Lamp Camping

March 11th, 2010 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Lamp Camping

How do you get over a fear of the dark?

I have been so scared of the dark for so long, I am sick of not being able to sleep over friends houses because I have to have a light on (not even a nightlight, I'm talking lamp) on when I sleep. Now I am expected to go on a camping trip in the woods in a tent with other IN THE DARK. I am so terrified, even the thought of it makes my eyes well up with tears. I'm crying right now. I'm so terrified to go, I asked my mom if she could pick me up at like 9:30 but she said, 'No you need to get over ythis." But she doesn't get it, I am so scared of this I'm gonna start bawling when I am supposed to go to sleep. The everyone in my tent will have to sleep with a light on in the tent. My mom won't take no for an answer, she's making me go. I'm so incredibly scared, what do I do?? Please answer, I am so afraid of Wednesday night!!!

I'm almost thirty, and I still sleep with a nightlight, so I understand completely where you're coming from. It doesn't matter if your fear is logical or has a reason, it's your fear, therefore it is VALID. Your mom is incredibly wrong to make you go on this trip.

Is it a school trip? Have you considered talking to the person/teacher in charge and letting them know of this fear? I think they need to know if your reaction is going to be as bad as you fear it is.

Best case scenario, your mom could be right and you might not have as big a problem out there as you think. Worst case scenario, you could wind up with a severe anxiety attack and wind up freaking out the people you're with and making it a bad experience for everyone. (Not that it would be your fault, you can't control how you react to your fears.)

Seriously, talk to the person in charge of this trip, tell them your fears. It sounds like a pretty severe phobia, more than just a normal fear, and if that's the case, forcing you to go out there in the dark is not going to be good for you or your mental state. Good luck, I hope the person in charge is more understanding than your mother is.