Anyone Have A Sudden Fear Of The Dark?

[MoriMermaid]

I had a traumatic event happen in November. Since then, I've been leaving a nightlight on as well as an LED candle. Sometimes the darkness closes in, and it's really scary. Anyone else develop this or was it only me?

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I have always been kind of afraid of the dark, but since a trauma 4 years ago, I can't sleep in total darkness. I have to turn lights on in the house as I travel from room to room and sleep with some kind of light on. If my husband isn't in the room, I have my clock light on and my lamp on most of the time. In unfamiliar places I sleep with as much light as possible. So nope, you're not the only one. There's at least me.

 

[MoriMermaid]

Thank you. I don't feel alone. Pretty cool. It's my first half hour here. :)

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Welcome, @MoriMermaid . I have found that I feel less alone on here all the time because there are so many supportive people and there's almost always someone who can relate to whatever I am struggling with.

 

[MoriMermaid]

So many people with the same things, and it's not so isolating.

 

[Rhys]

Yeah, I've always been a little wary of being in total darkness but after trauma set in it became a full-blown fear. I sleep with a nightlight (although sometimes even the low light freaks me out and I'll sleep with a lamp on)

I think it has to do w/ hypervigilance at least for me, if I can't take in my surroundings completely I get antsy. I think this might be another reason I prefer small spaces too??

 

[gealach]

I used to love the dark, but for the last 2 years I've had to sleep with a light on.

 

[LiketheMouse]

I've been afraid of the dark for as long as I can remember. You are not alone.

 

[Fadeaway]

Welcome. It is not uncommon after trauma. In fact it is pretty normal. Glad you found us.

 

[Will86]

Same here, trust me, you are not alone in this.
I haven't slept for 24 hours. I turned off the light half a hour ago ready to sleep and suddenly I got some sort of panic attack in the dark so I turned on the light and now I'm writing this message to you.
I was doing fine lately for a couple of days as I was sleeping without the light on but tonight I think I will need the light.

 

[MoriMermaid]

I still slept with my nightlight last night but didn't toss and turn so much. It's wonderful to see so many messages. Normally, I get very few.

@Rhys Maybe it's hypervigilance for me. I'm not sure.
@brokenEMT It's only the inside dark of my bedroom and not outdoors. I'm out looking at the stars every night I can see them.
@LiketheMouse You're not alone, either.
@Fadeaway I'm glad I found it here, too. This looks to be a pretty safe spot.
@Will86 You sound like a friend of mine when he wasn't able to sleep during the summer last year. I get the occasional panic attack and can't sleep. I'm crossing my fingers that you sleep tonight, even if it's with the light.

 

[Will86]

Thank you for the kind words. And yes I'm having some trouble to sleep lately because my grandmother committed suicide 1 month ago and I was there so I have some bad images in my mind. It will pass hopefully, time will fix me eventually.. I hope you will fix your issues as well soon. Keep faith and don't be ashamed of sleeping with the light on at night, it's quiet normal after a trauma.

Bonne nuit (if you are from quebec) ;)