by dawn ellis

Created on: May 08, 2007   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Fear of the dark, is more a fear of what cannot be seen. It is an unreasonable fear but happens to practically everyone at some point in time in their lives. Being afraid of the dark can be something that comes from a line of thinking, noises, or simply just a feeling. Once you identify what type of stimuli is affecting one's self you can deal with the fear.

Noises can come from generally anywhere and are pretty easily identified. The house can creak and settle making various noises that can sound like a door opening or someone walking in the house. There are the trees outside that could tap on the window or creak. Small animals may make little noises, run over a roof, knock into a window, or get into something like the garbage outside. To identify if you are one that gets scared by noises ask yourself these questions: "Do I only seem to get scared after I start hearing a noise when it is dark out. Do I have to tell myself that it is 'only' a noise to be able to feel safe." In fact telling yourself not to be scared and that it is "only" a noise may actually cause you to feel less safe because generally it comes with the unasked question of "am I right?" This question of judgment causes you to lose trust in yourself which furthers your fear. Instead a good way to get rid of fear of noises is get familiar with your surrounding possibilities for noise. Keep a journal of all the natural noises that are in your house and surround the house. Mark down how the house settles at night and during the day and what types of noises it makes. Also go out and look at the types of trees around your house and notice if any branches are with in range of tapping or touching the house in a windy situation that might make noise. Look around and see how many of the trees branches are close enough that they might rub against each other because that makes noises as well. Find out what type of animals live around your area and what habits they have and especially what type of noises they make.

The worst thing one can do if they are afraid of the dark, is watch TV, movies, pretty much anything that might make one feel insecure. Knowing that it is pretty much impossible to take away any of these things from life and would make it much less interesting we must deal with the random thoughts that pop in our heads at inopportune times and make us scared. A lot of being afraid of the dark is actually being afraid of the possible people or things unknown to us. Sometimes this is instigated by

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