Fear of "Presence" in the Dark

I don't know if anyone shares this phobia with me. This has just manifested itself over the past few months, and I have no idea why. When it's dark - - only in the aft/eve, NOT in the early morning - - I have a fear of a possible presence in the house. I never had this before in my life.

It's so bad that when I go to bed before my husband, I have to keep the lamp on the nightstand on (and even then I'm still wary) and then he turns it off when he comes to bed. I'm feeling quite apprehensive about next Saturday, since my husband is going out of town overnight. I just know I'll be really scared. This is the first time I'll be alone overnight since this phobia started.

Anyone else have this?

i have experienced it here and there. it comes on every now and then, doesnt last very long. i get weird fears that i obsess over for unexplained reasons. and then they go away just as quickly as they came on. that is how i combat it. "gee i wasnt afraid of this yesterday, so i know it isnt real" i just use lots of self talk when the fear is overwhelming me. but for you, i would just leave the light on if that is what helps. there is nothing wrong with that.

newgal2, I feel so bad for you. Those odd fears that pop up for no explainable reason are just miserable. Strangely, I have developed a fear of the light. I don't know what the heck brought it on. I've never liked bright lights, but this is truly a phobia of bright light. I feel anxious whenever I have to turn a light on. I have holiday lights strung throughout my house and I use those as much as possible. I hate this fear and I feel stupid because of it - and how can opther people be expected to understand such a strange fear? Ugh.

When your husband is gone overnight, can you leave a night-light on?

Hi Newgal, Have similar issue and i can sometimes feel that an episode is coming. LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON! Who's going to know? Ur husband will be away, right? I actually leave the light on and fall asleep with the TV on too. I bought one of those eye masks which is helpful. You might want to check in to some of your meds and whether they may cause hallucinations or affect your thinking. I believe Trazadone, which i use to take, as well as Abilify may cause this. Do what it takes to make you feel safe. Could you sleep on the couch? Have a sleepover with a few friends or a sister? And if it would make you feel better do a cleansing. Buy or make your own sage bundle. If its your belief or makes you feel better add a cross or two to your home.
Maybe look into what has changed over the past several months. Did your meds change? New one added or an existing one increased or decreased? I went through night/day terrors after the pharmacy switched manufactors on the Xanax i was taking. I am not one to dismiss anything....so have you bought something into your house like a piece of antique furniture. Write all this out. Plan a strategy. Sometimes approaching things logically and in writing helps.
I have been diagnosed schizophrenic, manic depressive, ADHD...plethera of mental health issues with same or similar meds as you. Hope some of this might help.
Or you could stay up all night chatting on this forum...we will keep you company!!!

Hey newgal2 make sure u make urself tired enough for bed so u don't just lay there and let ur mind wander- PRAY always ask Jesus to be with u - your faith is so important to get thru EVERYtHING and anything.-esp with unfeeling a presence - I hope all goes well with u be strong-

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newgal2, can you expand more on what you mean by "presence"?

I struggle with anxiety and insomnia. Recently whenever I looked at my bed I associated it with anxiety and I was dreading the nights and going to bed. It was like there was bad energy in my bedroom.

I've heard about burning sage/smudging and that Native Americans do this. It rids yourself or your home of bad energy or bad spiritual energies. So after more research and talking to my local holistic store I tried it. Almost immediately I notice a huge difference. The negative energy that I felt was gone. Everything felt light again in my bedroom. I did it again last week but just on my bed and it really helped.

I'm still struggling with insomnia but the anxiety has eased.

White Sage for Spiritual House Cleaning

I plan on sleeping with the nightstand lamp on all night, and forcing at least one of our dogs to sleep in the bedroom with me!

This is making me wonder if maybe a med I'm on isn't causing this. Trying to think when I started various meds . . . . thanks for this thought! I have just been feeling nervous in general over the past few months and just can't relax. Maybe it's the Effexor. I think that was started a few months ago.

I'm sure I will be posting about this on Saturday as my fear reaches new heights! Also, my husband is going out of town for several days at the end of the month. I initially talked to a friend of mine about bringing my dogs and staying overnight at her house. She said it would be okay. Now I'm thinking if there's any way I can just stay at home by myself that sure would be a lot easier.

By presence I just mean a negative "spirit" of some sort. Maybe I will hunt down some sage this week, thanks for the tip.

Asking because not too familiar with ECT. M asking because curious to know how long after ECT was it that this presence was felt? Worried for you tho you noted that you have had some improvement with your bipolar depression. Curious too about ECT as this treatment must be vastly improved from electroshock therapy given in the late 60's - early 70's. Was a child when underwent this therapy. Diagnosis of schizophrenia with manic episodes, DID and some other dark labels. Was just a kid then. One kid of five that my mom had to deal with along with an abusive drunk for a husband. So being zapped and medicated made a noticable impact on a crazy angry kid. Then we moved to another state. Have moved more than sixty times our lifetime.
Sorry, we digress. Apologies if we creeped you out. This is how we are. So curious to hear back. Its good that you have dogs. Take care and be well.

Yes ECT is shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy). Maybe the ECT is causing my nervousness/phobia. I can't remember exactly when the phobia started in relation to when the ECT started. It's not that I feel a presence - - I just have a fear that there will be a presence felt.

So are you saying that ECT can cause a presence to appear?

This is our perspective but only to a point. It could be the presence has been there all along. Do you truely feel threatened by it? There's a lot to consider. Hyper-awareness could be a side effect of one or more of your meds along with the effects of the ECT. Then add in the stress of your impending night alone. Writing things out helps us. Especially since we loose things, like time. It helps put things in perspective. Just because there may be a presence there doesnt mean its intent is to harm. It could be someone lost. Stuck in the inbetween.
Play it safe. The thing is we feel one of the dogs would be alarmed if it is a bad presence. They see what we cannot. If you feel that its a thing that will get you in the dark, then we would tell you if something wants you it doesnt wait for darkness. If you feel safe with the lights on, keep them on. And buy some dog treats and keep them close. Will be on 4 awhile. Dont feel like sleeping anytime soon.

Hello K2TOG,

Was wondering if you have tried herbals for insomnia? Or anything otc or prescribed? Struggled with insomnia whole life. Was its worse wen held a job. Now it doesnt matter if theres no sleep for days. Eventually exhaustion drags us under. Hope you sleep soon, and stay asleep

Thank you so much for your comments. That is what I was thinking, that if there was a presence one or both of the dogs would act up. One of my dogs in particular barks at everything.

Saturday night I plan on keeping lots of lights on. I really just have 4 hours to contend with my fear: from about 5 p.m. (when it gets dark) to 9 p.m., when I take my nighttime meds. The funny thing is again, when I get up at 5 a.m. and it's dark, I'm not afraid.

It helps me to read that if there was a presence, it wouldn't wait for it to be dark. I will lure the dogs up to my bedroom Saturday with dog treats!

i would sleep with the light on. it has happened to me alot. i also feel someones touch on my body too. i look to see if someone is there and theres not a soul in site.

Feeling a touch on my body would scare the heck out of me!

I can relate so much I don't get this fear as much as when I was younger, but sometimes I still get anxious about it and I just have to pull the covers over my head. It's very irrational for me.

Just do what makes you comfortable enough to sleep. Sometimes I can manage with just the sheets over my head, sometimes I've had to sleep with a light on. A bad night's sleep is the last thing you need.

My husband is possibly going to be gone Friday night instead of Saturday. The day looms near, but I know it doesn't help to think about it. Again, keeping the lights on and dogs near.

I actually asked a friend of mine if I could stay at her house with my dogs but she said that wouldn't work for her. She's a very private person who has 2 dogs of her own, so I understand. It's just as well -- that would be so inconvenient. I really just need to tough this out.

Also, can't remember if I posted about this, but I also have 4 more nights coming up that I'll be alone. My husband is going ice fishing in Canada on 1/22, returning 1/26. I'm not going to die. Just 4 hours a day of discomfort.

I may take the advice given in this thread of using sage. Just not sure where I can find it in this town. Maybe that'll give me a little more peace of mind.

I feel a little childish sometimes, but covering up with a blanket drives away latent fears I have laying in bed... especially when I'm reading something like archaeological texts about burial methods and such. I feel like I'm inviting the dead in.

I think it is linked to the feelings I get of being hyper-aware of my biological form (like feeling my skeleton). That is always terrifying.