Not sure what this is...Maybe someone here could tell me?

I seem to have mild anxiety when confronted with things that glow in the dark. Its kinda hard to explain, but things like alarm clocks, small lights from stereos, machines and stuff like that kinda freak me out when I see them in a dark room. I startle and become a little edgy. When I walk into a dark room and there's a little light flashing, I scream and my immediate reaction is to run...all because of a stupid light.

Like I said in my subject line, I don't know what this is, but I know it is something. I hope I explained it ok. Its been like this for me for as long as I can remember. When I was little I'd hide alarm clocks if they were in the same room I was sleeping in. Anyway, any thoughts or ideas on this matter is greatly appreciated.

Post deleted by DocJohn

I am not asking for a diagnosis. I'm just curious as to what others think, and maybe its similar to what someone else is going through. I am just sharing thats all. I realize this isnt a therapy agency, but it IS a support network am I not correct?

For your information, I AM seeking therapy, and although I have not discussed this particular issue, I intend to do so in the very near future.

Hi Dezdemona! I agree that you weren't asking for a diagnosis, and that you should get support and advice from others who are going through similar experiences.

I've never had the same experience (my anxiety is not so specific) but I'm sure other people here have had similar fear-reactions to common objects.

Besides therapy, I've found it helpful to read about the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating anxiety problems. I also do CBT, but reading about how it works is calming for me, because the focus is on desensitization to the specific fear via in-depth evaluation of the reality of the situation.

Anyway, I hope you can find the support that you're seeking here!

Jessie

Welcome!
I kinda know what you mean -- glowy lights in the dark don't bother me now, but they gave me serious heebie jeebies when I was an insomniatic teenager who read way too many Stephen King novels. I'm not sure how old you are but I never did anything to address my fear -- I think I just kinda outgrew it. Either that or it went away during the 4 years I was in college and had a roommate -- yes, I think that is what helped the most.

I wish I had some good advice for you. It sounds like you're doing all of the right things by confronting it and seeking help.

Welcome to PC!

I don't know what your specific fear is, and I'm NOT saying this is what caused it, but maybe something happened when you were a baby that caused you to fear glowing lights. Your pdoc will be better at finding an answer, I'm sure, but I'm just saying what sounds logical to me.

Do your parents know about your fears? If so, you might ask them if they remember anything happening to you when you were little. It makes sense that you wouldn't remember that time, but your mind does, so it still reacts.

I really hope you're able to overcome this.

Thanks guys. I have talked to my folks about it once or twice. My dad has a Masters in Counselling, and he was suggesting a form of progressive desensitization. I'll read a bit on CBT, and I'll ask my T about it when I see her this week.

Thanks again for your support
--Des

welcome to the forums. this is a forum for support and caring. the posters here will listen and share with you......we want to help as much as we can by being here for you.

i'm not sure what would cause that........and you're seeking help and that is great! i used to be very afraid of the dark and i guess i "outgrew" it. good luck in finding out the source of this.... xoxoxo pat

I can't completely relate, but I can a little.

I had a smoke detector in the hall ceiling that had a little green light that made a green circle of light on the carpet. I found it particularly disturbing, though I'm not otherwise bothered by glowing lights.

I was so relieved when the owner replaced it with another model. I no longer have that weird green circle on the hallway floor at night.

WELCOME.....

I too have anxiety attacks but from a different source than yours.... but all in all I have to say that we get scared for these sources are resonating a FEAR from within our own memory bank - some thing from our past that once gave a cause to be afraid.... and now they are our unresolved wounds.


LoVe,
Rhapsody -

I have an idea as to what it might be. I discussed it with my T during session today. I was very sick when I was born, so I had to spend six weeks in an incubator. And we all know how hospitals are: glowing lights from the machines, some flashing. Another element that might have made it worse was that I was born with a profound hearing loss, which meant I couldnt hear anything; I could only see. My T agreed that that experience would be very traumatic and terrifying for an infant.

welcome back... didn't see who you were here before though...

I would ask your MD also, it might could be a sign of seizure. Probably anxiety and mild trigger? IDK Interesting that you've noticed it. TC

I understand that one about the hospital..... for I too was a very sick child up until I was about 5 years old.... so birth to 5 (and) I use to hate the look of bright white lights - I always felt so along when I saw some thing that reminded me of them, for I was often left alone at the hospital so my mom could work - she was a single mother with 5 children to support.

((((((( HUGS ))))))) ~ ~ ~ ~ ((((((( HUGS )))))))

LoVe,
Rhapsody -