To be scared of the dark?

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

Massively ashamed of this. I rather supposed it would go away once I became a mother and most nights I'm fine but some nights (like tonight obviously), I become paranoid that there's some sort of evil being skulking around the house. Snap me put of it please - or are some of you the same?

I luxuriate in the darkness, the pitch blackness caused by getting blackout blinds and it being winter. I sleep much, much better in the deep, dark absence of light, I love it... maybe just me....

(grew up in the far north where sometimes it does not get dark in midsummer)

FloozeyLoozey yes an intruder is far less likely to break in if there's a radio & lights on as it means there is someone up and about inside - obviously!

Crime prevention officers certainly used to advise leaving a radio on when out, for security as it makes it seem as though someone may be in and listening to it. My parents always do it, and I often do too. Similar to leaving a light on for security. Sometimes I do both.

I'd be skeptical of there being a link between lights off and lights on and whether an intruder breaks in. If they're coming to rape/murder you well then they want you to be in. If they're an organised crime ring they'll be armed anyway. If it's just some smackhead off his head he probably wouldn't notice anyway. Plenty of burglaries/theft/cons take place during the day with people if their houses.

And most people here seemtroubled by the supernatural which is daft cause even if they are real, by their very nature, there'd be nothing you could do to stop them coming anyway.

I just find it sad that so many capable grown women feel terrified without men in the house. It seems very weak to me.

It's not about having a capable man in the house. I find I'm as calm with my mum/a friend in the house. Just another adult!

I can't sleep without a light on and the radio on. Meh. I have lights, and I have a radio. It's fine.

Other people in the house don't count if they are asleep though, don't you feel? It's a very lonely feeling being the only one awake.

AND what is it about a little blanket or a duvet which stops all these ghosts, ghouls and interuders? I leap into bed and pull those covers up to my nose (after a terrifying toilet trip) and think 'haa, safe'. NOTHING can get through two layers of cotton and some duvet filling, obviously

We live in the countryside, and the dark is indeed very dark here. And the quiet is total at night. Apart from the odd owl or fox. Sometimes, if there is moonlight, i peer out of the upstairs windows across the dark fields and try to see any animals. Badgers or whatever. Then i'll suddenly get spooked, stop looking and swish the curtains shut - in case i see something 'orrible! Lol.

Me too, I don't know how people sleep in the pitch black. I can do it if I'm with someone else but when I'm on my own I always sleep with the curtains open and keep my laptop charged so there's a very small light in the room. If I'm feeling particularly cowardly, I will sleep with my main light on but I have a dimmer switch so it's not on full blast. I'm still convinced most nights that I will wake up to see a figure standing next to my bed. It hasn't happened yet though.

You can get motion sensor type lights that turn on with movement, so when you get up to go to the loo, they turn on. It saves having the main lights on and is less disturbing for those who like the dark.

I find I'm better if there is at least one other person in the house. That includes the cat although god knows what good she would be if I had an intruder. She could cling to him and purr really loudly and annoy him away.

Seriously though, I do sleep better if the cat is there on the bed too as I often check to see if she is spooked too (working on the theory they are more in tune to supernatural beings etc and would act like an early warning system). I know there 's no logic to that but there's no logic to believing there are ghosts in my room either so they cancel each other out.