16 Signs That Your House is Haunted

Many people have trouble believing that strange occurrences or eerie noises in their homes are ghosts, as opposed to being signs of well-lived-in house.  But what happens when doors begin slamming shut for no reason, when you hear footsteps upstairs when you know that nobody else is home, or when the toothbrush you just put down on the sink is no longer there and is nowhere to be found? How can you determine if your house is truly haunted?  There is no real definition of a "true" haunting, but there are multiple signs that could be red flags that you are not the only thing inhabiting your home:

1. Unexplained Noises: footsteps, knocking, banging, rapping, are all signs that a house may be haunted.  These noises can be subtle or very loud.

2. Doors Opening and Closing: more often than not, these experiences are not seen directly.  A person may hear the noise of a door opening or closing, or walk into a room to a cabinet that has been opened without explanation. 

3. Lights Turning Off and On: similarly to doors opening and closing, these events are most often not seen directly, but instead they walk into a room with a light on or off, which they are sure they had left in the opposite position.

4. Items Disappearing and Reappearing: this is called the "DOPler" effect (Disappearing Object Phenomenon).  This can occur in several ways.  One is when a commonly used item is not found in the place that it is always left.  Another is when an object is not in the place it is usually left, and after a person looks for it all over the place, it is found in the place that it should have been the whole time.

5. Unexplained Shadows: this describes the seeing of "Shadow People."  These can be unexplained shapes or seen in the form of a person.

6. Strange Animal Behavior: It has been said that animals can see what people can't see.  Dogs barking without explanation, or pets staring into empty space are signs of a ghost.

7. Feelings of Being Watched: the strong feeling of having someone in the room with you, when you are certain that there is nobody else there.

8. Mild Psychokinetic Phenomena: televisions, and battery operated toys being turned on by themselves.

9. Feelings of Being Touched: the feeling of someone brushing past you, or the feeling of someones hand touching your shoulder are both signs that something else may be occupying your house.

10. Cries and Whispers: sometimes muffles voices or crying can be heard without explanation.

11. Cold or Hot Spots: cold spots where there are no air vents, windows, or doors are classic signs of a haunting.

12. Unexplained Smells: the distinct fragrance of a perfume or cologne that you are sure you do not have in your house

The following are very rare, but do occur:

13. Moving or Levitating Objects: plates flying across the dinner table.  Take a look at the video in the blog post, "The Proof is in the Tapes."

14. Physical Assault: scratches, slaps, and hard shoves.  While, these are very rare, the do occur, most often with demonic spirits.

15. Other Physical Evidence: such as writing on the walls or hand prints and footprints.

16. Apparitions: while full body apparitions are very rare, they are the most conclusive evidence of a haunting.  They typically appear and disappear quickly.