

[breatheslowly]

OP - does your DD know that you think that?