Why They Call It Parapsychology

Parapsychology (par-uh-sahy-kol-uh-jee) - the branch of psychology that deals with the investigation of purportedly psychic phenomena, such as clairvoyance, extrasensory perception, telepathy, hauntings, and the like.

Um, yeah. What that definition forgot is this: the branch of psychology that deals also with those people affected by either parapsychology or imagined parapsychology.

Something I didn't think about when getting into this whole ghost hunting business is how the heck do I deal with those people who are being haunted or who are imagining a haunting? These people are stressed beyond belief, ready for answers that will let them know they aren't crazy, and most likely ready to lose their shit if you say to them, "Sorry. We didn't find anything."

That's how I felt about my most recent investigation. The client is desperate for answers, convinced she has a negative/inhuman spirit roaming her house, scared out of her wits with a grandchild who won't sleep alone, and wanting affirmation of her experiences. Affirmation we may not be able to give her because even if she does have a negative haunting, the little bastards hide, knowing our goal is to prove it is there so that someone more qualified (read: priest) can kick its ass, and meanwhile we experience nothing.

I felt for this woman. Whether she's truly experiencing something or just imagining the whole thing, I felt for her. She is absolutely scared shitless and ready to sell her house, even in this crappy real estate market. Now that's desperation.

And what I didn't have the heart to tell her is that even if she is being haunted/tormented by something inhuman, demonic if you will and even if she does sell, the damned thing will probably follow her wherever she goes. And she's back to square one.

This job is much harder than I expected.