Ghost Hunting Syndrome

How to fight it with a smile on your face!

Before many of us begin a Paranormal investigation, some of us start feeling apprehensive. This is called Ghost Hunters syndrome and here's how to treat it.

Story by Gina Lanier

You may not be afraid of ghosts, you might even get a personal thrill searching for them, and that is just the bright spot of your day. But what happens to you when you go to a very haunted locations and you can't find a real ghost? You get stressed and give your opinion and the ghost hunt is over. Then you stress out asking your self why did I take that case in the first place? That's what I call Ghost Hunters syndrome. It occurs in reality due to the alteration of the psyche some days before a full scale investigations begins. I believe about 30% of all Ghost hunters suffers from this rising disorder. But fortunately, it’s possible to prevent it.

Books on ghosts and haunting's are all to common these days. And many of the ghost stories in them are told and retold to the point where to many believe that this is all a certain ghost is capable of doing. I have had a fascination with the "paranormal" for many years. I used to love romping around the many New Orleans' Cemeteries and local ones where I grew up, and immerse myself in the local ghost stories.

Even though I have been interested in and investigating the paranormal I have always had a skeptical view of it. I have never experienced a paranormal event, and anything that might have been construed as "paranormal" I could quickly debunk with a little common sense. But you also come across a few I'd say 2 in 10 that really are paranormal in nature. I guess many people have strange things happen to them but it is not all otherworldly. In essence that what I believe causes Ghost Hunting Syndrome. The fact that we expect to much.

The Ghosts and the Damned

First of all, you need to prepare your body mentally for a real paranormal investigation: let yourself have as much relaxation as possible the days before you done on one. There’s no way for you to work in a frantic rush trying to perform all your great deal of duties simultaneously and solve all the problems. Many of us around the world think just because Jason Hawes and the gang rush into a haunted locations for a few hours and leave. And that all the evidence that was needed to gather will just happen. And when it doesn't then we tend to get depressed. You high hopes of proving to your self and the world that Ghost are real dashed once again.

Or is it worse that you collect real honest proof and no one believes it to be such!

You saw What?

Ghost Hunters Syndrome can be characterized by headache or hyper anxiety, depression, indigestion and insomnia or diarrhea. All this happens days sometimes hours before a ghost hunt is scheduled to occur. I have even heard about ghost hunters being nauseous on the way to the haunted locations fine during it and sick again after the hunt. Many ghost hunters who suffer from this often just don't show up. I think it's because the expectation of failing or the fear that they have found nothing on a previous ghost hunt might be the root cause.

Expectations are everything. I always go into everything I do with the expectations of the worst that could be going on and relish the best that happens. Just like the person who tells you they saw a real ghost credibility is at the source of the emotion.

lf you are a big fan of Sci-Fi Channel's hit reality show "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Hunters International" then you might be not seeing everything that happens to set up a real ghost hunt Hours get compacted into minutes. The shows have in my opinion certainly raised the bar on how and where we should hunt for real ghosts. I commend the show seriously, but living with the stigmatized Ghost Hunter image they portray effects many of us in or investigations. So I guess as a Ghost Hunter you are damned from the first time you set out to find a real ghost!

If you could see the long faces of the people who I have to tell That they are wrong and their home or place of business is not haunted. I tell them find another Paranormal Investigator and get a second and a third opinion if they want it. And I always ask them to give me permission to contact them in a month or so to see if I can come back and try again. Just because I did not find any real ghost the first investigation certainly doesn't mean I won't find them the second or third time around.

WHERE DID THE GHOST HUNTERS GO WRONG?

A very well known Paranormal Investigator of many years was sitting on a question and answer panel. He was asked by a person in the audience, 'You have observed real haunting's and paranormal phenomena, demons Poltergeist and all that is other worldly for many years. You've seen ghosts and mediums and the rise of ghost hunting technological equipment advances. You've seen progress in bringing ghosts and the paranormal in to the mainstream of the publics way of thinking, as well as the messes many amateur ghost hunters have made.' So what does all this do to you and your Personal beliefs?

The well known Paranormal Investigator nodded in agreement as he spoke.
The questioner continued, 'Considering all these events, in your opinion, where do so many Ghost Hunter Like myself go wrong?'

The well Known Paranormal Investigator stared at the questioner for almost a minute and then calmly replied. 'Don't be stupid! When a ghost hunter finds a haunted location, a real ghost is supposed to be haunting it. Many strange things occur to all those involved it's up to us to be a judge, a skeptic, and an observer and collect real tangible evidence that the place or person is really having a haunting by a ghost or ghosts.

'Today's amateur Ghost Hunter spend a few hours at the most hunting ghost and nothing happens; and that does not mean the place or person is not haunted.' It just means the ghost hunter doesn't know what he is doing.'

Then the well Known Paranormal Investigator leaned back and smiled. 'Only a newbie ghost hunter thinks he can improve a evidence collecting system and find a ghost in an hour formatted television show.'

Stress And The Very Haunted Ghost Hunter

Many Ghost Hunters spend the last night before their upcoming investigation frantically packing for their ghost hunt. Procrastinating with your packing of equipment can lead to a very stressful situation. If you watch Ghost Hunters as so many do today you see that Jason and Grant give Brian and Steve to do the work. Setting priorities for someone else to the work is ok, but how many times have we seen Jason Hawes blow up at Brian Harnois for forgetting something. If Harnois did not have Ghost Hunters Syndrome on the first two seasons then who did?

Donna Lacroix , became part of the reality series Ghost Hunters as the case manager and the interviewer as well. Many people did not see the work she did before an investigation begins. Her job was to get all the particulars and set up times and interviews at and away from the home with all the parties involved. As far as her position is concerned, it's not just answering a phone and saying 'I'm on my way!'

Steve Gonsalves is the co-founder of the TAPS publication, Paramagazine. In addition, he has been a public speaker and an educator about paranormal phenomena for more than 10 years. Moreover, he became part of the reality show Ghost Hunters as the evidence analyst and also the technical manager. He is responsible for training all TAPS members on how to use and maintain the team's wide range of high-tech equipment. And the many stress full hours he spends looking over tapes and listening to EVP's is not really what many who watch the show realize.

Jason Hawes is the co-founder of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) in Warwick, Rhode Island. Previously, he wrote 4 sci-fi thriller screenplays. In addition, he enjoys fishing and fine arts. Moreover, he is married to wife, Kris, and has 5 children, 3 girls and twin boys .Ultimately, he became part of the reality show Ghost Hunters as one of the producers and the lead investigator. If you never have headed up a group through your work or with several individuals or coordinated a ghost hunt then you might not realize why the man gets so stressed on many of the shows.

Life just doesn't revolve around ghost and stress release is crucial. Grant Wilson is the co-founder of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) in Warwick, Rhode Island. He is also a writer and illustrator of fantasy characters in role playing games. Aside from this, he is also a composer who previously launched a “Music Myspace” account with some of his piano compositions. In the future, he aspires to work on an album.

Brian Harnois is a former police officer for the USA Air Force. This 30-year old paranormal enthusiast is also a fanatic when it comes to collecting Star Wars memorabilia. He is an aspiring writer who is currently writing his first book. Moreover, he became part of the reality television show Ghost Hunters as the evidence analyst and the investigator as well.

If pressure from hunting ghost is not enough to put a scare in you then what is? The stress of doing it all on a reality show?

Stopping Supernatural Stress Before It Happens

To avoid this haunted or paranormal tweaked stress and the possibility of beginning your ghost hunt feeling overwhelmed, trying packing your ghost hunting kit at least a week in advance. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you aren't forgetting anything and it will also help you to get a good night sleep the night before because you won't be concerned about taking care of last minute details such as packing. Make a check list and go over that the day before nothing more then that.

Planning your Paranormal itinerary out carefully before leaving can also help you to relax. Again, this should be done a few days before your investigation so that it does not contribute to last minute supernatural induced stress. Research some of the info on the case. Look into the history of a location, and also research the family if it is a home that is being haunted by real ghosts or demons.

In making your plans of how to investigate a location consider that with it's special conditions, no two ghosts locations or haunting's are ever the same as we all know. You should be careful not to overlook your standard equipment list and try something new like bringing a sensitive person along. Trying to pack too much into your investigation can lead to stress that prevents you from enjoying the hunt and overloading. Too Often no evidence is collected. When you ghost hunt in a private home or public place days are needed not just 3- 8 hours that you see so often on Ghost Hunters every week. A real investigation sometimes takes days or even months before any evidence is collected. Any real Paranormal person worth his salt in the field will tell you that. Just because so many perceive that Jason and Grant can do it in a day or two so can you. But as they say they are are professionals and are learning along the way.

Another tip for avoiding stress on your Paranormal investigations to be flexible. You are bound to run into a few snags. Something lost or forgotten at home, or someone on your teams personal problems affecting everyone involved. And if you can be honest to yourself and really flexible and roll with the changes you are far more likely to enjoy your ghost hunt than if you become upset or stressed out over mishaps.

If you are up late the night before your ghost hunt or don't get any sleep at all because you put off packing until the last minute you could be starting your paranormal search on a very haunted note. Being overtired at the start of your investigation could result in you losing precious time during your investigation because you are too tired to go out and just honestly explore the haunted site. And add a few personal problems then your really going out to the haunt with a bad attitude.

I recently polled a few paranormal people and groups at a recent Ghost Conference and came up with a few startling facts. Many say they know how Ghost Hunter on the Sci-fi's Ghost Hunters Brian Harnois felt having been in that situation many times. Forgetting something losing something, and in your mind you know you did what you were supposed to do. Stress Kills a ghost hunters ability to focus. And it certainly affects the ghosts at the location many have said. A few say they actually want a stressed out person on a ghost hunt because they are more then likely to give off Psi - energy and make things happen. On investigator actually told me he has a member in his Kentucky group who's stress levels always challenged. Because of this the ghost are drawn to him.

Proof Is In The Evidence?

Never think about your personal life during ghost hunt. Your brain and paranormal reflexes should relaxed! Never go into any situation with the notion that a location or person is really haunted. Look for real proof.

Some believe a picture tells a thousand words but like the ghost photo from Kay Harrington shows something white in the photo. But In your reality is it a real Ghost?

But proof is subjective if it doesn't happen to you that does not mean it did not happen. Many ghost will not perform on command. But a ghost hunter will and should. We should sit back quietly and observe the surroundings Watch the people who are haunted see how they react and question them. Film them watch them blend into the woodwork and cover their haunted lives for a week or longer. Ghost never happen on cue and sometimes are more subtle in their haunting's then the well known cases of poltergeist Demons or spirits or television tales of ghost appearing and moving objects.

Should we believe them? Of course once you have set out investigating them and their personal haunted real ghost claims we should know with all the other evidence you collect that the haunting is real or imagined. Ghost Mania has hit the world and their is nothing we as Paranormal investigators can do but do what we are doing.

Mass Paranormal Hysteria

If you are a regular listen to Coast To Coast AM with George Norry or listen to internet paranormal broadcast like Parahub.org or The Darkness on the Edge of Town | Paranormal Radio Show you hear many people with many different claims of true or real paranormal encounters.

The guest all believe what they are doing and state infallibly it really happened to them. And who are we to question them right? Many people in findings sometimes make up a haunting just to get attention. We should always approach our research and findings with a scientific mind first. It is, admittedly, rather difficult to gather physical proof for something non-physical!

I want to put forth a new concept in Ghost hunting and that is to investigate the Paranormal investigator themselves. Not that this is not done just by you visiting this site and reading this article. Get in touch with them share your experience and question them on what they have witnessed. Then if you need more proof then that, then go with them on an investigation.

I myself would live to visit many locations around the world and see if what I have heard is true or not. But always their is the truth that what is true to you, is not true to me. Paranormal and the science of investigation, by its own methods, is securely fastened to measurable phenomena. In the case of paranormal research and studying all things that go bump in the night, all the we can do again witness and record are the consequences and not the cause of the phenomena. However, the motivation of finding proof falls secondary to making the people involved feel safe and secure again. As a Paranormal Investigator e truly are Here To Help! And isn't that what it should be all about?

Ghost Hunting is real work!

HOW DO YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU CANNOT SEE? YOU HAVE WAIT UNTIL IT FINDS YOU AND WANTS TO SHOW ITSELF!

Many have said how do you find an invisible needle in an invisible haystack. We all know sometimes anomalous ghost photos just happen when you least expect. But how can you prove to someone, anyone that what you saw when they were not around you or knew you really happened to you.

I could say I lived in a certain city at certain time in my life. aa person will believe you. You can tell them you had a surgery and not even show them a scar and they will believe you.Tell them you saw a ghost and they look at you like your someone who should be locked up. And the real hard work is getting other to believe you!

Notice the shadow ghost behind Gina Lanier as she works on a home in New Orleans.

DO YOU THINK ONE OF THE GHOSTS PHOTOS IN THIS ARTICLE IS ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF THAT GHOSTS DO EXIST?

Want to check out some reported real ghost photos start here! Free Ghost Photo Gallery

Real Ghost Hunters - Ghost Hunt responsibly! You can check out Gina Lanier's web site and find out more about what she believes real ghost hunting is all about. Please visit the link below.

Many ghost hunter cannot afford to quit their day jobs and hunt ghosts exclusively. some are people from all walks of life. Paranormal researchers that spend so much time bragging about their past findings and evidence to, too often really don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. A real Paranormal Investigator is a person with a passion to believe in the unknown and to learn the tolls and tips of the trade and help those that are really frightened of the haunting they are experiencing.

Why online Paranormal Investigators or so cool: Not only a convenient way to find groups and like minded individuals to explore the hunted world with. But their evidence they stand behind.

The Banner Link Below: Is linked to a site and group to a very real, real Ghost Hunting Organizations and group that I Gina Lanier Recommend Highly! I believe in their protocols and the great work that Greg and Judy Myers are doing.

PARANORMAL TASK FORCE™
"Your One Stop Paranormal Resource Center"

PARANORMAL TASK FORCE™ is the “One Stop Paranormal Resource Center” with multiple resources, divisions and departments to meet all of your paranormal needs. Official Web site: www.paranormaltaskforce.com

To see Larger Ghost Photo image visit here now! or Double click image above.

Tom of Missouri Paranormal Research & Ghosts & Haunts in Missouri captured a possible apparition on 35mm film from the time noted above when he saw the human size glow move up the stairway and past him. Preliminary analysis by Greg Best of the Oracle Paranormal Research Society (O.P.R.S) shows that this picture is truly "unexplainable" and most likely impossible to recreate. He noted how self illuminating the anomaly was and even casting such light from it upon the boarded up window, wall and even the staircase railings. The negative will be sent to Kodak laboratories and professionals for further analysis. Both teams involved will also have to attempt the recreation of this capture on a follow-up investigation to rule out other possible explainable causes within the environment of that area of this house.

Paranormal Task Force are a professional team of experienced paranormal investigators and researchers. We combine a unique blend of humanistic values, and scientific techniques which result in a well formulated, balanced tactical approach to paranormal investigations and research.

PARANORMAL TASK FORCE™ serves its clients in three ways:

1. PTF fully addresses all of the client's needs and concerns, while respecting their privacy and beliefs.

2. PTF supports the advancement of the paranormal field through the collection of evidence, and data for
further study.

3.PTF fully respects the unknown realms we are dealing with, along with the potential dangers involved.

Through consultation and other methods, we have found that proper investigative techniques, combined with the proper analysis can result in a mutual and peaceful co-existence between the human client(s) and their paranormal inhabitant(s).

When this is not achievable, we consult the client about the wide range of possible solutions to meet their needs. The client is the one who makes the ultimate decision concerning which solution is best for them. Paranormal Task Force staff will never abandon our clients, and vows to stay with them until resolution to the issue is achieved.

At Paranormal Task Force they also realize that every paranormal situation is unique and no two are exactly alike. As such; their full analysis, versatile techniques and abundant resources can adapt to and assist with the complexity of any situation. Many times a full investigation is not necessary. In many cases interviews, research and analysis can provide you with an explainable cause or simple solution to your predicament.

All of their investigations are done at no cost to you. Most importantly, they understand your fears and needs, because most of their staff has experienced or lived through such a haunting themselves. Paranormal Task Force know what you are experiencing and the effects it may be having upon you and your family. They care about you, and the potential psychological and physical dangers that you, and your family may be subjected to. Most of all, Paranormal Task Force respect your privacy and wishes. At Paranormal Task Force Their clients come first!

Greg Myers searches for "Definitive Proof" that ghosts are real.

Greg Myers states: "To prove the definitive existence of ghost or anything paranormal will take the serious interest and efforts of the true scientific community to conduct research and experimentation into this field with the hopes of furthering the technological advancements in specific equipment where evidence becomes a standard repetitive process that can be presented to others." " Personally myself, I have had personal experiences which already has provided the definite proof that ghost are indeed 100% real."

Greg Myers - President
Founding Director - Lead Investigator - EVP Specialist
Administrator MPR Divison

Greg has had personal paranormal encounters since being a teen and has years of paranormal investigative experience. He is well versed with haunting classifications, paranormal investigative techniques and leadership through example. Greg has served as a technician and supervisor while serving in the military and has further enhanced his education and abilities with legal issues while serving over ten years in the legal field. With his background of legal issues, lobbying experience and issue avocations, he hopes to apply these skills to the enactment and strengthening of "haunted house" and "psychological impact" disclosure laws for prospective property owners, tenets and lessees. Greg also has an extensive background in genealogical research and familiarization with record research vital to the research of potential haunted properties.

Greg is one that shares the philosophy that paranormal investigations can come with many unknown dangers which are not properly addressed by most of the paranormal research field. This and other important issues are overlooked and need further avocations to current and future researchers and investigators within this field. Greg adheres to a Humanistic Approach to investigations. Also see: Helping the Paranormally Affected Client.

Myers has been a featured guest on many radio stations across the US, UK, and Canada and has completed filming earlier this year (2007) with Keith Age and The Booth Brothers for "Children of the Grave" which will be released on October 2, 2007. He also served as a Location Manager for that project. He also completed filming for the Exspiro Productions documentary "The Other Side" which was released earlier this year (2007). Greg has also authored articles and short stories concerning his experiences within the paranormal realms and theories related to such which are published on the World Wide Web. Some of these articles and stories have been selected for inclusion in “Weird Hauntings II” and “Weird Missouri” which will be published in the near future. Also See: 20 QUESTIONS WITH Greg Myers.

Greg has also recently been added to the League of Paranormal Gentlemen. And is featured in the New Documentary Children Of the Grave by the Booth Brothers.

When Greg Myers was asked; Are you skeptical of the claims other make of their findings?

He replied, "Yes, you could not be objective within the paranormal research and investigative field without good sound skepticism." "You always have to search for the explainable reason for what is first perceived as unexplainable." "When all routes of the explainable fail and such are included with the presentation of such claims, then you can open yourself to an analytic process to better understand such claims and evidence involving the unknown which will make it better known in the future."

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