Hi there and welcome --

I did not like to sleep in the dark until I was in my 40s. My anxiety was not as extreme as yours. I kept a night light on.

I slept much better after I started having dogs. My first was a Doberman, and he slept with one eye open. He was wonderful.

Then somewhere along the way I got over it. No good reason why. I just got used to sleeping in the dark -- really dark, and now I like dark out shades on the window.