Brace Yourselves Ladies, It's a Weird One!

It's quite possible you're a "sensitive". It's not weird. There are a lot more people out there who experience this, yet choose not to discuss it due to being picked on.

Are there chemical things that can cause that? Yep. Several. The three that jump to mind are actually both quite different and quite similar to each other. I repeat myself a little, for which I apologize.

1 - Hypervigilance... common in trauma survivors (PTSD), soldiers (trained to be hypervigilant), ADHD folk, people with anxiety disorders, and people with dangerous jobs/ hobbies (who are also usually adrenaline junkies) where quick reactions are paramount.

People who are Hypervigilant notice those SUBTLE changes like a slap in the face (it's one reason why adhd folk often are so distracted), unlike typical people's brains which merely note the subtle change but don't inform the person of them... Hypervigilant people tend to be quite "jumpy" or "hair triggered" because of those mental slaps in the face (that turn out to just be the wind swirling dustmotes, or a shadow passing quickly, or a vibration from something electronic). They often mistake things (like changes in air pressure) etc., as a human presence, because those are the same things our brains tag when someone comes into the room. Not just the sight of them, but all the changes they bring with them. Here's a fairly basis definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervigilance. Hypervigilance can be blunted over time to a degree with training/practice, and can be temporarily blunted with certain drugs.

2 - SPD ... specifically a version of Sensory Processing Disorder where the brain is misinterpreting signals (but not as wildly misinterpreted as synesthia). We're (mankind) *aware* of someone in the room with us because of both noticeable changes (seeing them, hearing them) and very very SUBTLE changes (air flow change, heat change, scent, minute changes in light and shadow, etc). People with certain expressions of SPD will "over notice". So the heat created by sitting in a chair isn't recognized by the brain as you OWN body heat, but instead it feels the heat of someone standing behind you. Or the sounds of your own breathing get pegged wrong and it's like you can almost hear someone else breathing. Or, or, or, or. Regardless of what the "normal" stimuli is, your brain twigs it incorrectly, and then (if it's telling you the sounds, sights, smells, etc. belong to someone else, but you can't SEE them, because no one is there))... it creates that "someone is watching me" feeling...

SPD can be treated with various forms of therapy which train the brain to take the edge off of how much it's noticing things (or increase it), and there are tons and tons of tricks for people who have SPD.

3 - Synesthesia... Synesthesia is "fun" (intellectually, at least). It's the brain completely and totally skipping a beat. One of the "cooler" examples of synesthesia are Music = Color (my husband has that... as a matter of fact, a lot of muscians do). What happens with Synesthesia is the brain notices one thing (say corduroy) and another sense pops up (say smell) and misinterprets the signal *entirely*. If the person who is synesthetic with corduroy and smell s lucky... they might small cinnamon (each and every single time, it doesn't change... the same way when you see the color red, it's ALWAYS red, and not sometimes blue... or water always feels wet and not sometimes like sandpaper... the brain misinterprets VERY consistently)... if they're UNLUCKY they might smell corpses or vomit.

The brain can be synesthetic about ANYTHING, linking ANYTHING together. It's usually pretty obvious. There are some great examples here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia in what is a pretty decent article (as opposed to the snippet on hypervigilance, but it's one of the few I found googling that didn't only link it with ptsd... hypervigilance can come *along* with ptsd, but ptsd doesn't own it). So, if you were synesthetic your brain could be linking one thing that you do regularly with the series of sensations that a person gets when they're being watched. This is like an allergy diet. WHAT is going on when you feel like you're being watched? And by that I mean things like : are you; wearing shoes/ clothes/ underwear/ sitting/ standing/ hair up/ hair down/ sitting/ standing/ hearing traffic/ smelling coffee/ biting your tongue/ any one of a HUNDRED variables that if one is removed you DON'T feel like you're being watched?

Neither therapy nor meds help synesthetics, because it's an involuntary response -you can't take a person off the street and therapy them into not seeing the color blue when they look at the ocean, or to stop their heart on command, those kinds of involuntary response- HOWEVER, through trial and error the trigger can be found (if it's not obvious, like a roof over your head, or shoes, or music, or whatever) and avoided / or accepted.

So yah... those 3 are the ones that leap out at me... but I could very easily list off about a dozen more. Since you asked about possible scientific causes, I won't go into Heaven & Earth & Horatio.

Ok, I am going to assume that you aren't looking for confirmation that you are experiencing some kind of psychic phenomenon.

What it sounds like to me is anxiety. Anxiety can manifest itself in so many different ways from thoughts and compulsions to physical ailments and sensations.

My guess is that you spend a lot of time in your head and you will get the creepy crawlies and then have a hard time thinking about anything but having the creepy crawlies and they will get worse and worse and it has become a cycle.

Please understand...you can otherwise feel fine and not have any other symptoms or outright reasons for being anxious but you may have an overactive fight-or-flight. This is totally common, though, in our society. We don't get enough activity we don't get enough sleep, we don't get enough fresh air...and on and on and on...

If it really bothers you and you want to know what to do about it I suggest the following:

Cut your caffeine and sugar intake as low as you can

Get regular exercise try to get at least 30 minutes a day (60 minutes is best)

START TAKING FISH OIL Omega-3 has been shown to reduce adrenal activation following stress...meaning that it can potentially inhibit the fight or flight (i.e. creepy crawlies) you are experiencing.

If you already have done these things and still are having is problem, see a psychiatrist. This doesn't mean you are crazy or have "mental issues". Seeing a psychiatrist means you are consulting with someone who specializes in prescribing medications for symptoms that you are experiencing that are caused by chemicals released by the brain. I have chronic migraines, for example, and I take an anti-anxiety medication because it inhibits the chemicals produced by the brain that contribute to the migraines. There's no shame in doing that whatsoever. I'm thinking you might be able to try an anxiolytic (xanex, ativan) for when the sensation gets bad and to break the cycle. I'd, of course, try the other things first and leave medications for a last resort.

Good luck!

I kind of skimmed the answers, so don't know if this was covered, but do you have any idea if your mother had trouble while she was carrying you? I am just wondering if perhaps you were a twin early in your gestation...

Don't worry. I wouldn't call you weird. I often actually see people that aren't there. I get it all the time and sometime there really is a creepy not alive man sitting next to me. Yeah, that's freaky. But they can't hurt you. What you might want to do is cleanse you house with sage. Look up house blessing with sage on google for instructions.
What you can do if you want to know if it really is environmental or not, you can find someone with a k2 meter or ask a local paranormal group to scan your home. Is it just at your home/ past homes? Find a clairvoyant and see what they can see around you. Best of luck!! If you need help or are freaked, just message me. It can be scary at times.

It interferes so much and has been around so long I'd either see a doctor about taking some blood samples or plasma or whatever to see if you actually have defficiencies and if not call a reputable person (like not any crazy who claims they vanquish spirits lol) who can come and "cleanse" you.. I've seen them on shows where they come and cleanse houses when some freaky stuff was happening. I personally am in the middle, I don't believe but I don't not believe. But if I felt the way you do, I'd go through all the processes just to make sure because I've heard of some freaky stuff happening to people by ghosts, demons, etc.. not sure if it really is true but like I said can't hurt to at least weigh it out as an option.

I felt that way when I lived in an apt with my exhusband when I was pregnant. I always felt creeped out when I was alone, like someone was there (besides my cat) and one night I got up for the 100th time to go pee and I swear I felt something run towards me growling... I still have no idea if I was just tired or what, but I jumped on the bed and screamed my head off. I think my ex about had a heart attack. The cat seemed freaked out too, so I crossed me being crazy off the list. I can't truly say if they are real or not, but whatever happened that night scared me for a long fricken time.

I guess I feel a little like B....

I'm a religious person. I like to think I am not in control, I am being helped, protected, looked over.

I wonder whether YOUR guardian angels are working a little harder than mine, that you can FEEL their presense.

Just my $.02!

:)

I've heard that some people who were twins but the twin died in utero feel that way. Could you ask your parents? Maybe they know something about your mom's pregnancy. I think it's really common to have twins and have one die. It could easily be the case without your parents even knowing about it though. I don't even know if knowing this would help except for that it could be an explanation and maybe a comfort. Good luck!

Okay, it could be something as simple as anxiety but then again I felt that way in my last house. I was constantly looking over my shoulder in the kitchen. Not scared just felt like someone was standing right behind me. I think it was my brother-in-laws mom (she was a wonderful woman that had passed from cancer many years before and we were living in her house.) Now mind you I have had other "experiences" such as seeing things as well in that old house as well as one I lived in as a child, but the one you are describing sounds like my particular kitchen one. You don't say you are scared, just not at peace? Why not accept it? You obviously have someone watching over you, I say relax, accept it. Long ago I had a neighbor that was a psychic and claimed he could see people's guardian angels, maybe that's what you are feeling? Kind of a nice thought when you think of it that way, don't you think?

I want to start by saying that I 100% believe in spirits and demons. If you don't, then you can just laugh off my post and move on.

First, do NOT watch Paranormal Activity 1 or 2 because the main character had your problem and needless to say... Outcomes were not good. However, that is a movie and this is real life. Still... It would probably freak you out too much... So don't watch it.

Second, is this "not-alone" feeling mixed with one of fear (I think it has to be since you can't sleep and don't feel at peace, but I thought I would double check) or do you just feel "not-alone". If it's mixed with fear, then it's probably a "bad" spirit or demon. If it's just that you feel "not-alone" it's probably just a spirit that is some how connected to you (Dead relative or friend, maybe). I agree with MegandOllie, find a paranormal group near you and see what they say.

Sounds like anxiety to me.

maybe you were born to be a ghost buster and you just dont realize it? I hope you can figure it out, that must feel so weird!

I am not overly religious but did attend the LDS church for some time. I have been to the Temple and performed some religious ceremonies for my ancestors and I can tell you that during the prayer if I had opened my eyes I thought I would have seen them kneeling at the prayer alter with me. I could almost feel their knees on the knee cushions. It was a great spiritual moment for me. I believe the veil we go through at birth and death is indeed thin at times and we can feel the spirits of those not here.

Hi KiwiMama1,
It must've taken a lot of guts to ask about this on a public forum. So it must be really bothering you. Like you, I'm pretty practical and not all that new-agey, but I definitely believe in intuition and that some people are more sensitive to otherworldly things. If you're not getting answers on the physical/psychological front, then I think it might be time to at least explore a non-traditional approach.
I've actually been to a psychic, not because I was seeking one out, but because she was recommended by a close friend. This particular psychic focuses on healing emotional blocks to realize your full potential, but she's part of a psychic network and could probably work with you or refer you to someone who might be able to help you out. Send me a message off list if you'd like more info. The stuff she was able to open my eyes to really changed my life and my general mental state. For me it was a very, very positive experience.

Hi Kiwimama---I've never really experienced the sensation of spirits around me but I do believe that there is a lot about some things, like angels and spirits or other dimensions, that we cannot even begin to imagine. I have a friend who can see and talk to her angel. She tells me that everyone has one. I'm guessing that you are sensing yours but your conscious brain is causing feelings of fear because of the unknown. And I think that you are correct in recognizing 'electric/energy fields' that are all around us. EVERYTHING has some sort of energy field and you must be more sensitive to those than most people. I have another friend who, both his ex and current wives, literally felt the presence of ghosts in a house they lived in. I am dead serious. Both Lisa and Jae would have these ghosts touch them (so it was the house, not one of them). It wasn't a bad thing but again, just creepy because they didn't know what was going on. There were several other ways that previous occupants of the house let our friends know they were there. Ultimately paranormal professionals were brought in and they actually found out what was going on. So, as crazy as it seems, weird stuff happens.

I would do some research into that possibility...about your 'gift' of 'seeing/sensing' more than the average person. Embrace it and I truly believe that your 'fears' will abate as you discover more about your 'feelings' or dare I say maybe 'gifts'? Whether or not it is 'true' isn't what is important. What you are feeling is. Keep an open mind and I'd be your feelings of anxiety will diminish. Just a thought. Good luck! D.

just my two cents - i have always been super sensitive emotionally. not talking paranormal stuff either, just, the slightest thing affects me deeply. when i was a kid a boy on the school bus (and we were friendly, he wasn't being mean and i don't remember the context) said to me, "watch out i'll be looking in your window!" that is literally ALL I remember of the conversation. but for years i would remember him saying that and feel i was being watched in my room. obviously, i STILL think of it occasionally. the brain does what it wants! it could absolutely be in your head. have your talked to a counsellor?

It's called the other side - its real. If you are a Christian, read your Bible it explains there are demons and evil spirits all around us. Most people don't like to think about it, but it is more real then the world we live in and see. My kids all have the ability to actually see/hear/feel everything on the other side. I personally can't see spirits but will see my light go on, and then off, or one minute something is there and then it disappears. I hear loud cracks coming from a turned off T.V. or other knocks in the house. I can see shadows out of my peripheral vision at night (movement). When I take photos with my Canon G9 I always am capturing orbs. My kids can see actual beings (dead people as well as evil beings). It is scary stuff. We never watch scary movies (I can't handle that stuff, also its not good to bring evil/negative energy into your home by watching that stuff - which it most certainly does). You are not mental, the feeling that you are being watched is not something to be medicated over. Do NOT second guess yourself and think its not real - or you will have people trying to medicate you because they think you are nuts. They are the ones who are nuts - because if they don't see something for themselves, then it doesn't exist. Funny how people can believe in God even though they don't personally see him. If there is good in this world, there is evil as well. God created everything to be balanced in all things. A therapist or doctor will dismiss you as a lunatic. Forget going there. What you CAN do is read your Bible daily, PRAY daily and whenever you are feeling this - you need to ask God to cast out anything that is present in your home (or wherever you are, to shield you with safety) and send his holy angels to protect you. You need to stop thinking your 'off.' Also play 'uplifting music' something Christian - evil spirits do not like it. I play stuff by Casting Crowns, or whatever type is your style, Christian music. Do not EVER play heavy metal/acid rock - you can be guaranteed to bring in evil (my kids can physically see this when they walked in a friends room when they played this, they had to leave because were under spiritual attack). Your feelings are real, trust your intuition and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

I found this for you:

http://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?stor...

Hi KiwiMama1,
You are not alone in your "not-alone" feeling. You wrote about it so well it brought so much back to me about my childhood and teenage years. I remember having this feeling when I was in certain rooms of my house, but when I look back on the memories realize that it didn't matter which room I was in, it happened when I was quiet and alone. I had a very difficult time sleeping all through my childhood and was very frightened about what I was sensing. The quieter the house was, the worse it was for me. My body would react as though whatever I was sensing was a threat, so i would lay in bed in sweats, with my heart racing. Panic made my imagination go wild, so every little noise would sound so much louder. I suffered from general anxiety disorder, too. Sometimes I would wake up "hearing" what sounded like static on the radio, or I could see from my room a bluish light that made me think my Dad was up watching TV...then I would get up and the radio would be off and same with the TV...the closer I got to what I thought was the source, the more it would fade and disappear. I was troubled and frightened by all of these experiences. There were times as a child when I felt like my every move was being observed, and I thought I was crazy. I didn't talk to anyone about it, but my parents did have to deal with a kid with dark circles under eyes from lack of sleep. I was going into my parents' room still at 11 and 12 years old from sheer terror.
Over time, I became desensitized to it. I was still having difficulty at night in my 20s, but always had room mates. At one point I did live alone, but I made sure to live in a small place where I could detect noises and where they came from so I could sleep better. I don't know of any particular herbs or medications, or even what this tendency is called. I do know that I rate very high on the highly sensitive person quiz (at http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm), and am creative - I think having my right brain stimulated much of the time somehow has some kind of connection with this, as does childhood when we are more sensitive generally. Also, I always thought that my sensitivity to this stuff was genetic in the sense that both my grandmothers, an aunt and cousin have seen ghosts and have had more than the average share of psychic moments. Do you feel that there may be a connection for you with being sensitive in other ways as well?
I hope some of what I have written makes you feel a little less alone, even if it doesn't give you a clear solution of how to cope. I know I watch my daughter to see if she struggles with this stuff, too, but luckily while she is a sensitive 4 year old, she doesn't seem to be aware of any presence that I can't also see...

I'd get some sage and do a sage smudge of your body and your home. It's supposed to clear the energy around you. You can buy them at hippy shops for a couple of bucks, or go out to eastern Oregon and pick some yourself, dry them out and tie them up with hemp. You then light it on fire, blow it out and wave the smoke around. It's a cheap easy thing to do. It smells nice and earthy, too. Why not try, eh? Good luck.

Look into some of the scientific reasons given and when you do feel this feeling you should OUT LOUD say ... GO AWAY multiple times until the feeling is gone. Honestly if it IS spirit they abide good or bad and if you feel it is bad have a cleansing done on your home if needed. I do not get the feeling that this is paranormal but it is not easy to do a reading of any kind over the computer.

The older I get, the more I believe in ghosts, both good and evil; in spirits, both old and new.

LIke Victoria, you can pass on me..... But since you mention having tried conventional Western therapy approaches without much success.....please read on.

I have had the divine pleasure of attending a variety of prayer meetings, held at both churches and homes, where without a doubt, I have had gifted women of healing pray over me or others, and fears and experiences such as yours are frequently addressed and instantly abated.

These above prayer meetings were not conducted by some fire and brimstone, ranting and raving, uneducated healer. These are close women friends of mine over the years who have become ministers in their own religion and they felt called by the Holy Spirit to intervene on this person's behalf.

As their spiritual healing abilities have grown, so have the requests for their help and training.

And they have prayed for, or with , or over, in person or in absentia, with many people who are clearly under a curse, or dealing with haunting spirits that wont' depart, or, or , or...

If you have not found answers through therapy, or through Riley's keen explanation of how the brain can 'over interpret' normalness, then if you comfortable I would recommend you seek a spiritual healer (often referred to as a prayer warrior). Most often, these amazingly gifted people speak in tongues, so don't worry if you don't understand all they are saying on your behalf. There are healing rooms available at many churches. Being a member or believer is not a prerequisite.

I hope you find peace and the flip to your problem is actually being alone, and there are those who find fault with that too.

No you are not alone with these feelings. I use the word feelings for lack of a better term.

When we bought our home 20 years ago I felt like there was a presence in the house. The presence was not bad but strange and there seemed to be some interactions like creepy foot steps across the ceiling at a certain at night. One afternoon I witnessed the knob on the stereo move by itself and the sound increase while I stood 15 feet away. What ended all of it was our marriage vow renewal in the living room with a neighbor who was a priest. After that all the odd things stopped and the creepy foot steeps disappeared.

I always felt that the house was built on an Indian burial site or a piece of sacred land. But there is no way to prove this.

The other S.

See a psychic. No kidding.
I know of a good one in Seattle, if you're ever up in that area -- Madeline Hartman, www.psychicawakeningsseattle.com. If nothing else, you can check out her website to get an idea of what is possible.
I'm sure there are good & reputable psychics (or intuitive healers) around you, especially if you're still in Portland area. Possible sources for reputable practitioners are alternative healthcare-type newspaper/newsletters or the 'business boards' at local co-ops, alternative healthcare providers, etc.
Contacting one of these people may be out of your comfort zone, but what do you have to lose?

Call Powell's. Buy a copy of Angels and Companions in Spirit. Then you will know how to handle your "friends" who follow you everywhere and send away ones who give you no comfort.
SInce they have never harmed you they are not demons or hurtful spirits. Everyone comes to this earth with messengers from The Holy One whose job it is to watch out for them.
My Companions have helped me throughout life. I was luckier than most because in our family it was an open secret. I could ask my mother or my aunt about these encounters. They were very matter of fact about it and I never had fear.
I am a sensitive. I have always felt comforted by the spirits around me. If I find one in someones house that is not friendly I tell them they must leave. Then we change the furniture around so they have no place to stay in that home.

Sounds like anxiety.
R.

This is a late answer, but have you tried seeing a Naturopath. There is a really good on in downtown Beaverton. LoriBeth Hargrove at the corner of 3rd and Watson (the south bound one way off of Beaverton Hillsdale).

I took my daughter to her when she was having some major night terrors as a toddler. There are some supplements/deficiencies that they use that help.

If you want more info. I'll hunt up the phone/address and pass them on. Just let me know.
D.