Timeline for How can I overcome irrational fears of being out in the dark?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
7 events
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| Nov 22, 2023 at 21:12 | comment | added | anongoodnurse | Don't mean to have a discussion, and I grant your answer is a good one. Imo, fear of falling off the face of a cliff is not an irrational fear. It's a fear that's overcomeable with reason. An irrational fear is that there's a monster waiting for you at the top! | |
| Nov 22, 2023 at 21:05 | comment | added | Michael | @anongoodnurse: For me at least it helps. Running in dark forests was only ever a minor feeling of unease for me, but I’ve had very strong fear of falling when rock climbing. To this day it helps me to remind myself that I’ve checked the knot, my partner checked the knot, my partner knows how to belay, the last quickdraw is just below me and nothing bad is going to happen if/when I fall. It’s a different story when I know that I must not fall. Just like it’s probably different when you go running and know that there are bears and criminals in your forest and there is an actual risk. | |
| Nov 22, 2023 at 20:46 | comment | added | anongoodnurse | That's exactly trying to deal with irrational fears rationally. The OP stated that it's not a fear of animals, it's monsters (presuming a bit, as they mentioned horror films.) They already know monsters don't exist and have no need to fear them; that's what's irrational about it. I can relate. I had nighttime irrational fears as a youngster, and knowing there were no monsters under the bed didn't help. I had to use magical thinking to combat them (if I do this, that won't happen.) That's common even in adults with phobias. It gives a sense of control in face of the uncontrollable. | |
| Nov 22, 2023 at 20:31 | comment | added | Michael | @anongoodnurse: True, but it helps when you remind yourself that they are irrational and that you are actually perfectly safe. When you hear something in the bushes and remind yourself that it can’t be bears or wolves because those have been extinct in your country for 200 years (and they are unlikely to attack humans anyway) it helps. | |
| Nov 22, 2023 at 15:09 | comment | added | anongoodnurse | Please note that irrational fears can't be dealt with successfully by rational thinking. | |
| Nov 21, 2023 at 20:15 | vote | accept | jng224 | ||
| Nov 19, 2023 at 16:09 | history | answered | Michael | CC BY-SA 4.0 |