Afraid if the dark

[Baby_squirrel]

I'm only a little embarassed to admit I'm afraid of the dark. Had anyone asked me yesterday morning I would have adamantly denied it. I work at encouraging my children,who habitually turn on EVERY light in our apartment, every night, to get over their fears. I tell them that there is nothing in the dark that isn't around during the day.

 

Well now I feel like a liar. I woke up to use the potty. Wheb I came down the hallway I seen one of the bedroom doors open and the light off. I panicked and ran past the door, closed myself into the bathroom only to realize the tissue was out. All the replacement rolls are kept in the room I ran past. I screwed up my courage and went inside, but I was terrified a monster or ghost would get me. I got the tissue! Then went and hid under my blankie for the rest of the night.

 

I have to admit I've been putting off my fear by closing room doors and my kids always having the lights on. We have lived in the same apartment for 7 years. The electric is included in my rent. In a few months we'll be moving and I know we won't have this advantage of always keeping our lights on. I don't know what to do. Does anyone have advice?

[Guest *Aurora*]

What about the dark scares you if I may ask?

[Guest QueenJellybean]

I would try to transition from light to partial darkness, to more darkness than light, etc. That's what we did with my younger sister. Things like nightlights, and glowing pillow pets are really helpful, as well as dimmers! 

[PapaMax]

I knew a little who was so afraid of the dark she slept during the day and stayed awake at night, no word of a lie, so don't feel bad. What worked for me as a child was a small torch I could take to bed with me, if I woke in the night I could just shine the torch at anything suspicious and hey presto. Torches are even better these days with LEDs, the batteries last forever (so it won't matter if you or your children fall asleep with it turned on) and they're lighter so easier to take to bed. Plus, every space commander needs a torch (or at least that's what I used to think )

 

(Torch = Flashlight here in the UK )

Edited November 2, 2016 by PapaMax

[Guest Cloud9Dreamer]

fairy lights or christmas lights are a huge help for me! i also have a nightlight, and I tend to leave the TV on a music channel that darkens after so much time and shuts off after four hours, but by that time I'm already asleep. I like to think of my collection of stuffies as an army that battles the darkness while I sleep!

[Saya99]

I am afraid of the dark as well. I cannot sleep alone in a dark room i always let the lights stay on. And keep waking up at night waiting for the morning to come. I dn know why i have issues with the dark bcs its trully silly.

[Baby_squirrel]

What about the dark scares you if I may ask?

I know it doesn't seem logical for some, however I was raised to believe in spirts and magic, ghost, all those unseen beings. I believe partly that they can be around during the, but are supposedly more active at night. Keeping the lights on gives me a lot of comfort. The lack of light compounded with my less than good eyesight adds more fear. I'm pretty much a big chicken.

[stargirl]

Night lights and candles could help. Maybe keeping a TV turned on and muted throughout the night would help, too. Do you think the time of year (Halloween) might be contributing to these fears?

[Baby_squirrel]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I can not use fair lights now because no outlets in our hallway. I'll keep them in mind for my new place. Flash lights and glowing stuffies is a great idea! When I get more money we can each pick a special flashlight or glowing star stuffie. Thanks so much!

[Guest *Aurora*]

Could always use the flashlight on your phone ( i always forget that it's a thing now xD). if it's a money issue. Could also invest in some motion sensor lights for the halls so they won't be on all night

Edited November 2, 2016 by *Aurora*

[Mikaitaku]

I used to be afraid of the dark when I was a kid, I needed to go to the bathroom one night and punched the monster I saw which turned out to just be toys and cloths and went to the bathroom and that is how I got over my fear of the dark. hopefully the same will work for you.

[ziva vlad's kitten]

I usually use the flashlight on my phone

[CrazyLittleBuggaBoo]

Being afraid of the dark is actually rather common, so you shouldn't feel bad! However you shouldn't lie to your kids about it, it's ok to be scared of something, weather you are a child or adult. It actually might even be helpful to your children knowing that you are also afraid, then they can see how you deal with it and learn from that! If you can deal with and face your fears((even if your not over them)) then they can too! You know how that feeling goes, right? lol

 

Tips on living with being afraid of the dark,

 

 Nightlights! So you don't have to leave on over head lights or lamps. You can get nightlights on timers that turn off and on by themselves or even motion activated ones. There's even some pretty cute stuffed animals out there that glow and have lights in them you could get!

 

 Flashlights! No reason to turn on all the lights when you have your very own in your hand! And there's all kinda of super cute kids flashlights! Some even look just like toys! I have a Lego Vader flashlight, it's super cool!

 

 Glow in the Dark! Try Glow in the Dark stickers, tape or paint to guide your way throw the dark. Buy Glow in the Dark decor.

 

You could even try setting up some kind of chart and Brave Points, for not using the all of the lights.