How can i get over my fear of sleeping in the dark?

Question

I'm 15 and never went a night sleeping without my t.v. on.

I've tried to sleep in the dark but i get creepy thoughts like some old lady is hanging from a rope in the corner or baby's in clear body bags gasping for breath on my floor. I also have the norma childhood fear of someone in my closet or under my bed. If you have any good ideas on how i can get over this c**p pleas let me know. I told my mom about it but she doesn't seem too concerned.

Answer 1

This goes beyond normal fear of the dark...you sound like you have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).  These are such horrible images in your head...if they become too disturbing, ask your mom if you can see a doctor for it.  Talk therapy and meds can make a world of difference.

Answer 2

Thinking creepy thoughts like that is completely normal.  You just have an overactive imagination.  I used to fill my bedroom with flashlights.  I would have one on a lanyard around my wrist when I fell asleep, two on the headboard of my bed, one on my nightstand, and one on the dresser near the bathroom.  I felt comfortable using them whenever I thought there was something in the room, and after a few months, my dependency on them had diminished so that I almost didn't need the flashlights at all.  You could try keeping things in your room and near your bed that make you feel safe and protected - maybe a pocket knife or a baseball bat - and you might try moving your bed so that it is right up against a wall.  Then you can sleep with your back against the wall and feel safe that nothing is sneaking up on you.

You could also try setting the timer on your T.V. (if it has one) to shut off about the time you'd be falling asleep (at least for the first week or so until you're used to it), that way you can practice waking up at night to a dark room and falling back to sleep.

Because of your imagination, I'm guessing you probably also shouldn't be watching scary movies that can give you new ideas of creepy stuff to think about before bed (but I'm also guessing that you are the type of person who can't resist a good scary flick because they are fun, but then you regret it later).

Answer 3

Night light