Are some adults afraid of the dark?

Question

Just wondering, since I didn't think it would be such a problem for adults (with the rational thinking and all). You don't have to bite my head off.

Answer 1

Yes. They may not willing to admit it though and have had years of practice of hiding it so that no one is aware of it but themselves.

Fear is a human emotion that has no age limit. There are fears for anything you can think of and more. Some are more common and dont have a stigma against them - like fear of cats, snakes, heights or of flying. Other fears wouldnt necessarily come up in everyday life and wouldnt be apparent to others. Those fears may not be discussed with anyone except those very close to the person with the fear.

Irrational fears or phobias are usually only a problem if it is something that the person has to face the thing or situation frequently, or if the fear is affecting their life so much that its causing harm to themselves or others. If so, then professional help is needed.

I myself am afraid of spiders, which I know logically is irrational. But my initial reaction happens faster than I can think logically, so after I have reacted, I am always aggravated at myself for reacting. But I keep on plugging away in life, knowing there's lots of spiders in the world and I just try to ignore them. If I got to the point that I couldnt go anywhere because I was afraid there would be spiders there, that would be time to get help.

Answer 2

Yes. In fact most adults still retain a primal fear of the dark which represents for many the unknown. Our primitive ancestors were always at risk from predators at night. So, the fear was that there was always something lurking out there to do them harm, and there probably was. Accidents could happen in the dark. Just all kinds of things could go wrong in the dark. As societies evolved there was not as great a danger of real harm coming from predators so we invented the boogie man and other scary entities to frighten us in the dark. When was the last time you were in a dark or dimly lighted strange room? Did you get the "willies" and instinctively look over your shoulder? Me, if I could get away with it I would still sleep with a night light and blankie, and I spent three tours in Viet Nam!

Answer 3

People of all ages are afraid of everything. Dont you have any irrational fears, of course some adults are afraid of the dark. Why waste your time with such a dumb question.

Answer 4

are you? I think many of us are.. I am unafraid but my husband (he's 54) is somewhat.. He sleeps w/the shades open (and we live at the end of a dead end street, very VERY close to the street light.) Cuts down on the sex life a helluva lot. I think it's a holdover from being a child. I always loved to play outside (especially when there was a full moon.. I grew up in a creepy neat kinda woods/swamp.. too kool.) at night. I think when someone is punished and then 'put to bed' it is 'dark' and that perhaps is where this starts.. but who knows? I'm no shrink. sure, there are some adults afraid of the dark.. (a lot of other things scare me worse... lmao)

Answer 5

I believe that adults who are "afraid" of the dark are suffering from unresolved childhood issues. Many of them start with the scary stories our parents read to us at night just before we retired to bed. Of course, our minds are reliving the demons and dragons who ate the princesses and our dreams carry us through sometimes a lifetime of fear. I'm not afraid of the dark, but I do sleep with the television on......every night. I have tried turning it off - and I have found that I have slept better, because you give the mind a chance to shut down. Subconsciously, you still hear television noises in the night. Yep, those residuals from yesteryear can keep us in fear.

Answer 6

Typically, a fear of the dark stems from childhood and can carry on throughout adulthood. Or maybe a personal bad experience happened in the dark that has caused the anxiety.

Answer 7

Yes, did you really have to ask that? There are people afraid of everything you can imagine.

Howie Mandel has that germ phobia and won't shake hands with people unless it is absolutely necessary. He uses a closed fist and bumps knuckles to greet people

Answer 8

its actually funny...sometimes i am. but that's not the funny part. in the woods, outside, or in places in the city I'm not familiar with, I'm not bothered. in my own home is where i get the most paranoid. always have that feeling that i aint alone

but i love to be outside in the dark. i especailly like it when the moon is just bright enough to cast creepy shadows, but dim enough where it doesnt make it easier to see. its like those teenage slasher movies, ya know? kinda ironic. in the woods i love it, but in the safety in my own home im kinda spooked. i hear things that arent there (but i probly shouldnt have said that...lol)

the dark reminds me of those movies with evil things that kill people. i know its all fake, but in the back of my mind, i always hear this little voice that says...what if? that "if" part is what i believe causes the fear, augumented by the sense of vunerability humans fear when they cannot see whats in front of them.

ahh damn....i gave a huge answer again....i always drag answers on :)

Answer 9

Not sane adults. It is the idiots to be afraid of and not the dark

Answer 10

I'm sure there are some. Most of us face that fear early on in life and conquer it, however if they had a really bad experience I'm sure it will affect them forever. Most people are afraid of something.