You know that feeling when it is so dark that you can't tell where you are or what is around you? Or have you ever had to turn off the lights before leaving a room and physically sprinted to avoid being in the dark for too long?
Don't worry, you're not alone. I'm 20 years old, a sophomore in college and the idea of being in the dark still freaks me out.
I don't know why I have this irrational fear, but it is one that I have had for as long as I can remember. At nighttime I literally have to have some source of light shining in my room or I will not be able to fall asleep. It's almost like I think there will be some kind of monster in the room that magically exposes itself if there are no light sources available. And keeping a foot out from under my covers while I sleep? No way. I don't want any bed monster grabbing it!
My personal favorite is when the light switch for a room is somewhere far away from the actual door. My basement is this exact way. Whenever I get up to leave, I have to turn off the lights by the couch and then sprint up the stairs all in pitch black darkness. Heart racing and literally panting, I reach the top of the stairs and look back to make sure that no demon of any sort has followed me up. I know it sounds crazy, but I hope someone out there can relate!
I also hate walking back to my dorm at night. Just me, the darkness, and whatever may be lurking in those bushes. Some parts of campus have lots of street lamps while other parts are literally just a stretch of darkness. It's like the university said, "Hmm, let's put all the streetlights on this one section of campus but leave other parts completely unlit. That makes total sense." For all those other people walking back from their best friends' dorms in the darkness trying to walk as fast as they possibly can to their own dorm, I feel for you.
Pro-tip: calling a friend during the walk makes it almost like you're not alone! I also make someone come with me when I know I have to go into a dark room (or anywhere dark for that matter). I literally refuse to go alone. Haunted houses? Those are for sure a no-go for me!
So if you are like me and have an irrational fear of the dark even as a young adult halfway through college, it's okay! There are plenty of others like us. Just because we are older doesn't mean that we still can't be scared of things! Maybe one day we will overcome this fear of complete and utter darkness, but for now, I'm going to embrace my childlike fears. There are worse things to be afraid of!