Yay, something I know a lot about.
So, everyone knows that there's all these ghost hunting shows now. One at the forefront is Ghost Hunters, and it's counterpart Ghost Hunters International or GHI.
Here's the thing. I'm a member of the TAPS family. TAPS itself is The Atlantic Paranormal Society, but once Ghost Hunters became big they expanded, including many other groups, societys, researchers, etc into the 'TAPS family'. Here in Minnesota I'm a member of the group TCPS, the Twin Cities Paranormal Society, which is a TAPS family member. I've also founded my former college's paranormal society. Have been running for two years now. Our main focus is supposed hauntings and 'ghosts'. We hold what's commonly called the TAPS mentality. Basically we want to debunk supposed hauntings rather than prove them. I have done extensive research into the paranormal, and have a lot of experience.
For me, I'm a skeptic. Also some who know me know I am atheist. Can atheists believe in ghosts? It's a question that's more common than you think. Here's the thing. I don't believe in ghosts/spirits. I believe there are things that are unexplained, paranormal things, and I want to find answers. I want to find evidence, supporting or not. It's more a science than anything. My group doesn't go blessing houses or holding séances. Paranormal means outside of the normal. It's something that isn't explained, or can't be disapproved. Evidence can be disapproved. Evidence can be concrete, and explaination. More often than not we disapprove supposed hauntings.
Someone mentioned carbon monoxide being a cause of hallucinations, more commonly it's EMF fields. Much of it, indeed, is in the mind. EMF is more commonly investigated/used because, unlike CO, it's not immediately dangerous, but it has the same adverse effects.
In the paranormal field, it’s largely accepted that in order to communicate or manifest, supposed spirits must gather energy from their surroundings. If this theory is possible, then the energy waves that are altered during the process can be measured. Paranormal investigators measure these changes in the electromagnetic field.
Since EMF detectors measure the strength of the electromagnetic field, investigators often find sources of electrical leakages instead of paranormal activity. Electrical leakages can result in the following symptoms: headaches, nausea, fear, paranoia, anxiety and if the leakage is severe enough, hallucinations. These symptoms more closely relate to experiences of supposed hauntings than those of CO.
Paranormal investigators can often follow high readings of electromagnetic energy to the source of the electrical leakage. When investigating, it’s very important to look for these non-paranormal causes of fluctuations in the electromagnetic field. Not only are leakages dangerous for the above reasons, most home owners are highly relieved to discover that a fixable solution exists for what they mistook for signs of a haunting. When the electrical issue is repaired, the symptoms often disappear.
The thing is with the supernatural or paranormal, once there's a true explaination, it's no longer paranormal.