Perhaps the perpetrator is electromagnetic fields, or EMFs. Old homes, like the one I slept in, often possess electrical wiring that doesn’t keep pace with the times and pumps out significant levels of EMFs. According to an increasing body of literature, prolonged exposure to high levels of EMF can induce a wide array of symptoms, ranging from anxiety to insomnia, headaches, and hallucinations. Was it possible that the house’s wiring had to do with my weird experiences?

Finally, there’s the psychology of isolation. A month alone in a strange, potentially “haunted” house will heighten the senses and make normal, everyday occurrences seem much more extraordinary. Our brains are wired to find patterns, even when there are none, so it’s not hard to see why someone might feel that everyday sounds or sights are paranormal when they are already on edge.