I've had several experienced with shadow people both living alone and living with my girlfriend in a new house. I know when it is around since my dreams turn to horrible nightmares, dreams that involve people dying around me and horrific beasts/demons that tend to be about. From experience, they tended to be around most when there was alot of emotion in the house. I saw one in broad daylight going through my bedroom to the hallway and into the bathroom. Mostly though its in my bedroom at night time where it will first get my attention, with knocks on the walls or it will touch my feet and ankles, and when it touches you its not a normal touch, feels like an electric cold water feeling that you will never forget.
Usually when he comes I am unable to move or talk, he'll sitdown on the bed besides me and yes, you can feel the mattress go down when he sits. He usually ends up holding you down by your chest, though I dont see this part but just feel it since when he does this its the most awful, horrible feeling you can get. Feels like electrocution but with a very cold twist to it. Its bizzare to try to describe it but when its done you are drained. You can barely move, your body is covered in sweat and the sad thing is 99.99 of the time the person who is sleeping right next to you has no idea whats going on. They never wake up.
Though the shadow person did start to get bored with only me and started in with my girlfriend while we went to bed and she started encountering these events too. Though its been a few years since these events and now he doesnt show himself but likes to play in our daughters room at night time. She has this wicker chair by her bed and at nighttime she has said that she hears someone sit down on it while she is laying in bed trying to sleep, other times he will play with things in her room, like opening up the window shade and then closing it or will pull up her covers. Lately, the last few weeks she has been keeping her light on at night. She's 19 atm and is pretty in control about it, I think most at her age would be freaking out, but she keeps it in check.
Please note that not all of the times has he been visible, but you still know its him, you can feel the energy change in the room and you know when he is near you even if you cant see him as the temperature drops dramatically and its very, very cold.
You don't want to discover these things, mostly they are harmless but other times it seems that they are hell bent on trying to kill you one way or another and yes, they can do damage, they can harm you. You cannot move or talk when it happens and you have no control.
But looking back when he was most active, I would say it was in a very emotional stage of my life, back in the states and when I moved here to Holland. The last few years have been back to normal and he has not been doing these "things" to me and my mate. To be honest, I think he lost interest in me and is hanging out in our daughters room. Just glad he leaves her alone. I told her that it feels like to me that he likes her and looks after her, tucks her in bed and sits down and watches over her.
I would not wish these experiences on my worst enemy though, bad stuff.. very bad stuff.
EDIT: I should state that all of my encounters are based on a cloaked type of shadow ghost. I have never seen a hat man.
Edited by Tom B, 20 February 2011 - 07:34 PM.