To ask how to deal with my fear of the dark?

[topazdiamondsandemeralds]

It's been going on since I was a teenager and I'm currently sat here in the dark, with a dying battery, terrified.
It's not the dark in itself, it's more the fact that I get awful hallucinations etc.
I stay up until around 5am most nights and once it gets to 2Am, thats it. I have to stay up or else I feel extremely anxious.
I have a weird fear of 3am, no idea why, I just always have. I have a fear of what i'll hallucinate, fearing the noises etc everything.
I can hear drums now. Every night i've been hearing big loud drums, seeing figures in the hallways etc. One night I woke up and saw a big bloody monkey in the corner of the room.
I'm aware that this isn't normal but it's terrifying. My battery is dying and I can't turn the light off or i'll see things.
Please help MN.

It's gotten even worse since quarantine too. I live alone, no other children, no partner and all I have is the baby that i'm currently pregnant with.
I think it's driving me insane.

OP, take a deep breath, get up, turn a light on.

I promise that makes everything better.

As for the fear of the dark, I can’t help, I don’t like it myself. But I do manage it.

I have a nightlight in my room and motion activated lights in the hallways and landings - they’re really cheap and make the inevitable 2am dash to the loo much less of a drama.

Although like you I avoid 3am - if I’m staying up late reading or watching TV I have to go to the loo at 2.45 or wait till nearly 4am. I don’t know why!

Thank you PP. Nightlight sounds brilliant

3am is an awful time. I hate waking up at 3 for some reason.

There is always a light on in our house. I hate the dark. Sometimes the dark inside is worse. You are not alone, there are many people who are afraid.
Have you tried an audible book on low to help distract from the noises.

I think a fear of 3am is quite a well known one to be honest. I usually sleep with the light on too. I don’t heave a fear of the dark as such but I certainly don’t like being in it. I co sleep with my little one so prefer to be able to see them at all times. Lie down and chat to your little one, song then something and talk away. I found that used to help me quite a bit. Is there anything you can have playing in the background? I usually have a radio show on I like or my tablet playing comedy shows in the background. They automatically turn themselves off in about an hour by which time im asleep.

Or one of those stuffed animals that projects stars on the ceiling.

But really, you need to speak to your GP. You can easily deal with fear of the dark by using a nightlight. A cat also helps because you can blame odd noises on the cat. What you are describing though is a brain chemistry issue that the right specialists can help with. I don’t know if that means medication or CBT or something else, but there is likely a medical expert who can help.

Triaoraphobia, the fear of 3am, I knew there was a name for it somewhere.

I always leave the downstairs hall light on so there is some light coming into my room, could you try that?

I’m wondering about the hallucinations more than anything. I dislike the dark too but the hallucinations sounds really scary - any idea what the cause could be?

As a long term thing see a counsellor or get CBT to get over this, but for now, get a night light. If you need one, you need one, nothing wrong with that. You can get low comforting lights for different rooms, and those plug in ones for sockets for halls. Do as much of that as you need to.

Does background noise help? You could get an app with white noise, sound of the ocean, or put voice radio or podcasts or a film on. I find I go to sleep more easily if I'm struggling with something playing in the background - as if then I'm not 'trying' to fall asleep so it's ok to, if you see what I mean.

You do also need to get medical help for the hallucinations. But that's a job for Monday. Just get through now for now.

Switch the light on. I am terrified of the dark and when alone will sleep with the main lights on in every room in the house just in case I need to use the loo / get a drink / need to breastfeed in the living room.

A lot of this sounds like sleep paralysis which is terrifying. I suffered for years until I changed my medication.

I love it dark and quiet as it’s when I get the best sleep which gives me energy for the next day. I’d hate the light, I think I’d cry.

The dark is your relaxing friend OP and something that’s beneficial to your welfare. The light at 3am is the absolute worst

This is fascinating. I can sympathise with the OP although I don't have such a deep fear. I hate not being able to see. And I sleep better with a light of some sort. We keep our bedroom door open and a light in the bathroom which is as much as Dh likes but I would rather a bit more light. I also play podcasts as I'm going off to sleep using a speaker that I place under my pillow.

That sounds really scary OP. I agree with others that for now just do whatever you need to do - lights on, weird sleeping hours, whatever works. The hallucinations sound unusual and must be awful for you. Could be lack of sleep or something else. Definitely worth seeking help in case there’s medication or something that can help them go away.

I go to bed with the TV on which is set to switch off in 2 hours. If I'm feeling particularly freaked out I won't set a timer. Currently I have to go to the loo about 3 times a night. It drives me nuts! I would get to the root of this problem ASAP by speaking to your GP. You can't be staying up until silly o clock when you have DC. Are you on medications that could be causing these hallucinations? Could it be lack of sleep causing it? How long has this been going on for? Have you ever sought help for this?

I need some light on to sleep, a smart bulb with an orange light works well for overnight.

OP there is no shame in keeping a light on during the night. I have been afraid of the dark since I was a child, I'm mid thirties now. It sounds like you are feeling very anxious about falling asleep. Can you speak to your GP about how you are feeling? They may prescribe something to help you sleep in the short term, as well as medication to help you cope with the anxiety and hallucinating for the long term.

It is really tough to deal with something like this. Please speak to your GP as soon as possible. You don't have to go through this alone.

OP if you are still there call your electricity company explain you are shielding and very vulnerable and to keep your supply connected now

Or ask somoene to just need your supply number on the bill

Do people not like 3am because it’s the unholy hour or is it a kind of random fear. I haaaate waking up at 3am and hide under the covers usually staying awake for an hour.

Sorry just realised I completely ignored your post OP. I think keeping some light on if you can is a good idea. Also a lot of people find the television very comforting. Could you put one in your room and leave the volume down on 1.
And once you start to feel a little better you can wean yourself off it. I used to do this a lot.

3 am is a nice time especially outside.

I think her electricity is running out.