Long post, sorry. Basically I never grew out of your usual childhood fear of spooky things at night. I know it's very common for adults to feel spooked in a dark house but for me it's preventing me from enjoying certain things in life.
I don't see anything scary but I imagine it. Sometimes the thoughts are very intrusive and unwelcome and I try to push it out of my mind, horror movie style scenes - for example (apologies if this is disturbing) walking into my bathroom and imaging that there a bloody scene with someone hanging over the bath. These fears are much worse in old houses. In my last flat which was an old converted terrace, I even had it in the daytime (only if I was home alone) which meant I had to get out of the house wherever possible to avoid the fear. I went to the GP and was put on a year-long waiting list for CBT, which I never recieved in the end as I eventually moved to a newer property, mainly due to the fear.
Now I live in a new build house, again I chose a new build specifically due to my problem, and now the issue hardly affects me anymore. However, I feel that it's starting to happen a little at night again, e.g. I'll imagine someone grabbing my foot as I step out of bed, it's a pain because I have to get up in the night to feed my baby! I also have he opportunity to go and stay with some relatives abroad in a couple of months time, while my DH is away on business, and I've realised I cant go because these relatives live in old houses and I won't be able to sleep at night on my own without DH. Even when he's with me in these places I have to get him to come to the toilet with me at night.
What is wrong with me... I still dont know, and I don't know if anyone else out there has this issue? It's sort of anxiety, but not social anxiety. Or is it a phobia? Of the dark? Being alone? Anybody got advice on how to deal with this sort of thing?