Visited a friend of mine who is working for a Bank in London now. He has a flat out in Barnet - in a house from the late 1880s I´d say??? Turn of the century maybe? Brick and steep stairs and high ceilings, fireplaces, nice actually.

So when I arrive I was startled how bad he looked, worn out, greyish skin, fidgety. Him being so vain - that was a surprise. I thought the new job, the stress, the new city (which is just overwhelming really).

But no - he claimed his flat is haunted. I laughed it off - but he insisted that he hears steps on the stairs at night, that he saw someone sitting on the stairs when going to the kitchen one morning and even greeted the guy. Claims to hear whispers and sighs. And he claimed he was shoved and pinched - usually when in the kitchen at the sink.

Now - I never had anything supernatural happening to me - but I am open to the idea - so I said - cool - I stay up and see if I can hear a thing. So - for the eight days I am there - sit in the living room, sit in the kitchen, on the stairs. Nothing. Not a peep. Sure - the stairs creek. And the lights from the cars on High Str. give the flat an eerie vibe. But nothing unusual. At all. And he is acutally quieting down - claiming the spirit is quieter than usual.

Now my question - could he be having a nervous breakdown and is acutally in need of medical care?

He is so worked up about this and scratches himself as soon as he is in the flat - being all jumpy and shit. But I really think he pinches himself - scratches himself - and not reallizing it - later blames a ghost. I asked some friends and family members that visitied him before - and they all agreed that the apparment was big, drafty and expensive - but no ghost. At the same time I don´t want to dismiss it out of hand either?? He is a smart guy - and in the past not giving in to flights of fancy, so......

Any advice?