Ptsd And Fear Of The Dark?

[whirleygurl]

I'm curious to know how common it is to experience fear of the dark. I am afraid of the dark. I sleep with a light on somewhere in the house when I'm alone. Curiously, it is only in the house that I'm afraid of the dark. PTSD people, are you afraid of the dark?

 

[KatB]

Good thing I am still awake :-/

I don't think I am afraid of the dark. I am more terrified and anxious because of my hypervigilant state and my insomnia. It also ties to traumatic events that happened in the dark. Because of my more recent traumatic events, I have become more hypersensitized to people's comments, though i shouldn't be surprised. My depression is and has become more severe so i think that plays a major role for my isolation and obsessive thoughts.

Going back to the dark, i have never been a fan of it but it became worse because of trauma.

 

[Unmensch]

Yep, especially as I have ASP and don't otherwise sleep well. I need to know where I am, fast.

I tried training myself to sleep in the dark and things were ok, but I had to have a remote control next to me to switch on the lights on. I'm sleeping with lights on again now though.

 

[Britt.f7]

After I had been attacked, I could sleep in the dark, but I slept with a stuffed animal or my sister and I always faced the door.

I think, since both of my attacks occurred in bright daylight, maybe that made a difference.

 

[KatB]

I used to sleep a lot with a teddy bear, collection. Now, its my comp and phone.

I've associated the dark with my brother, one of the major traumas I experienced from. Details blur...

 

[Charmedone]

I have always majorly disliked the dark cause of what happened to me, but before my PTSD kicked in I could tolerate being in a dark place for short amounts of time, if I really had to-I used to take my young nephews to Laser Quest which is dark and I used to love driving at night.

Now i'm 100 times worse, I cry like a baby in the dark, embarrassed to say that I never turn a light off, I can't turn my front room light off even if I'm leaving the room and the hall light is on. I sleep with the lamp or light on and carry several light sources (torches, phones, flashing key ring) with me when out at night. For me darkness triggers flash backs and I disassociate and turn into an emotional mess. I feel stupid about it cause my brain tells me it's safe now and nothing bad will happen but I'm still terrified.

 

[Britt.f7]

Charmedone, no need to feel stupid. You have to do what you need, and what you need right now is to have lights on. Besides, who made it a law that we have to sleep in the dark? ;)

 

[Sues]

I mentioned in another post earlier that need I sleep with the bathroom light on. I started with night lights, but they weren't enough. It's gotten worse lately, and I can't sleep with my window open either. When it's bad, I'll sleep with the TV on. The voices on the TV make me feel like there are other people in the room and it makes me feel safer.

I like what Britt said, we don't have to sleep in the dark!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am not afraid of the dark. But then I sleep with my husband and our dog. If I lived alone mabe I would be afraid of the dark, I do not know for sure. But it is nothing to be ashamed about. that is why they make so many nightlights.

 

[discarded]

I see nothing wrong with sleeping with a light on. Personal choice really, if it isn't annoying anyone else then don't stress about it. Yes, I sleep with a light on. I used to pretend it was for the kids but to be honest it is for me.

 

[therapybankrupt]

I used to be afraid of the dark my whole life. After going through a period of suicidal thinking it doesn't have a hold on me. Actually I think my fear of the dark has been cured. A miracle :D

 

[Aribear]

I have an odd fear of the dark. I either need a little nightlight on or If it's completely dark, I have to sleep with the closet door open. I didn't even realize I did it until I had roommates.