Is there reason to be scared of the dark?

Question

i feel really scared every night, and i can't fall asleep unless the lights are on or the house is full of other people. i was so scared last night i went to bed with the bible. am i just scaring myself, or is there some reason i should be afraid of the dark? please don't scare me deliberately, i feel scared enough tonight.

Answer 1

I don't think the bible would be an effective weapon, I take something more like a stick to hit people with if I am feeling afraid at night. I prefer to have a light on somewhere in the house too.

There's nothing paranormal to be afraid of at night but you are more likely to fall down the stairs or perhaps be attacked by human predators.

Make sure you lock your doors and windows carefully and put out any fires before going to bed.  

Answer 2

The only thing you have to fear of the dark, my dear, is stubbing your toe on something on the way to the bathroom!

Here is my true story of overcoming a fear of the darkness...when I was three--and I remember VIVIDLY--I woke up from a bad dream and was sure there was a bear in my room, and began shrieking like a banshee!

My dad came in and turned on the light, said, "See, there is no bear.  Now go to sleep!"  He snapped the light off and left me alone, a scared little girl, who still believed I was about to be chomped into bits by a bear.  

I was afraid to call out to my dad, because he was pretty grouchy, and I was just three--not many logic skills in place at such a young age.  Well, I pulled the covers up over my head, and just lay there praying and praying that bear would not eat me.

My fear of the dark continued on from then until I was about 8 or so...and no matter how hot it was, even in stifling summer heat with no A/C, I would pull that sheet up over me, as if it were a cloaking device and could shield me from all evil, and I'd pray to God to keep me safe.

We lived out in the country, with no street lights, no night lights, and when I say it was dark at night, I mean I could not see my hand when I held it out in front of me...

Around 8 years or so, I realized that there was really nothing to be afraid of, and I came to appreciate how relaxing it is to sleep in total darkness.  Now that I live around other homes, where street lights and traffic abounds, I long for the nights when I could lie in total darkness and drift off to sleep, snuggled up with my blankets around me.

There are worse things to sleep with than the Bible, and if it gives you peace, just consider doing so.  The other thing I used to do as a little girl was to ask (out loud) my guardian angel to lie down beside me and wrap her wings around me...sometimes if I have trouble sleeping, even now, I will say a quick prayer for my guardian angel to wrap her wings around me and help me get to sleep.

Try and relax about fearing the dark, and ask yourself WHY you are afraid.  Perhaps, like me, you had a scary experience as a young child, and you were not comforted, which heightened your fear.  

I am glad I overcame my fear all by myself, and I remember my dad's best friend once exclaiming his surprise that as a young girl, I would walk anywhere aound our farm at night...and my dad boasting that I was such a brave youngster that I wasn't even afraid of the dark!  His approval only boosted my pride in my self-reliance and overcoming fear of the darkness.

Good luck to you in conquering YOUR fear!

Answer 3

Well, I am a little scared of the dark sometimes too. when you say you went to bed with the bible did you read it or just hold it.  read it too. Darkness is associated with death, evil things and things of the enemy. Jesus said that when you die and don't believe in him, God or heaven you will go to a place that translated means darkness.

The fear you feel could be the enemy scaring you into feeling that you are alone but you aren't and the Bible and God's word are your best defense. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I see weird scary looking beings in the little light displays we see when we close our eyes. Evil spirits are everywhere as the enemy rules this earth. I have incidents where a voice would scream into my ear and where I have seen dark figures in my parents home. This is not to scare you. You mentioned the Bible. If you are Christian, these things come with the territory. The enemy wants to see you fall victim to fear, anger, etc. So why wouldn't he send evil things our way? Especially fears of any kind!  I would be surprised if he didn't!

When you start feeling scared pray to God to help you overcome this. I have a touch light near my bed. When I feel a little scared I put the light on dim and pray or read the Bible. Then I take it off and I don't fear the dark. try this instead of having all the lights on. Having all the lights on or people all around makes the enemy laugh. That means he has you scared. Remember fear cannot kill you! And you are never really alone if you have Jesus Christ as your savior. I hope you don't mind my answer or find it preachy. I could have given you a superficial scientific answer which may have answered the question well enough, but the real truth is more beneficial.

Answer 4

Fear of the dark is instinctive. Before civilization, humans lived in a world that was full of danger- they were at risk from predators that hunted at night, especially as human eyesight is naturally much poorer in the dark.

I read somewhere a while back that instincts are determined by genetics- and I suppose that it would be our ancestors whose fear was the strongest, the ones that kept close to their fires and did not venture out into the dark, were the ones that survived, as opposed to those who had little fear, wandered out and got eaten by some predator or other. So if those with the stronger fear were the ones who survived to breed and pass on their genes, we most likely inherited that much stronger fear. Obviously it's still stronger in some individuals than others.

But now humans are civilized, we live in houses with walls and doors to keep predators away, and in towns and cities that large predators prefer to steer clear of. There's no real reason to be afraid of the dark, but instincts aren't so easily ignored.

Answer 5

I don't know how old you  are. If you're young...take something like a shirt of your dad's ...or your mom's to bed with you..something that smells like them...maybe it will help you feel protected. You need the dark because of your melatonin. Read up on it.Google it. If someone is in your room...I think it would be better for it to be dark so they can't see you. Just make sure your doors and windows are locked. If it's a spirit you're worried about...just sing some religious songs. Maybe you'll sing yourself to sleep. It's probably because you're probably sleeping alone. Also...get a Teddy Bear! Works for me! lol

Answer 6

Its because you don't know whats in the dark, also you may lack a sense of directional orientation while in the dark.

If you think about it, it is natural. Instinctively, fear kicks in for people if they encounter an unknown animal, insect, etc. because they don't know whether or not it is a danger. The dark works in the same aspect, except the fear is more irrational than anything else.

Answer 7

Probably a fear of what could be hidden by the dark

That said my partner couldn't go in an MRI machine with her eyes open (she gets claustrophobia) Shutting her eyes prevented from seeing the small space. Of course she still knew she was in the MRI, but because  she couldn't see she didn't get nearly as worried

Answer 8

Absolutely none. There is nothing that can get you in the dark that can't get you in the daylight.

This is a learned fear taught by mothers. Mothers also teach children to fear thunderstorms.

Not the answer you were expecting but the worst boogie man can get you in the daytime just as easily.

The fear is amplified by the isolation that darkness provides.

There is nothing wrong with going to bed with the Bible, hang a cross or a crucifix in every room. These are all positive things that will be beneficial to you. Prayers and your personal angel are your most immediate protection in ANY situation call on them God, angels or Saints.

I was just told to tell you there is something else you can do, nobody else will give you this information. You have all power under the sun to protect yourself from evil entities all you have to do is command them to leave, immediately and be forceful.

You are welcome.

Answer 9

cuz u like the light

Answer 10

No u shouldn't be scared, to be honest I used to be scared of the dark when I was a kid. Night & Darkness are normal phenomenons, and they are there so all living things may have a good rest, so should you, so dnt  worry!!!!!! God is there for you & he will protect you!!!!!

Hope this prayer helps to:

Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me,

Bless Thy little lamb tonight.

Through the darkness be Thou near me,

Keep me safe till morning light.

Amen

Answer 11

Nope. Not a thing to be afraid of. Imagine yourself tonight surround by God's angels and bathed in His light of the purest, brightest white. His light is so bright that anything evil gets burned by it and it almost blinds you to look at. I used to be afraid of the dark too, and this is what helped me. Also, I have a rosary that I used to take to bed with me, so sleeping your bible, if it gives you comfort, isn't a bad thing, honey. But no, there's nothing to be afraid of. IN the words of my guardian angel, "Darkness is merely the absence of light." So... close your eyes and ask God to fill it with his light. He will hear you and he will send it.

Peace and love to you

Answer 12

There's a reason for the darkness: so that living things can get a good night's sleep! It is a natural phenomena. The Earth rotates in a 24 hour cycle and it has been happening for ages before any of us were born. So think about that and realize there's nothing to be afraid of. We are all part of everything else and everything has a cycle.

Answer 13

Perhaps what your feeling is sensing a presense....seriously try not to be scared. It's natual to be scared of what you don't understand, but I can tell you from experience is this spirit you feel is someone that's gentle and is just looking over you, and will protect or guide you when need to. This spirit doen't want to scare you, and I hope I am not, I am just being truthful to the best of my knowledge and experiences. Most spirits that are close to us are from a higher dimension. They will hint a lot before they show themselves because they don't want to scare you... like I am, but again I only mean to be truthful. We are never alone, I have seen more that I ever wanted to, but I am getting use to it, to where I look forward.... because most of them are gentle like angels, perhaps some are.

You can say your prayers like I have, but yet they come, because they were sent to guide and protect....looking over you....nothing to be afraid of....just lacking the actual experience.

The ones that came to me I thought were ghost, I was so afraid, until one of them started to communicate, and basically I made a friend, she don't pop in almost every night like she did, but she makes her rounds checking in. Even she was amazed that I could see her....that's when they communicate is when they see just how sensitive you are to them. She is like an angel, gentle, compassionate, and comforting now that I know who she is:)