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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To still believe in monsters?

64 replies

GarlicBreadStan · 22/10/2025 18:56

I'm 27 and very gullible.

When I was in year 7, someone told me that the Paranormal Activity films were real footage. I believed them.

From the age of 12 until about the age of 25, I had an intense fear of zombies and I was convinced that COVID was going to turn into a zombie virus. I rarely left my house because of how convinced of this I was.

I can't sleep without my bedroom light on. Night lights don't work to reduce my fear. If I have my bedroom door open, I can cope with sleeping with the landing light on.

I don't know why I'm so convinced that monsters are real, but last night I tried sleeping with my light off and nearly had an anxiety attack because I swear I saw shadows near my door.

I feel absolutely ridiculous for still being scared of monsters and for still believing in them, and I feel unreasonable because I'm 27 and surely I should be over this by now?

Please don't be mean, I already feel stupid enough for still having these fears 😅

OP posts:
PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/10/2025 19:24

I don’t think you’re gullible, you have a kind of anxiety disorder- you’re afraid of the dark. The brain throws up a whole load of possibilities to make you be super cautious- it can’t see very well so it gets all hyper vigilant about what might be there, your cortisol goes up, and you start to panic.

Stop thinking you are gullible. Start recognising you have a specific, very common, fear and address it.

I am inclined the same way. You have to focus on your breathing, calm your mind, and refuse to let your imagination run away! I used to sing when I had to walk home in the dark. Singing is good for calming anxiety. Deliberately walk in the dark with a kind reliable friend. Look at the sky, look at the trees, the moon.

Practice, in little doses, until you build up tolerance.

But mainly, reframe what’s happening.

Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2025 19:20

mouseaka · 22/10/2025 19:11

Well I vote yabu, but in a kind way - honestly if you face the fear there are only so many nights you can lie awake crying. Eventually your brain will catch up with reality. You need to use ‘cry it out’ method on yourself!

And I think the poster who is afraid of men is BU, too. Obviously, there are some bad people, and violent men, out there. But I refuse to live my life in fear. I walk alone down dark streets and leave my door unlocked if I want to. Sod them. My life is my own. If somebody decides to take it from me, there’s nothing I can do really. But I refuse to be afraid.

Edited

I don’t live my life afraid of men at all. I love men, I’m married, great relationship with Dad, brothers, colleagues etc. But I was merely pointing out that if something bad or scary happens at night, or down a dark alley, I can guarantee it won’t be a zombie, monster or an alien or anything paranormal that’s the perpetrator- it will be man.

ShelltheOnions · 22/10/2025 19:17

I still sleep with either a small lamp on or the landing light, usually the latter. It’s not because I’m scared of the dark or monsters, it’s just my preference.

Original poster
GarlicBreadStan · 22/10/2025 19:14

mouseaka · 22/10/2025 19:11

Well I vote yabu, but in a kind way - honestly if you face the fear there are only so many nights you can lie awake crying. Eventually your brain will catch up with reality. You need to use ‘cry it out’ method on yourself!

And I think the poster who is afraid of men is BU, too. Obviously, there are some bad people, and violent men, out there. But I refuse to live my life in fear. I walk alone down dark streets and leave my door unlocked if I want to. Sod them. My life is my own. If somebody decides to take it from me, there’s nothing I can do really. But I refuse to be afraid.

Edited

That's understandable, thank you for explaining why I'm being unreasonable 😊 and I don't mean that sarcastically either. I just find it really hard because I have a really active imagination

OP posts:
mouseaka · 22/10/2025 19:11

Well I vote yabu, but in a kind way - honestly if you face the fear there are only so many nights you can lie awake crying. Eventually your brain will catch up with reality. You need to use ‘cry it out’ method on yourself!

And I think the poster who is afraid of men is BU, too. Obviously, there are some bad people, and violent men, out there. But I refuse to live my life in fear. I walk alone down dark streets and leave my door unlocked if I want to. Sod them. My life is my own. If somebody decides to take it from me, there’s nothing I can do really. But I refuse to be afraid.

peanutpancakes · 22/10/2025 19:06

Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2025 19:02

This will probably make you feel worse, but, it’s not monsters or aliens you need to be scared of, it’s humans. Male humans.

I agree with the person above who said in the day they’re rational, but in the night, when it’s dark your imagination runs wild. But I’m never paranoid about monsters or the paranormal - it’s men breaking in and burgling me, or worse.

Yup, this is absolutely accurate and something I worry about a lot more than monsters.

Laura95167 · 22/10/2025 19:05

The mirrors in my house belong to the previous owner. Who died here. Theyre beautiful. The house only has nice vibes. But at night Im scared of the one by the front door. I quickly check door is locked and run away.

shellyleppard · 22/10/2025 19:05

I'm 56 and cannot sleep without the landing light on. If I'm in a hotel I always leave the toilet light on. Can't sleep without it otherwise

Original poster
GarlicBreadStan · 22/10/2025 19:04

Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2025 19:02

This will probably make you feel worse, but, it’s not monsters or aliens you need to be scared of, it’s humans. Male humans.

I agree with the person above who said in the day they’re rational, but in the night, when it’s dark your imagination runs wild. But I’m never paranoid about monsters or the paranormal - it’s men breaking in and burgling me, or worse.

It's weird, my anxiety with real life things is never really bad. It's the unlikely things or things that have never happened that scare me

OP posts:
Original poster
GarlicBreadStan · 22/10/2025 19:03

ComfortFoodCafe · 22/10/2025 19:01

I get it, if its late & dark outside and I need to go downstairs I run & grab what I need without loooni g through the windows/doors. Freaks me out 😂

Thank you 😭 I've had so many people laugh at me when I've told them that I don't tell anyone anymore (apart from Mumsnet, apparently, lol). If it's dark outside I can't even wear headphones in case a zombie runs up behind me and I don't hear it. My fear of zombies isn't anywhere near as bad as it used to be (due to exposure therapy) but it took me until this year to Google if a zombie virus would ever be possible

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2025 19:02

This will probably make you feel worse, but, it’s not monsters or aliens you need to be scared of, it’s humans. Male humans.

I agree with the person above who said in the day they’re rational, but in the night, when it’s dark your imagination runs wild. But I’m never paranoid about monsters or the paranormal - it’s men breaking in and burgling me, or worse.

ComfortFoodCafe · 22/10/2025 19:01

I get it, if its late & dark outside and I need to go downstairs I run & grab what I need without loooni g through the windows/doors. Freaks me out 😂

Original poster
GarlicBreadStan · 22/10/2025 18:59

peanutpancakes · 22/10/2025 18:58

I get it, In the day I am rational. At night, not so much. I don’t think I’m quite as extreme but I can’t sleep in total darkness, leave the landing night on.

It's really hard because when I went to sleepovers as a kid, I'd just cry all night while laying in the dark instead of going to sleep, while all my friends were sleeping.

OP posts:
peanutpancakes · 22/10/2025 18:58

I get it, In the day I am rational. At night, not so much. I don’t think I’m quite as extreme but I can’t sleep in total darkness, leave the landing night on.