Fears of the dark?

Question

Is it okay for a 15 year old to still be creeped out by the dark? Like i will -never- go down stairs during the night unless someone else is there. I always check my clost before bed. For me i love sleeping on my right side, i would fall asleep soo quickly, but im facing my wall. So i have to lay on my left side so i can see the closet and the door.

Im not so much afraid of the dark in general but of like someone being in my house or room at night. It freaks me out to no end. Ive watched too many horror movies in my past and i have issues telling myself that they're not real...

Does anyone else have this issue?

Answer 1

Hey, think about this: when it is dark, a burglar can't see you any better than you can see him. LOL

When I was a kid I was afraid of the dark because I used to watch Dark Shadows (vampire tv series).

I'm not afraid of the dark now at all. Everything is the same at night as day - only there is no sun. :-)

Answer 2

I'm 49 and I still don't like the dark. First, remember, your parents are in the house with you, so you are NOT alone. Second, I find having a dim light on in my room during the night is a great comfort. Third, my husband and I agree to leave a light on in the house so that it is not completely dark inside. Also, we have a 'security check' just before bed. We both go around and make sure the garage door is closed, all the doors are locked and secure, the stove is off, etc., and all that walking around just reassures me that no one else is in the house. We also keep the front outside light on all night long. You've watched a lot horror films - we watch a lot of forensic files and cold case stories. We both admit it does affect us, but we try to keep a sense of reality and common sense about the fear of the dark. Those things I mentioned aren't extreme measures but certainly we find them reassuring and practical to do in an effort to feel secure. Also, if you love sleeping on your right side, and you still want to watch the door, can you move your bed around to accomodate this? Don't worry, as you get older a lot of it will disappear. But you might want to ease up on the horror films. Never watch anything horrible before bed, keep a dim light on, and if you can, play some soothing music on low next to you. Remember, your parents are home too and everything is okay!!!

Answer 3

Hmm, I'm younger than you and I watch a lot of horror movies and I'm not too creeped out by the dark if it's like in my house (bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen). But if it's in an unfamiliar place, it get's creepy. I mean, I would never go into my basement at night in the dark though. But, we do have lights so I would never have to go into the basement in the dark.

The only thing that is a bit weird is that you check your closet before you go to bed..I haven't done that in a while, lol. I keep my TV on all night though because I can't sleep in the dark, it just bothers me. See, but with the horror movies and telling yourself they aren't real, just KNOW that they aren't real.

Answer 4

I have to rent an apartment on the third floor because I'm so afraid someone will crawl in my windows if I'm any lower...and I'm 43. But I think the fear was the worst when I was your age because at 15 you're young enough to imagine bad things and old enough to understand that bad things could happen if all the circumstances were right. When I started feeling creeped out I'd make faces at the window, flip the bird, so that I could feel a little more control.

Answer 5

My daughter lives in a notoriously haunted house. Fortunately, she's about the only person NOT to have seen anything, but she is still creeped out when she's alone there. She ties bells on her bedroom door. That way no one can creep up on her. Keeping a dog in the room helps too, if you are allowed to have one. Rest assured, this is normal for someone who's seen a lot of scary movies. It's your mind's way of protecting you, to keep you vigilant. But try to use the bells, light, or pet to get a good night's sleep. That's the most important thing.

Answer 6

well, thats the issue there isn't it. You are not afraid of the dark, but of someone creeping up on you and you not seeing them. You obviously know the fear is silly, but that's what a phobia is. Have you tried swopping ends of the bed so you can sleep on your right side? You're not beating the phobia that way, but at least you're getting to sleep comfortably! Othewise, I'm afraid unless you start to make yourself get over this, you are looking at therapy as the next step. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's just realistic. Otherwise you'll be dealing with this until you're ninety!!

Answer 7

sounds like you're a little paranoid. but let's start out with the basics. at the very least, you're afraid of real things, not the boogeyman or the evil slimey monster lurking under your bed. if your house or houses in your neighborhood have been broken into before, then i can see where this fear is coming from, and all i can say is ask your parents to install a security system or get a big dog or something to help you get over it, or just wait a few years and you'll get over it. if this is not the case, then just put something like a drawer in front of your closet and door to make you feel safer. eventually you will get over this problem as you get older.

Answer 8

Not for a long time. I had an overactive imagination and i heard every noise in the house as a burglar or something that ended at 13. But even today if i watch a scary a**movie, They are so real looking i get the a little weirded out.

Answer 9

I am still a little creeped out by the dark. I don't check my closets, but I can't go in a dark room by myself or outside at night in the dark (especially now since everything around me is woods.) Theres nothing wrong with that though.

Answer 10

I have the very same problem.

It's not a fear of the dark itself, but of the uncertainty that comes with it of not knowing what's there.

It is (potentially) a bit of a mental health issue. I would expect the problem to occur due to paranoia, and even to an extent obsessive compulsive disorder (when you worry, do the thoughts nag you constantly and are they extremely difficult to ignore, reason yourself out of, or set aside?)

Also, as a side note, it's generally better for you to sleep on your left side anyway - that way your stomach is positioned lower, rather than higher than your head (higher can cause stomach pains, heart-burn (I think), indigestion etc).