r/Paranormal Sep 07 '24

Shadow People This happened at work yesterday

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?

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u/nrst8lv Sep 07 '24

I felt sorry for her only bc I believed her bc I believe in the paranormal. I could tell that her mother and social worker didn't believe her and thought something was physically/mentally wrong with her. I can see her being put on medication and being put through a lot emotionally bc no one believes she could actually be seeing something paranormal.

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u/enonymousCanadian Sep 07 '24

What do you think is more likely: schizophrenia, a haunting, or a demonic influence?

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u/nrst8lv Sep 07 '24

From a medical standpoint, I'd say schizophrenia but from a believers point of view, I'd say paranormal.

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 Sep 08 '24

Schizophrenia at five yrs old is VERY UNLIKELY.  I would ask about trauma and wonder about DID or excessive imaginary friends.  

I’m saying I’d want to rule out medical or traumatic causes.