For as long as I can remember I've been afraid of the dark. And yes I know I'm almost 21 and that's a completely ludicrous fear for an adult, but it's a fear that has followed me since I was a kid. I can't even remember a time when I wasn't afraid of what lurked in my closet when the light went off.
Technically I guess my fear isn't that bad because it's only when I'm alone. I'm not terrified if someone is with me, which is kind of silly because if something is in the dark it can probably get them as easily as it could get me. I don't know why my mind decides not to get freaked, I just know that I feel safer. I'm just glad I'm not that friend that you can't take anywhere because she's terrified of something.
However, my fear or "phobia" is weird because it has had phases. I've always been a little weenie, but there have been times when I haven't been as scared as other times. For instance, there have been times when I could sleep with the light off if my door was shut. Right now I'm in a phase where I can't even walk into a dimly lit room by myself without my chest getting tight and feeling like I'm going to hyperventilate.
A lot of times people tell me that I need to "just get over it" or "stop freaking out". Or they just tease me a whole bunch. And while I do think I'm a little old to be scared of the dark and I do think it's funny sometimes, I recognize that it's a legitimate fear that I have. It's not something that I'm choosing or something that I can just say "OK I'm cured!"
So if you're looking for validation for your weird or juvenile fear: here it is. You're definitely not alone. There are a lot of people in the world who are scared of something, even if it seems dumb. For instance, according to an article by Chapman University 9.3% of American's registered as "Afraid" or Very Afraid" of the dark. So my fear isn't actually that weird after all.
I hope someday that I won't be so afraid. I know that it's not something I need to be ashamed of but it's still something that affects my daily life so I would like to be less fearful. Maybe I can start with a night light.
