Are you afraid of the dark?

[LoFi Banana]

Since I was very little, I've been afraid of the dark. I remember when I was in elementary school, I would wake up in the middle of the night and be terrified of even the slightest sounds or perceived movement out of the corner of my eye. I would always wake my parents because I always thought there was either a monster, ghost, or intruder in my room.

Even today, at the age of 15, I still will not sleep in a completely dark room and always have a nightlight on. While I won't wake anyone up over it, I still feel unease in the dark. It probably doesn't help that I love watching horror movies and reading stories of the paranormal.

So now I'm turning the floor over to you, NSers. Is anyone else here afraid of the dark and if you are, do you have any stories to tell about your phobia? Is there any defined age where a fear of darkness should be lost or is this a fear that can be lifelong?

[The Holy Therns]

Nah. Used to be, though.

[LoFi Banana]

Nah. Used to be, though.

Around how old were you when you overcame your fear?

[The Holy Therns]

Nah. Used to be, though.

Around how old were you when you overcame your fear?

Twelve-ish, I think. It was a huge thing when I was little but then I became a bit of a night owl and grew pretty comfy with the dark.

[Dakini]

No. I have ever felt afraid while in the dark (especially back when I was reading a lot of horror), but I'm not afraid of the dark.

I do have some fairy lights that I keep on in my bedroom though. I find it's convenient when I have to get up in the middle of the night or if my partner and I go to bed at different times (so whoever goes to bed later doesn't have to either stumble in the dark or turn on the light to find their way around).

[Outer Sparta]

It's definitely the illusion that the dark brings that makes it scary. You walk into your room, it's the same room, but the ambience of darkness and nighttime definitely make things more spooky and makes things not seem right.

[Destructive Government Economic System]

The exact opposite. I like the dark. It makes me feel at peace.

What I am afraid of are the stupid cockroaches that like to come out at night.

[Wapistan]

Only when i wake up at 3 am for the toilet and i hear a loud thud from downstairs. Other than that, not really. I also used to be afraid of the dark much more when i had this neighbour around who was constantly on drugs and kept shouting in the street at midnight. He's gone now. I wonder what happened to him?

[American News Network]

I was until i was around Eight-ish. I just kinda slept in the Dark once and didn't die and that helped.

[The Holy Therns]

Obligatory Iron Maiden reference so we can get that outta the way.

[Rosmana]

No, Sudden loud bangs are a bigger fear for me.

[Keira]

Only somewhat. Probably on the same level as the average person, maybe slightly less.

I was also too scared to sleep in the dark as a child. I think I shared a bedroom with my grandma until age 13.

When I used to live in a two-story house, I used to sometimes get kind of creeped out by the dark parts of the house if I was on my own. I live in a flat now, but I still get a bit spooked by empty, dark parts of the flat after watching, reading, or talking about something horror-related.

Outdoors, though, it's different. I'm attracted by dark places. Since I have social anxiety disorder, people scare me more than dark places without people (even though I believe in ghosts). I've done a few photoshoots in the woods at night. Sometimes I'd get left behind by friends and get somewhat creeped out, but not too much. I used to also go out for walks or bicycle rides at weird hours (2100, 0230, 0500, etc). Those were some of the best days of my life. Dangerous, exciting, beautiful, and utterly rewarding.

[Heloin]

I was born in the dark. Molded by it.

[Kerwa]

You should be afraid of the dark, it’s when scary shit appears and bad things happen.

[The Holy Therns]

You should be afraid of the dark, it’s when scary shit appears and bad things happen.

Scary shit can appear and bad things can happen just as easily in broad daylight.

[Heloin]

You should be afraid of the dark, it’s when scary shit appears and bad things happen.

Scary shit can appear and bad things can happen just as easily in broad daylight.

You don't suddenly calm down when the lights turn on and the axe wielding murderer is right in your face?

[The Holy Therns]

Scary shit can appear and bad things can happen just as easily in broad daylight.

You don't suddenly calm down when the lights turn on and the axe wielding murderer is right in your face?

I've been calm in none of the occasions this has happened to me.

[The Black Forrest]

No not really.

The only time I did freak was out walking my dog one night. He isn't afraid of the dark and he is a 192 pound dog. No fat. He got freaked by something and then the crickets all stopped. I turned around and left. He all but dragged me down the street.

[LoFi Banana]

Only when i wake up at 3 am for the toilet and i hear a loud thud from downstairs. Other than that, not really. I also used to be afraid of the dark much more when i had this neighbour around who was constantly on drugs and kept shouting in the street at midnight. He's gone now. I wonder what happened to him?

Maybe finally arrested?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Probably as a child, but not anymore.

[Herador]

Yes, but that's because the people who shoot up in the alley outside my place like to peep in windows when they're high.

[Kerwa]

You should be afraid of the dark, it’s when scary shit appears and bad things happen.

Scary shit can appear and bad things can happen just as easily in broad daylight.

That’s what they want you to think.

[Imperial States of Duotona]

I'm willing to admit I kinda am, just because it reduces where I can see and it makes me feel more vulnerable. I personally don't believe in ghosts and other paranormal things but I feel more at risk of a realistic threat like being ambushed or something.

[Esternial]

I don't like it, but I'm not afraid of it. It's inconvenient.

What typically scares me is the unknown. When I was younger, the dark used to be the unknown. Now, it's filling in my tax returns.

[Pulsroth]

I was never afraid of sleeping in the dark (I actually quite liked it), but my little sister was always afraid of it where she was a lot younger.

What didn't help was that we lived in a country house with a lot of creaks, which just added to the creepiness for her.