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health advisory Hospital Mental Health 2007-11-15 19:02:36

I am 21 years old and all my life I have been afraid of being alone at night. I don't feel like I could live by myself for fear and constant worrying of a man breaking in or a fire happening. When I was younger I couldn't fall asleep if my dad was not there or if he wasn't up watching tv. If I am alone in the bedroom at night when I look into the dark I start worrying if someone is there and all my life have imagined images in the dark. If I am by myself I need to fall asleep with the tv on and the door to the bedroom has to be almost completely shut so that I am not staring out into the dark. I'm not the type of person who's scared of horror movies and get's bad dreams. Is anyone else like this... is this a legitimate phobia?

Answer:

Hi honey,

Its legitamate if your feeling it sweety. Dont let others tell you how you should or shouldnt feel. Its just the way you are. And If everyone was the same feel this world would be boring right? I would suggest talking to a professional. Your Doc. It seems like you have had these same feelings all your life so maybe its something a litte deeper?? Just a suggestion sweety. If not just know that alot of people get a little scared of being by themselves. God Bless you!!

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MY COUSIN IS THAT WAY ..I SUPPOSE I AM THE SAME WAY TOO!

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It can be, especially if you had to worry growing up about real break ins. I overcame the fear though, and lived by myself for 1 and a half years. I had to find the right place that had a tranquility to the house and neighborhood. It was great. I had to sleep with my bedroom door always open because I had to know if anyone was "entering" during the night. All doors open, then I was fine. You never know what could happen in a bathroom with a window in the middle of the night. If the house is huge, I can still get scared, so it has to be smallish and in decent shape in a good neighborhood. And I live in a secured entrance apt now, kind of scary at night because I can faintly hear the neighbors in the building who are still awake and can't tell if they are in their own place or mine.

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I'm living by myself at the moment and sometimes, when all the lights are out, I somehow convince myself that something is in the dark out to get me. Then I realize, as a Christian, that nothing can cast me into Hell since God promised that those who believe in His son Jesus and trust in the sacrifice that he made will never be forsaken and will live life after death for eternity with God. Knowing this comforts me and helps me to know that even if there were something in the room, it's nothing to be afraid of.