Fear Of The Dark?

[Pudd]

I'm not sure if it's the dark, or something else.
From the age of about 3-8 I was afraid to go upstairs by myself.
When I was about 8 1/2, I finally plucked the courage to go upstairs on my own, albeit I was terrified.

So for about 7 years, it was bearable. To the point of being slightly comfortable with going on my own.
But over these 2 years, it's started to re-develop, but only when it's dark.

When I walk down stairs, I can feel something at the top, just watching me. A presence. The stairway feels like it goes on forever and I just feel a glare boring into my back.
Whereas when I'm walking up, I feel as if something is chasing me up them.
Also at the top of the stairs, walking along the hallway I feel something watching me from the room behind me.
If I catch the late bus home, I have to walk down the drive in the dark and I'm convinced I hear out of sync footsteps behind me, but when I turn, I see nothing.
If my mum asks me to bring coal in, I get the feeling of being stared at again.
I can't have my feet over the edge of my parent's bed when I'm sat there drying my hair for fear of something grabbing at my ankles, but that also only happens at night.

When I get the staring feeling, it's only ever of the same thing.
A cloaked person in brown robes.

Is this a fear of the dark, or something else?
Is there any way I can stop it? I don't feel it in the day time at all and it's not because I watch too many horror films, since I've only seen a couple and wasn't really phased by them at all.

[Syvelocin]

I don't personally think it's a fear of the dark but a fear of what might be in the dark that you can't see.

I experience the same thing. I'm extremely paranoid, and I do hallucinate. Even when I don't hallucinate I still have this insane paranoia when it's dark in certain places. For instance, the second-floor hallway where the stairs are in my house. It seems so juvenile but when I go up those stairs I start getting really paranoid, getting the feeling that something is there, ready to kill me o.O

I don't have much advice on how to help it, but what I do is try not to think about it. I'll think of another thought or maybe a person and just focus on whatever that is until I'm out of the area.

[hotandgay]

Maybe its not something to get over....behind each corner there is something lurking in the dark...dont pass it off...thats what will make you normal and never find out what is there

[scuba steve]

In all seriousness this is just a natural survival skill, paranoid of what you can't see everybody gets it at some point the only difference is you learn as you get older where is safe to let your guard down (your bed when sleeping at night etc.) I get it sometimes when I watch a scary movie or just feel uncomfortable, nothing to be worried about.

[hotandgay]

In all seriousness this is just a natural survival skill, paranoid of what you can't see everybody gets it at some point the only difference is you learn as you get older where is safe to let your guard down (your bed when sleeping at night etc.) I get it sometimes when I watch a scary movie or just feel uncomfortable, nothing to be worried about.

Yes i agree nothing to worry about but there is something there there is always something

[scuba steve]

Yes i agree nothing to worry about but there is something there there is always something

Like what... a ghost? This isn't a Stephen King novel.

[Syvelocin]

Well, it's the intensity really. Personally, I'm quite certain my case isn't normal. I don't know anyone other than my little brother who has the same feelings about this sort of thing, especially of my own age. And what I fear is never actually a possibly thing that could happen. It also hinders my sleep -_-

[hotandgay]

Like what... a ghost? This isn't a Stephen King novel.

im not going to argue with you but i believe there is something there...its not paranoia...now im not going to comment in this thread because i dont want people to get mad at me again

[Bougainvillea]

Like what... a ghost? This isn't a Stephen King novel. You know, it's funny. I just so happen to have a S. King novel right in front of me. Page 603. Under the Dome. :P You feel something and you saw what you wanted to see. It's your mind. I used to get paranoid like this, and sometimes I still do. Especially when I'm outside at night. I'm sure everyone has their moments of paranoia, and minor... hallucinations. All you have to think is how illogical what you're seeing is. And pay no attention to it.

[georgiamay]

urgh, I get this all the time.

Once, I had a power cut, and I was so freaked out I screamed, and then started crying and just layed on my bed, curled up in a ball until my dad came up and gave me a lit candle. I only reacted like this because I was not expecting it, I was shocked.

If I know it's going to be dark, like if I have to walk up the stairs to turn the landing light on, I also get really paranoid, but I don't freak out, I just walk extra quickly and my heart beats a lot faster. I hate not knowing what's around me, that's why it terrifies me. If I can't see, I freak out. But if I know it's coming, I prepare myself. I know my house off by heart, so I can get to the light switch quicker.

I also get odd sort of hullicinations. When it's dark, I seem to imagine a shape of a person. A man. It's too dark to see anything else, but I'm always convinced he's there and watching me. When I turn the light on, he disapears.

I have no idea how to get rid of the fear I'm afraid. The only way to get rid of a fear is normally through exposure. So if you have one of them dimmer switches, it might be a good idea to gradually let it get darker and darker until the light's completely off. No idea if it'll work, I'm too chicken to try it myself :P

[Fiction]

I get this occassianlly too. I've always been really paranoid at night, weather it's about ghosts or stupid stuff like my house catching fire. I grew out of it a hell of a lot though. it used to happen everynight now it only happens once in a while, so maybe you will grow out of it too.

[The Madman]

I would say this is slightly above average but It is still completely normal.
I get this as well on a smaller scale. Like walking inthe dark picture things out the corner of my eye.

[Pudd]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'll just have to grit my teeth and bear it then :S

[Azunite]

Yeah when it is dark I also feel someone is wathcing me, and if I dont climb the stairs fast enough, it will get me...

But then I remember that it is not real, and the light switch is roughly 1 meter away, and those things that supposedly chases or watches you are afraid of light.