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The original was posted on /r/paranormal by /u/MysteriesFallacies on 2024-11-05 02:00:04+00:00.

Hey r/paranormal. I’m working on a script for a YouTube video and could use some help gathering stories and insights on something I’m calling “Phantom Grief.” This is a phenomenon where, seemingly out of nowhere, you feel an intense sense of loss—as though someone suddenly ceased to exist. It’s not a typical feeling of sadness or missing someone; it’s more like an unexplainable sense that they’ve vanished or never existed at all. This feeling can be brief, but it’s unsettling. Imagine being with friends or family, and suddenly it feels like one person has been “erased”.

You can read this to get an idea of what I’m talking about:

To make this video as thorough as possible, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s felt this before. Here are a few things I’m curious about:

• What did it feel like for you? How long did it last?
• Have you ever experienced it at the same time as someone else, like a shared feeling?
• Was the person you felt “missing” actually absent, or did they just feel distant or “not there” on some deeper level?
• Do you have any theories about what might cause this feeling?

I’m also posting this in larger communities like  for more input, but I’m also sharing it in  and  so the conversation can continue in those spaces, too. If you’ve experienced anything like this or have thoughts on what it could be, I’d really appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance for any stories or insights you’re willing to share. This is such a strange phenomenon, and I’m hoping we can uncover some common threads.