HI stargazer....I use to be terrified off the dark also....I'm 45 now and can still have the odd reaction to it....I remember arriving at therapy once telling T that someone was after me....we worked on it together and came to the conclusion that it was my own fears I had shut off and felt "as if" someone was after me but infact its all the parts of myself I was afraid to look at ....not sure if this maybe going on for you also?....I know it feels so dam real at the time though...maybe you could continue to write these fears down? give them an objective feel? anyways I hope this passes for you soon.