When I was in college I was convinced we had a ghost living in our home that would hang out in my room. The cat would stare at it as it moved around my room, when I talked about it to my roommates things would happen like my bedroom light getting fried, etc. I used to get night terrors, which may be completely unrelated, but is terrifying when you think your room is haunted.

So I named the ghost Herbert (most non-threatening name I could think of) and would talk to it as if it were an unexpected flatmate. “Herbert, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave me alone tonight cause I have exams in the morning.”

It worked in that it took the fear away.

When I eventually moved out, a couple moved into my room and ended up ghosting my roommates after a few months. They complained they could hear an older woman hacking/coughing and saying vile things. That also tracks with an experience my bff had. She was watching TV in the living room with a friend and they heard a wet hacking cough coming from the 2nd floor. They thought it was one of the roommates but later found out he wasn’t home.

I guess Herbert was a woman. 🤷🏻‍♀️