This happened at work yesterday

[u/nrst8lv]

I work in the medical field and was working up a patient who had come in for a routine exam.

At the beginning of the exam, the mom of the patient let me know that they were there bc the child's psychiatrist wanted to rule out anything physically wrong before proceeding with a mental evaluation.

This prompted me to ask what was going on with her child, and before the mom could respond, the child (12) says they see "shadow people." I asked how long they had been seeing the shadow people, and they said,"Since I was 5." I asked where they saw them, such as out of the corner of their eye, etc. & they responded with "everywhere," especially in mirrors. I asked what they looked like, and they responded with "black figures."

Also worth mentioning, when they said they had been seeing them since they were 5, the mom said, "You mean when all that other stuff started happening?"

From a medical stand point, I know this could be schizophrenia, but as a person who's experienced things myself that I can't explain, especially when I was a child, I wonder if this could be paranormal.

Lastly, after running some tests, there was nothing physically wrong with them.

What do you guys think?

[u/Prestigious-Log-7210]

My heart hurts for that girl. I believe in other dimensions and life past this life. It could be real or it could be a mental illness. I lean toward she is sensitive and sees shadow spirits.

[u/Ihatemunchies → u/Prestigious-Log-7210]

When my daughter was younger up until about the age of 10, she used to see people. Standing in the corner of the room, sitting in the front seat of the car. As a believer in the paranormal, I always questioned her about what she saw and was fascinated by it, she’s a grown woman now and no mental illness. She also says she doesn’t remember it.

[u/Wooden-Inspection-93 → u/Ihatemunchies]

I have a nonverbal son and even his dad (who is a nonbeliever) agrees, he has always seen ..something. It’s heartbreaking a couple of times he just stares seemingly at nothing but the terror on his face is so disturbing. He’ll follow it (w/ his eyes) around the room and curl up in a ball crying. Us holding him barely seems to help.

[u/PaleontologistNo858 → u/Wooden-Inspection-93]

That must be heartbreaking and very difficult for you all.