UNVEILING THE SHADOW MAN: LISTENER'S CHILLING HAUNTING STORY EXPLORED
FEATURED ON THE PARANORMAL PORTAL UK PODCAST
Also available on other major podcast platforms
I moved into our new home with my family, looking forward to a fresh start. It was a beautiful old house with high ceilings, vintage charm, and enough space for the kids to run wild. But soon after settling in, the strange occurrences began.
At first, it was little things, the sound of footsteps on the stairs when no one was there or objects slightly out of place. I brushed it off as the kids playing pranks, but it kept happening. Small things would go missing, only to show up in impossible places. A set of keys found in the fridge, a shoe on top of a cabinet none of us could reach. My husband shrugged it off, saying we were all just adjusting, but I felt a strange energy in the air, something that made me feel constantly watched.
One afternoon, I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard laughter upstairs. It was faint but unmistakable, like someone giggling in a muffled way. I called out to my kids, assuming they were playing games, but both of them ran in from the garden, asking if I had called for them. My heart skipped a beat as I knew I’d heard laughter.
The night I knew we weren’t alone was pretty horrible. My youngest, Rosie, started waking up at around 3 a.m. every night, crying. On this particular night she’d seen what she called “the shadow man.” She said he stood in the corner of her room, just watching her. When I checked, there was nothing there, but she was so terrified that she began sleeping in our bed.
The activity escalated over the next few weeks. Lights would turn on and off, doors would randomly slam shut with such force that the frames rattled and there wasn't a draft or anything to cause it. My husband tried to reason it away, but he started to entertain something more paranormal might be going on. It sounds so far fetched, me and my husband aren't believers in this stuff, its all a joke until it happens to you.
The final straw came one night as we were all watching TV. Suddenly, a framed photo of our family flew off the wall, smashing onto the floor in front of us. We all stared, stunned. There was no explanation; it had been firmly hooked onto the wall. Rosie and Thomas began to cry, Rosie asked "Is it the shadow man?" , which was horrendous, even my husband looked pale, he left the room with our startled kids, once again trying to play it down as an accident. I decided, even though I felt pretty terrified, to stay in the room. There were other pictures on the wall, it definitely unnerved me it was one of us all together that had be thrown to the floor.
I decided to speak up, not knowing what else to do. I felt a bit stupid but I was at my wits end. I said something along the lines of ( I can't remember exactly) “Listen, whoever you are, we mean you no harm, but you’re scaring my family. Please, leave us in peace.”
The activity or what ever it was seem to happen less frequently after that night, though it never stopped entirely. The footsteps still echo on the stairs late at night, and sometimes an item will be moved or fall off of kitchen side or bedroom cabinet. As stupid as it sounds, It feels like we share the house with something and its learned to live with us or we’ve learned to live with it.
We haven't done research in to the house , but possible the shadow man seen in my daughters room could be a person that may have lived and died in our house many years ago.
INTERVIEW
SCPUK: So Karen, you are resident in the UK yes?
Karen: Yes, we’re here in the UK. Our house is in a small, quiet village in the New Forest. We thought it would be the perfect spot to settle with our family, but it seems we got more than we bargained for.
SCPUK: So Karen how is your husband been after things have calm down a bit?
Karen: Honestly, he’s still in this weird place of half-denial. Even after all the things we’ve seen, he still clings to his “logical explanations”—but I think deep down, he knows there’s something unusual here. I mean, he’s much less sceptical than he was at first. He used to brush everything off, but now he’ll mutter to the air, almost like he’s talking to it, telling it to “give it a rest” or “knock it off.”
I think he’s relieved things have calmed down, but there’s still that tension. He’ll stay up later than he used to, double-checking everything in the house, almost as if he’s watching for any sign that it’s starting up again. So, he’s more of a believer than he lets on, but he still won’t openly admit it!
SCPUK: how about your kids , Rosie and Thomas?
Karen: Rosie’s still the most affected by it all. She’s only six, so the idea of a “shadow man” in her room was absolutely terrifying for her. Even now, she won’t sleep in her room alone. We’ve got her in with us most nights, and when she does go back to her room, we leave the hall light on and check in on her constantly. She’s a brave little girl, though, and she tries to brush it off, saying “the man’s gone now.” But you can tell she still feels uneasy.
Thomas, on the other hand, is a bit older—he’s nine—and he’s handling it a bit differently. He’s curious about it in a way. He was scared at first, of course, but now he’s fascinated, almost like it’s an adventure or a story he’s part of. He’ll ask questions, like, “Mum, what do you think the shadow wants?” or “Do you think it was trying to play with us?” He’s even tried to “catch” it, setting up little traps, bless him! I think it helps him cope by turning it into a bit of a mystery, something he can solve.
So they’re both adjusting in their own ways. We’re just trying to reassure them and make sure they feel safe, but it’s definitely something we’re all dealing with in our own ways.
SCPUK: That's a good thing that Thomas is coping better, its a shame Rosie is still struggling , hopefully she'll feel better as she gets older and starts to understand things better. Have any occurrences happened over the last few weeks? How often do they happen now?
Karen: Yes, I’m grateful that Thomas has found a way to cope, and we’re hopeful that Rosie will settle in time. We keep reminding her that we’re here and she’s safe, but I think you’re right—hopefully, as she gets older, she’ll feel more in control and less scared by it all. As for recent occurrences, they’ve definitely slowed down, which has been a relief. We still hear footsteps on the stairs late at night from time to time, but nothing as dramatic as before. Every once in a while, I’ll catch a flicker of a shadow in the corner of my eye, or we’ll hear a faint tapping sound on the walls. But it feels like whatever was here has calmed, like it’s retreated a bit.
The only strange thing that’s happened in the past couple of weeks was one night when we found Rosie’s favourite stuffed animal in the hallway outside her room. She swears she didn’t put it there, and we certainly didn’t either. It’s these little things, almost like reminders, that keep popping up. But overall, it feels less intense now—more like a presence we’re coexisting with than anything trying to scare us. I just hope it stays that way.
SCPUK: Such an eerie case, you seem to be coping really well, which is good. Do you have any plans to move out?
Karen: Thank you—it’s definitely been an adjustment, but I think we’ve found a way to live with it, strange as that sounds. I’ve thought about moving, especially during the more intense moments, when things were really frightening. But now that it’s calmed down, we’re not as quick to leave. This is our home, and we’ve put so much into making it ours. There’s a part of me that’s curious, too. I want to understand whatever’s here. It almost feels like it has a story, something that hasn’t fully come to light. And, as odd as it sounds, I feel responsible for it in some way. So for now, we’re staying put, keeping an eye on things, and just hoping we can continue living here peacefully. But if things ramp up again, who knows? We’re ready to make a change if it’s what’s best for the kids.
SCPUK: Thanks for sending in your story Karen and this little messaging interview, we wish you and your family all the best.
Karen: Thank you so much for giving me a chance to share our story. It’s been oddly comforting to talk about it with someone who understands the unusual! I appreciate the support, and here’s hoping we can keep things peaceful at home. All the best, and thanks again!
THE SHADOW MAN, SCPUK THOUGHTS
Karen’s experience is a fascinating and deeply human case of living alongside unexplained phenomena. While her family’s encounters may seem extraordinary, we approach this story with both open-minded curiosity and a commitment to understanding through a rational lens. The phenomena described—footsteps, displaced objects, shadow figures, and interactive occurrences—align with many documented accounts of what is often termed "residual" or "intelligent" hauntings. Residual hauntings may be akin to an energy imprint left in a location, while intelligent hauntings imply an awareness or response to the living occupants. The apparent reduction in activity following Karen’s direct communication suggests the latter may be at play here, as the phenomena seemed to adjust in response to her plea for peace.
From a scientific perspective, it’s essential to consider environmental factors:
Infrasound: Low-frequency sound waves can cause sensations of unease and even visual anomalies, such as flickering shadows in peripheral vision. These sounds can be generated by natural sources like wind or structural vibrations in older homes.
Drafts or Structural Settling: Old houses are notorious for creaks, bangs, and drafts, which could explain some of the auditory phenomena or movement of objects.
Psychological and Emotional States: Stress, especially when adjusting to a new environment, can heighten sensitivity to otherwise mundane occurrences, potentially amplifying their perceived intensity.
That said, Karen’s accounts of objects moving and the shadow figure reported by Rosie, along with the family witnessing the picture falling unprovoked, are harder to dismiss outright. Without evidence of physical tampering or environmental anomalies at those times, it remains an intriguing and unexplained case.
Our Thoughts Moving Forward
We encourage Karen and her family to keep a journal of all unexplained events, noting dates, times, and conditions (e.g., weather, household activities). This can help identify patterns or triggers.
If they feel comfortable, researching the home’s history might reveal any previous occupants or events that could explain the "shadow man."
From a paranormal investigation perspective, using equipment like electromagnetic field (EMF) meters or audio recorders during periods of increased activity could help gather objective data.
While the family seems to have found a tentative harmony with whatever presence remains in their home, the continued experiences suggest there may still be more to uncover. Whether the cause is rooted in environmental, psychological, or paranormal phenomena, Karen and her family are a testament to resilience and curiosity in the face of the unknown. We wish Karen and her family peace and safety in their home, and we remain here for support should they wish to explore this further.