Paranormal Experience In My House

My name is Josh, I'm 21, and have lived in the same home my entire life. I live with my family which consists of my mother, father, brother, sister and my grandma from my mom's side, who actually owns the house. The is located in a modest suburban neighborhood in Long Island, New York.

Throughout my life I have experienced various paranormal activities. Although I would not describe it as paranormal, I always felt very uneasy sleeping in my room which I shared with my brother for a period of time. I always had the feeling something was present and watching.

I'll describe the house the briefly: when one walks through the front door there are steps to the bathroom, two rooms (which at one point both had been my shared room), and the master bedroom which my grandma lives in. To the right is the living room, directly ahead is the kitchen, and off to the right corner is the dining room. Just before the entryway to the kitchen is another flight of steps to the den, which also has a bathroom, and at the base of those steps there's a door leading down to the basement.

Now on to my various experiences which I'll try to keep short. My first experience was when we were going out to dinner. I was very young at the time, no older then ten, and this was before I ever touched a drug. We were all in the living room and my mom had just asked me to get a pair of socks from the basement, which were kept on an old dresser beside the washer and dryer at the time. So I went ahead to the basement to go get them when I stopped dead in my tracks upon picking the socks up. The boiler is at the end of the room, and right in front of it I saw an apparition. It was in a human like shape and its actual 'body' consisted of a distortion per se. If you ever look above a hot grill or a tip of a lighter, the way it distorts light behind it, that's what this figure appeared as. It was almost like a living flame, not so much like a shadow as many people describe. I just stood there staring at it for about five seconds before I bolted up the stairs. I know my family now is aware of the experience but I'm not sure if I told them at the time.

My second experience was when I was sitting in the den before my brother had moved into it years later. I forgot to mention that at the base of steps to the den there is a rusty door to the garage. It's difficult to open as it's very old as the metal gets stuck in a way between the frame and door. An adult male really has to tug at it hard in order to get it to open. Well, I was just playing with my phone I believe when the door flew open. It opened as if someone had just kicked it out from inside the garage. The main door for the car was closed, and so I immediately thought someone had somehow broken in to burglarize my home. I ran downstairs and grabbed a bat and grabbed my dog by the collar and approached the door. No one was inside the garage. I was freaked out for sure.

My third experience was when I was trying to sleep upstairs (I was sleeping by myself in the basement at the time) on the couch in the living room. I had my dog next to the couch as I tried to get sleep. The reason why I was trying to sleep upstairs was because of a very strong feeling of being watched that I could not shake and, frankly, I couldn't bare to be in my room. As I was laying there, I heard very clear footsteps walk up from the den, across the the living room, right up to the couch. Right when the footsteps were just at the couch my dog looked up at something that was 'standing' right in front of me. It felt cold and it was absolutely terrifying.

My other experience is actually a set of events that have happened recently. I've been sleeping in my parents' room because the uncanny feeling of being watched started happening again. Well, the first few nights were okay I was able to sleep on the floor on some cushions without a problem. Then one night, I kept hearing banging sounds coming from the living room and also what, distinctly, seemed to be footsteps coming up and down the steps between that floor and upstairs to my parents' room. I got sick of it and so I began closing the door before we went to sleep so I didn't have to deal with it, of course believing whatever was responsible wouldn't further pursue.

Well, for a night or two that seemed to work and I was able to sleep. After a while the sound became louder and more persistent and at this point I was certain I was hearing something go up and down the steps erratically, making a few steps up, one down, two up etc. Definitely not like how a person would climb the stairs. This was very disturbing and I began to not be able to go to sleep easily again.

Well one night soon after I once again was trying to get to sleep. I was lying down, with my head right by the door when I heard the footsteps again. This time, they were close. I was intently listening and facing the door. My dog and two cats were in the room with me, both awake. Eventually something happened that sent a chill down my back. I heard two loud footsteps right outside the door, as loud as if a real person had just stopped outside the door. The doorknob then rattled for a short moment. All my pets quickly turned and stared at the door at that moment. It totally freaked me out and I went and locked the door.

The nights that followed were also very uncomfortable. I continued to hear banging sounds and footsteps throughout the night, between 12 and 4 in the morning. I also began to hear whispers and as I lay down, which I began to sleep the opposite way with my feet by the door, and I felt cold rushes of wind. There were no windows open in the room and really no explanation for it. I also began to feel my sheets being slowly tugged off me. I would hold them and actually feel a force distinctly pulling on them. This was extremely unsettling.

Those are my experiences I have had. I'd also like to mention that I have heard whispers in almost all the rooms I have slept in from time to time. I have also had times where I felt a depression on my bed, as if someone had just sat on it, even times where I felt something moving across it. Also I have had my bed knocked into as if a person stumbled against it.

I'd like to also mention a few things about myself and my beliefs. I'm a Christian, in that I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior but I admit I have done things in my life and still do to this day which I know are not Godly and know He would disapprove of including cussing, stealing, lying, doing drugs and other sins. I'm like everyone else, I'm not perfect.

I used to have sleep paralysis everyday of my life a few years ago, which ended by prayer and screaming Jesus Christ at the demons I would see in that state. I also believe, and I know many of you will disagree and challenge this, that all hauntings and paranormal activity are demonic. This is because my spiritual beliefs are biblical and the bible clearly states human souls go to heaven or hell. That's it. There is no helping a spirit go to 'the light' in my understanding. For me, that's nonsense. And I also believe, inherently because of my Christian biblical understanding, that putting faith in herbs and stones is nonsense. I do not believe burning incense or opening your windows and 'sweeping' the spirits out can do anything in reality. I firmly believe calling on Christ and God is the only way to banish these things.

I wrote this not so much in asking for others help, but to give my experience for others to confirm that paranormal activity is very real. However, I'm curious as to what other people have to say.