I used to be afraid of the dark all the time. i was always scared that if i walked into the dark some creep (human) or evil spirit was going to trail me, sneak upon me, and capture me. i would slowly walk to the restroom in the dark and i would slowly return to my room. once i get there i would slam the door shut. do you think that ghost stories may have affected me? They're not real but why did it have such an impact on me? once in fifth grade we heard about this woman doing things to little kids and hte more i talk about it now, the more i fear a presence enshrouding me. alleviate my fears.
the darkness had to do with when i was 3 but the story parts came much later.

[Phobicperson]

I think the stories play a part. I'm scared of the dark too. And the 'g' word. I can't relax in my own home, especially at night. I dash up the stairs cause I'm scared of what might be behind me, I always have my back to the wall, even in my room. I keep looking at empty spaces behind me cause I'm that scared. What helped for me is to listen to music. Concentrate on the lyrics and mouth the words if you can. Hope it helps <3<3

[spondiferous]

I have the same problem. I'm anxious about it for sure. And we have a bathroom joining our bedroom so at night I have to have that door closed. If it's open I'm afraid I'm going to see someone/thing in there that's going to come and get me. I never noticed how bad it was until a few years ago. I think scary stories can definitely influence it. I know too that I have done some reading on it that suggests it also has to do with how we as humans are always trying to separate ourselves from those parts of ourselves that we dislike or fear, and that it's part of our psyche trying to integrate itself back into its rightful place. (usually the 'dark' is the places of our subconscious that we don't want to explore.)
At any rate...it's scary. So you're not alone.