Life
Chances are good that, at some point in your life, you have experienced some form of deja vu — and chances are also good that that experience was probably a little bit strange. That's because, to put it simply, deja vu is creepy. The official definition of the phenomenon, according to Merriam-Webster, is, "a feeling of having already experienced the present situation." The feeling is fleeting, often comes up out of nowhere, and can leave you a bit unsettled. The only thing weirder than feeling deja vu is reading some of the creepiest instances of deja vu that pop up on the internet from time to time.
Those hair-raising stories are often hard to explain, mainly because deja vu itself is hard to explain. The moment is so fast and comes out of nowhere, so it's really difficult for scientists to study and research. There are lots of theories about the phenomenon. Some people insist that it's some sort of glitch in the matrix, while others think it's a sign of a mental illness. Doctors and psychologists don't seem to have a straight answer either. Some researchers have said that deja vu is a way for your brain to know your memory checking system is working well. Carl Jung has referred to it as something "immemorially known." Some people speculate that deja vu has to do with past lives or alien abduction. There are no concrete answers!
The confusion and mystery surrounding this feeling only make it more skin-crawling. Ready to get even more freaked out? Read these creepy instances of deja vu that actually happened:
Car Accident Prevention
Have you ever had deja vu that actually ends up possibly saving your life? This person did... and I can't decide if it's more intriguing or terrifying.
Dreaming About The Future
Sometimes deja vu occurs in the form of a dream that actually becomes real. It sounds completely out there, but there tons of stories that back it up, like this one found on a Reddit thread.
Betrayal
It's particularly creepy to hear a story about a very specific incident happening in a dream... and then seeing it happening almost exactly the same way in real life.
The House
Imagine going somewhere new... only to realize it's really actually not new at all. One of the most goosebump-inducing feelings is stepping into new territory, only to realize you've seen it all before — even if you've never been there.
Seeing Strangers
You know when you see a stranger who looks incredibly familiar to you, and you have no idea why? This story takes that to the next level.
The Rake
This has to be the scariest deja vu story on this page, and I'm actually a little too freaked out to google what "the rake" is. Do so at your own risk!
The Dinner
This story gave me actual chills. How did she think she was eating when she wasn't?
Finishing Sentences
Sometimes it feels cute and fun to finish someone else's sentences... and sometimes it feels weird, like in a way that makes you wonder what's going on. This story is an example of the latter.
Black Cat
OK, to be honest, I think the creepiest thing about this is the black cat element. Even though I have two black cats and I know they are sweet baby angels and not bad luck, I'm still freaked out reading this!
Familiar Territory
As with the story above, there are lots of deja vu stories out there about people who have gone somewhere new, then had the sensation of recognizing absolutely everything. Freaky!
Song Moment
Yikes! Is it just me, or does this seem sort of similar to thinking about a particular store, and then immediately going on Facebook to see an ad for that store? So weird!
Predicting The Future
Does this person have really good intuition, or are they onto something we all aren't? Honestly, this story gave me actual goose bumps.
Premonitions
If this had happened just once, it would be easy to blow off. But multiple times? That's getting a little bit too intense...
