Q: My daughter, who is in Grade 12, is convinced that there are ghosts living in our basement, where her bedroom is. We laughed at her at first, but then realized she was serious when she began to cry uncontrollably. She says she hears footsteps, usually at night, and can feel a presence in the house. Do you think there really is a ghost, or is she suffering from some kind of
mental illness?
A: Some Scottish castles would not attract as many tourists without their famous ghosts. I personally have never seen one and do not really believe they exist, but professor H. J. Eysenck, the famous
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psychologist who wrote the book Sense and Nonsense in Psychology, concluded the verdict was still
out regarding the existence of
certain paranormal phenomena, such as ghosts.
I am more inclined to believe that your daughter has suffered from some type of hallucination.
A hallucination is defined as being a sensory perception for which there is no external stimulus. Sometimes they can be quite normal. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when a person is just falling asleep, in the state between sleep and wakefulness.
Toxic hallucinations can occur when a person is very ill, perhaps with a high fever, or due to certain drugs. Some people can hallucinate after a bereavement, and during the following grief reaction they can hear the loved ones’ footsteps on the driveway or see them sitting in a favorite chair.
Symptoms of disease
I hope your daughter is not showing one of the first signs of schizophrenia.
This mental illness is usually accompanied by auditory hallucinations and delusions, which are false beliefs out of keeping with her cultural or religious background. It can first appear in the late teens or early 20s.
Make an appointment for your daughter to see a psychiatrist or mental health therapist.
Is there a family history of mental illness?
If your daughter is found to have schizophrenia, there are several new medications on the market that have made a big difference to the lives of these patients. One is called Zyprexa, which has the generic name Olanzepine. It is slightly sedating, and can cause initial weight gain, but has few other side effects.
You should also ask her whether she takes illegal drugs. She may not be honest about this, so you may have to check for other signs of drug use or talk to her friends.
