Ok I am afraid of the dark and i am over 16!!! PLease Take this seriously.?

Question

Ok I am afraid of the dark and sometimes it sets me into little panic attacks where i start breathing really heavily and my eyes start seeing things like a pile of clothes and amagining it as something else. How do i stop this PLEase and if you are not going to take this seriously dont anwser please!!

Answer 1

Its nothing to be ashamed of hun...I still cant go to sleep unless the TV is on    

Answer 2

I'm afraid of the dark too, and I'm around your age.

I understand the little panic attacks...sometimes, even if I'm just walking up a dark flight of stairs, I feel like someone's following me or watching me. I have to sleep with my TV on, just so I have a source of bright light that's not BLINDING me, lol you know what I mean?

I'm still trying to figure out why I feel this way, and how I can stop it. For now, just leave the light on while you sleep..or get a night light. And I'm dead serious about that.

Good luck<3

Answer 3

I am afraid of the dark too, less that I used to be. I was attacked in a dark room and am hyper vigilant.

The way I deal with it is that I turn off the light and shut the blinds in my room so it is completely dark. I know the room and I know where everything is, it is familiar to me, so I am not that scared although it is dark.

I still sleep with LED night light.

I am less scared now though because I imagine that I know this place.

Answer 4

Yes sounds like panic attacks and iver active imagination no im not judging but put your tv on sleep timer for until you go to sleep  

Answer 5

I was afraid of the dark until I was in my early 20's, my cousin is in her mid 30's and is still afraid of the dark. She believes it is something related to a past life experience. She uses a night light, and she has children and a husband. The other matter is panic attacks, medication and/or counseling can often time help with those.  

Answer 6

1. When you think about it logically, like in a calm part of your brain, do you realize that there is nothing to be afraid of?

(I am asking that not to be rude but for you to ask yourself and consider)

2. If you can rationally understand there is nothing to be afraid of, and that your fear outweighs the danger, the next step is to start desensitizing yourself. Stand in your room, turn the lights off, and stand there as long as you can. Turn the light back on. After you calm down, try it again. After several times, when the light is off, and nothing happens to you, you should be able to do it for longer and longer. Try walking around the room in the dark, sitting on the bed, etc. Try going in other rooms in the dark. Just gradually train yourself not to be afraid.

3. Seeing a counselor may be helpful as well.

4. RE: the additional details. You are 16. More than likely you have many years ahead of you. You need to live every single day to the fullest, knowing that if it is your last, it was the best it could be. That does NOT mean to party and waste your life. It means figuring out what you want out of life and working to achieve that, and enjoying the moment you are in at the same time. Enjoy your food! Enjoy air and books and exercise! Breathe it in! Make it worthwhile!

Answer 7

This could be anything but it sounds a little bit like a phobia. I am considerably older than sixteen and have not gotten over my fear of heights. If it is a phobia the best you can do is learn to live with it. However, if it is something else you need to deal with it. Start by seeing your doctor and see if he can recommend someone to talk with you. There may be a solution to your problem out there but I doubt if you will find it here. Good luck to you.  

Answer 8

It's totally normal. Some prefer light some don't. Get a small dim light. You can get them in the hardware department at wal mart. It's very dim and goes off if you set it to go off. I used to turn my closet light on and close my door just a little.

But you can't really stop it until you face your fear. Maybe keep your lights on as you have them every night when you go to bed. Give that 3 days. Then go to a less bright light. Give that about a week. Then go down one more less bright light. Just keep going down until you feel comfortable. Maybe get a dog. Talk to yourself and write down all your fears of why you're terrified of the dark. You just have to psyche yourself up and tell yourself you can do it. Confidence is what will get you through this. Good luck!  

Answer 9

know your space, be able to walk it to the bath room in the dark. also be aware that your dreams can spook you they do me.

Answer 10

Due to night terrors that I suffered as a child (which I described in another Question) I sleep with a light on. Also, I used to dwell in ghost stories, and horror movies when i was younger, and my mind always fills the darkness with those horrible monsters.