Felt Presences
Type: Transitory aura symptom — typically develops gradually over 5–20 minutes and resolves within 60 minutes.
What is it?
A felt presence is the distinct sense that someone or something is present with you, even though you cannot see or directly perceive anyone there. During a migraine aura, you might feel an invisible presence in the room, a sense that someone wants to communicate with you but is hesitant, or a feeling of being watched or accompanied. This is purely a perception — no one is actually there — but the sense of presence feels completely real in the moment.
What it feels like
The feeling begins suddenly and feels unmistakable, even though you consciously know no one else is physically present. You might feel as though someone is trying to tell you something important or is struggling with an internal conflict about communicating. There’s often an emotional quality to the presence — you might sense warmth, concern, or distance. Some people describe feeling that a presence is “pulling away” or becoming emotionally distant. The sensation is unsettling because it’s so vivid and emotionally charged, yet you cannot identify or locate its source. Like other aura symptoms, this sensation fades completely as the aura ends.
M.B., Beastly Migraine, 2002. A patient’s artwork depicting the felt presence of a creature during a migraine aura.
How patients describe it
“I get the feeling that something is up with someone. I don’t know what it is or why I have this feeling. I just get the feeling someone wants to tell me something, but is hesitant. I don’t know why they wouldn’t tell me. Maybe they believe it would hurt me.” — S.
“I, just a few days ago, felt their warmth surrounding me. Today I feel cold.” — S.
“As I was awakening in the pain of a migraine, in my dream, I sensed but didn’t actually feel tactically, that a creature was clinging to me… All I could see was the creature’s tentacle snaking through my hair and boring into my temple where the seat of the pain was.” — M.B.
Related symptoms
- Depersonalization or derealization
- Emotional intensification
- Dream disturbances
- Visual or auditory hallucinations
Clinical note
Felt presences during migraine aura can be emotionally distressing because they feel so real and carry emotional weight. It’s important to recognize that this is a documented aura symptom and not an indication of any psychiatric condition. If felt presences occur outside of migraine context or are accompanied by other symptoms that concern you, discuss this with your healthcare provider to rule out other neurological or psychiatric causes.
If this is the first time you experience these symptoms, or they feel different from previous episodes, seek medical evaluation to rule out other causes.