Like several people here, I’ve always been afraid of the dark (on & off). My imagination always gets the better of me and I imagine scary things which would be well suited to a horror film or an episode of the X Files.

It seems that as I’ve got older the problem has got worse. At the moment it’s worse than it’s ever been.

During the day I feel fine. Then as soon as it starts to get dark I feel spooked. I’m afraid of every noise, as I get tired I start seeing things in my peripheral vision & my imagination works overtime. I get so worked up that I cannot sleep. I’m scared to even go to bed because if I let my guard down, something may happen.

I can’t stand being left alone at night. To start with I really believed my house was haunted but the more intense and delusional my thoughts became, the more I started to consider my state of mind.

There was a time I felt safe in other houses or hotels but now I think I’d get spooked anywhere. I live in an old house which doesn’t help but once lived in a brand new house and was still afraid at night.

It’s got to the point where I think I’m going to have to see my GP.