Spook Possessed Kids?

[tt]

I work in a 100 yr old Psychiatric Facility on the Children's Unit. We recently had a Pt. that often had problems allowing themselves to fall asleep at night. They would stand in their doorway refusing to go to bed, even though they couldn't keep their eyes open and their heads kept bobbing as the slouched to wards the door jam. You could put them in bed, but they would crawl out of bed, and stand in the doorway again.
None of the other children had this problem at night.
Recently this child was discharged. As soon as they left another young child developed this same resistance to falling asleep. They wouldn't stay in bed, and had complained of seeing a man that walked through a piece of furniture before walking through their bedroom wall.
While all the Medical Staff felt this child was having visual hallucinations, I wasn't so convinced.
I went to the child and explained to them, that I had experience with the things that were bothering them. I told them that even though seeing such things could be scary, I was convinced that they were in no harm. I reassured them that I was there to protect them, and wouldn't allow anything to hurt them.
Teaching the child to use relaxation techniques also helped them relax enough to allow themselves to fall asleep.
When I arrived at work last night, the young Pt. was in bed, but still awake. They looked at me as I walked past their bedroom, and nodded acknowledgment of my being there. With in 15 mins. they were sound asleep.
I feel it was a comfort to the child to know that I was there again to protect them in their sleep. And they slept through the rest of the night.
However I'm off work the next 2 nights. So I'll have to wait and see how they sleep, without me there.
But I told the Night Supervisor at work, that I felt that their was a Spirit there that was bothering the most vulnerable child on the unit. And that this Spirit would move from Pt. to Pt. as they were discharged from our care.
The Supv. acknowledged what I said and said., "Hmmm...you don't say? "
The Supvs. are all quite aware of my Hobby of Ghost Hunting, and know that I have experienced many hauntings, in our Psychiatric Facility. As have many of my coworkers.
It will be interesting to see what happens when this current insomniac child, is finally discharged from our care.
I wonder if another child will become bothered by this sleep robbing Ghost.

["Mysti"]

I agree it will be interesting to know if another child is disturbed by this spirit.
But I applaud you for taking the initiative (sp?) to at least acknowledge the childs concerns and let him / her know that not all adults think its all just in their heads.
I'm sure your words of reassurance helped alot, and I'm guessing the child knows that at least 1 of the staff people will listen to his / her concerns and be there watching.
He / She might not sleep to well while your off for the next couple days but I'm sure they will be resting peacefully again once your back there to watch as they sleep.
I know that tape recorders ect aren't allowed, but out of general curiousity have you tried speaking out loud to this spirit yourself to see if you pick up on any kinds of responses or activity? I'd really be interested in hearing if you did find anything.

[tt]

In order to do that, I'll have to wait till we have a very low Pt. count on the ward.
And when I know the kids are all asleep with there doors closed, and I'm alone on the ward. I'll try that.
But that might take awhile for that to occur.

[tt]

The child in question had trouble getting to sleep on my days off. And when I returned to work last night, it was well after 11:30 pm before they would even try to get any sleep. Furthermore they refused to verbally communicate with me. They would either shake there head, or look at me with a blank expression on there face.
They may have felt betrayed by my absence for 2 days, or my Theory simply doesn't hold water.

[tt]

I did engage the Pt. in conversation last night. At first they acted reclusive/shy but eventually opened up and described the Ghost as a tall male figure who was wearing a gray coat and a gray hat. He had gray hair, and a dark beard with some gray whiskers in it. He had tan skin, and didn't say anything to the child when passing through his furniture or out through a wall in the child's room.
The child says the man comes once a night when they dim their bedroom light to prepare for bed.
I again told the Pt. even though these sightings can be scary, I assured them I was there to protect them and keep them safe. I gave'em a vibrating Therapy Pillow to help them relax and fall asleep more easily. Which they quickly did. After having remained up approx. 45 mins. after my shift started. Which was 1 1/2 hrs. past their bedtime.

["Mysti"]

Is this happening in just 1 room, or is it moving from room to room depending on the pt. in the rooms? If it's all occuring in the same room repeatedly then it could be a residual haunting that is just replaying itself.
The description is rather strange though, unless at some time in the history of the building the orderlies / psychians or staff members wore scrubs and hats of that color. Unless it's a spirit of a past pt. or family member.
I'm sorry to hear that the child wasn't able to get much sleep while you were gone, but I'm glad that you were able to get him/her to talk to you, and that they were calm enough upon your return to relax and sleep again.
I wonder if some of the patients there are maybe actually victims of ghost / spirit activity, and they just aren't able to explain it to the members of their famies ect. I wouldn't be surprised to learn if that wasn't true in alot of facilities. (in the 1800's people were institutionalized or exorcized for demons...) so really makes you question the possibility.
The one advantage is that although your Supervisors are reluctant to accept or admit that ghost may exist. You should feel really good knowing that you are helping at least 1 child deal with his / her fears and making them feel alot better about themselves and their self esteem. (someone believes them, and that alone is a big boost for them I'm sure.)

[tt]

I didn't get the sense that the Ghost was wearing scrubs. I took the description to indicate the Ghost was wearing a suit coat.
I would think the Spirit in question might be some type of a shadow person.

["Mysti"]

I agree, the description really didn't sound like scrubs (if so they would be really drab, dull..and most places prefere not to look that way lol)
I'm not sure if it would be a shadow person though, from all my understandings in reguards to shadow people, I've never heard of anyone actually being able to get any details other than the normal "it looked like a shadow"
But I'm not going to say it wasn't a shadow person either, because kids are able to see alot more than what we as adults do..so maybe they would have more ability to get detail.
How is the pt. sleeping now? Any more visits from the spirit? Does the pt. feel threatened or just scared? I'm sure you've asked (in your own way) and what sence of feeling did you pick up from the decription?

[tt]

I think the Pt. is scared of the Spirit.
Plus they are put in a spot with the Medical Staff. As they want the Pt. to report if they are seeing things.
I imagine the Pt. feels when their meds are increased to deal with the sightings, that they are being punished in some way. These types of meds don't cure a Pt.'s symptoms they merely dull the affect of the symptoms, and cause Pts. in general to feel slugguish and less like themselves.
So the Pt. is reluctant to report seeing anything to Staff.
( As Staff we have to document what the Pt. reveals to us. If the pt. is unaware of this, they may feel betrayed for confiding in a Staff Person like me. ) If they say something like, "Don't chart that!" I'll tell the Pt. I won't chart anything that will harm them. ) But in doing so the Pt. will still feel betrayed. Though we will feel vindicated in charting what we have. It's a slippery slope that we tred on.

["Mysti"]

I understand that, you are put on the spot either way....but I'm sure that it still helps the pt. to know that although you may need to chart whats reported to you, at least you are still willing to talk with him/her and let them know you are there.

["Mysti"]

TT, is there any new info on how things are going with this pt.? I've been curious to see if there's been any more sightings or if this person has been able to rest and calm down.