Rain
02-08-11, 03:01
Lately I’ve been finding that I am scared in the small hours of the night, when it is still pitch black. I live deep in the countryside where there are no street lights and it really does get dark. It isn’t just a general fear, nor it is it a fear of the supernatural. I am afraid that a burglar may be about to break in, or an attacker. I realise this could happen at any time of the day, but the prospect of it seems so much more scary when it is dark.
We have a small light that stays on all night in the back garden and a security light that comes on if movement is detected. We also have 2 dogs. They would be no use as actual guard dogs but they do bark if they hear a noise. Of course, if they do bark or growl in the night, it frightens the life out of me. I feel so helpless not being able to see further than a few feet round the house.
I have started sleeping with the light on all night. It doesn’t bother me or my partner but I have read that sleeping with the light on can cause depression. I often stay awake for hours late at night. A lot of that time I am listening for noises. When dawn breaks (currently around 5.30am) I get up, have breakfast and then go back to sleep, relaxed and happy because it is no longer dark.
We did have a horrendously frightening experience with a prowler who was circling the house, howling like a wolf and trying to get in one night about 9 years ago. The police caught him. It doesn’t help that I live in the middle of nowhere, with just one neighbour 500 yards away.
I’ve noticed that now midsummer’s day is past the dark periods are getting longer and I feel worried about this. Basically, whenever it is dark, I’m not happy and desperate for it to be light again. I don’t want this to become an obsession. But right now I am dreading midwinter when it is dark from about 3.30pm to 9am.
It is all to do with feeling helpless when it is dark because I can’t see who is out there. I am agoraphobic and probably do see the world as containing many dangerous people. I’m not really sleeping properly any more. Does anyone else feel this way, and if so, did you find any ways of getting over it?
We have a small light that stays on all night in the back garden and a security light that comes on if movement is detected. We also have 2 dogs. They would be no use as actual guard dogs but they do bark if they hear a noise. Of course, if they do bark or growl in the night, it frightens the life out of me. I feel so helpless not being able to see further than a few feet round the house.
I have started sleeping with the light on all night. It doesn’t bother me or my partner but I have read that sleeping with the light on can cause depression. I often stay awake for hours late at night. A lot of that time I am listening for noises. When dawn breaks (currently around 5.30am) I get up, have breakfast and then go back to sleep, relaxed and happy because it is no longer dark.
We did have a horrendously frightening experience with a prowler who was circling the house, howling like a wolf and trying to get in one night about 9 years ago. The police caught him. It doesn’t help that I live in the middle of nowhere, with just one neighbour 500 yards away.
I’ve noticed that now midsummer’s day is past the dark periods are getting longer and I feel worried about this. Basically, whenever it is dark, I’m not happy and desperate for it to be light again. I don’t want this to become an obsession. But right now I am dreading midwinter when it is dark from about 3.30pm to 9am.
It is all to do with feeling helpless when it is dark because I can’t see who is out there. I am agoraphobic and probably do see the world as containing many dangerous people. I’m not really sleeping properly any more. Does anyone else feel this way, and if so, did you find any ways of getting over it?