Welcome staci, from a fellow newbie! Though honestly, I have had a little experience...

Anyway, it's ok to be skeptical. I'd be willing to bet that 99% of the members of this forum were skeptics in the beginning (I'm one of them). Just don't let that skepticism ruin your chances of having wonderful experiences. Try to keep an open mind, and do your best! That's all anyone can ask, and that's all that is required to LD.

Also, you could simply be viewing other beings as you wake up that are normally unseen because of our biases and beliefs, and also our training to not see them (by intentional, under-the-surface societal pressure). As you wake up, you're going from a realm of possibilities to a realm of impossibilities, and residual effects can transfer both ways. Try not to be too worried about it. If you don't want it happening (of course, depending on how long it's been happening) don't think about it too much.