---
title: "BBC News on paranormal phenomena: Feeling a presence or seeing eerie figures when alone"
url: "https://usubjects.com/article/bbc-news-on-paranormal-phenomena-feeling-a-presence-or-seeing-eerie-figures-when-alone-4506"
updated: "2026-10-31T16:16:15.552Z"
description: "Article explores possible explanations for sensing a presence or seeing strange figures when alone, tying into paranormal and ghost-related experiences shared in #paranormal discussions."
sources: ["https://www.bbc.com/gujarati/articles/c51kd28ykx1xo"]
licence: "All rights reserved"
---

# BBC News on paranormal phenomena: Feeling a presence or seeing eerie figures when alone

Published: 2026-10-31  
Source: [#paranormal](https://www.bbc.com/gujarati/articles/c51kd28ykx1xo)

### Overview

Reports of **feeling an unseen presence, seeing shadowy figures or encountering ghosts while alone** have been part of human culture for thousands of years. A BBC Gujarati report published on October 31, 2026, examines why such experiences can feel so convincing—and whether they are evidence of paranormal activity or the result of ordinary brain processes.

The article notes that ghost stories date back at least to ancient Mesopotamia, where some traditions described the living as having responsibilities toward the spirits of deceased relatives. Although beliefs vary across cultures, the emotional impact of these experiences remains remarkably consistent: people may feel frightened, isolated or convinced that something inexplicable has happened.

### Experiences That Feel Real

Psychologist Professor Christine Simmonds-Moore of the University of West Georgia says people do experience events they interpret as paranormal. The term generally refers to incidents that current science cannot fully explain. However, she emphasizes that an experience being subjectively real does not necessarily mean it has a supernatural cause.

“**These experiences are subjectively real for people**,” Simmonds-Moore said, according to the BBC report, adding that they can have a significant effect on those who experience them. Her comments distinguish between acknowledging a person’s fear or perception and confirming that ghosts or other supernatural entities are responsible.

Researchers cited in the report suggest that unusual experiences may occur when consciousness is altered or less stable than usual. In such moments, the boundary between imagination and perceptions originating in the outside world can become less clear, making it difficult for a person to determine whether a sensation came from the environment or from the mind.

### The Transition Between Sleep and Wakefulness

One possible explanation involves the **hypnagogic state**, the period between wakefulness and sleep. During this transitional phase, the brain and body do not always shift into sleep at exactly the same time. Images, sounds and physical sensations can emerge with unusual vividness, sometimes leading people to believe that another person—or an unseen presence—is nearby.

The report links this state to sleep paralysis, a condition in which individuals become aware of their surroundings while temporarily unable to move. A 2011 review published in *Sleep Medicine Reviews* estimated that approximately **7.6% of the general population** had experienced sleep paralysis. The review drew on international data, although it excluded students and people with mental illnesses from its assessment.

### Why People Sense a Presence

Professor Chris French, founder of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, describes sleep paralysis as a condition in which “**your body wakes up, but your brain doesn’t**.” The experience can include a powerful sense that someone else is in the room, even when there is no visible or audible evidence of another person.

French told the BBC that people may feel “something is there” despite seeing or hearing nothing. Sleep paralysis can also involve vivid hallucinations and physical sensations, making the episode especially frightening. Because the sensations appear immediate and bodily, those who experience them may interpret them as encounters with ghosts, intruders or other supernatural beings.

### A Scientific Perspective

The BBC report does not dismiss the distress associated with paranormal experiences. Instead, it presents them as events that may be understandable through sleep science, perception and the way the brain processes information during unusual states of consciousness. **Feeling a presence is genuine as an experience, even when the explanation may be neurological rather than supernatural.**

Understanding these possible causes can help reduce fear and encourage people to discuss recurring episodes with a medical professional, particularly when sleep paralysis or disturbing hallucinations affect rest and daily life. The continuing popularity of ghost stories, meanwhile, reflects both ancient cultural traditions and the enduring mystery of experiences that feel real before their causes are understood.

## Provenance

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