Fear of the dark

[Jodieboo]

it might be worth a visit to your gp to have a chat and see if there's a referral he/she could make to help you be less scared as is isn't good for you to be not sleeping due to a phobia. It might change your life X

My doctor knows of my phobia but did the same that everybody else does when I tell them about it, he laughed. He also knows about my sleeping troubles as not only do I suffer with the lack of sleep due to the phobia, I also suffer with depression and anxiety. He doesn't want me to be on anymore pills to go along side the 7 I have to take daily anyway

 

[ScarlettStar86]

It's quite difficult admitting something that other people will laugh at you for. My other half thinks it's hilarious and mocks me about it on a regular basis, it still doesn't make it any less real though, no matter how much people try to coax me away from the fear or not.

I understand and don't agree with making fun of fears at all. Can't believe your gp laughed at you too! Personally I'd be asking to see another doctor, even ask the receptionist if there is one who specialises in phobias. It def might be worth trying some sort if counselling or cbt not to coax you away from the fear because as you say it's very real to you, but more to give you some strategies of how to deal with the fear and in time it may help you learn to cope with it better so it doesn't have such an impact on your life. I don't think pills would be the answer here anyway as they might knock you out to sleep but they aren't dealing with the underlying issue. It couldn't make it worse surely x

 

[*Emsie*]

It's more of a watching thing like Ally89 suffers with. I just get scared of turning over and seeing something staring at me.



It's not like I have choice

Just like people with arachnophobia, most spiders wouldn't hurt them, but they still suffer with it. But just because their fear is visible to the human eye, it makes it a valid fear? Phasmophobia is a valid fear too.
I know you weren't trying to be "unkind", but I found your comment down right rude. This is something I have suffered with for nearly 25 years and it took a lot to me to mention my fear on a public forum. But, I did to inform the original poster what could happen if the fear is left untreated or unaided. I didn't do it so close minded people who think it is a "silly" phobia, because I can't receive actual harm or the fact that I'm not a child, put in their 2 pence towards my fears or how I live my life around them.

Thank you.

I also don't think the comment was intended to be rude but relaise it is a sensitive issue. I got into heated conversation in the staff room at work the other day because someone was saying how he couldn't understand why someone was afraid of heights because when its something thats real to you its hard. I can't understand why I am afraid of heights either but I know I am and it does affect things sometimes (like my hols in France last year )
Thank you for sharing your experiences as it does help me re my first post. Sometimes its hard to battle against other half where leaving the light on etc is concerned but hearing how other people feel helps me know I am doing th right thing x

 

[Jodieboo]

Thank you for sharing your experiences as it does help me re my first post. Sometimes its hard to battle against other half where leaving the light on etc is concerned but hearing how other people feel helps me know I am doing th right thing x

Not to worry hun. Maybe tell him my story, he might realise then what may happen if the issue is left! x

 

[AnnaFaraday]

I wasn't laughing, mocking, belittling, or tormenting; nor did I ever use the word "silly".

All I was trying to do was to understand and I am incredibly upset that this should have been misinterpreted.

I would remove the offending post, but there is no point as it would still turn up where it has been quoted.

All I can do now is to keep quiet and go away.