Fear of ghosts

[True-Gossiper]

I dunno where exactly to put this thread, so mod you're okay to replace this thread in its appropriate room.

Okay here we go. I'm skeptical about any apparitions, hantings, ghosts, ghouls, spirits, and any ectoplasm-ghostbuster-thing, but how come I still feel afraid when alone, especially in the dark, fear that I might see some ugly, bloody, pale and horror images? Do you have any ideas why?

I really want to get rid of the fear. It's very discouraging. I even can't sleep with lights off now!

 

[Irish Murdoch]

I dunno where exactly to put this thread, so mod you're okay to replace this thread in its appropriate room.

Okay here we go. I'm skeptical about any apparitions, hantings, ghosts, ghouls, spirits, and any ectoplasm-ghostbuster-thing, but how come I still feel afraid when alone, especially in the dark, fear that I might see some ugly, bloody, pale and horror images? Do you have any ideas why?

I really want to get rid of the fear. It's very discouraging. I even can't sleep with lights off now!

I imagine that exposure is the only way. Turn the lights off, go to bed, listen to your teeth chatter, and really feel the fear. You know no ghosties will get you, because there are no ghosties.

Next night, do the same. And the next night. And the next night. Eventually, the fear will go.

 

[DangerousBeliefs]

Quit watching Poltergeist....

Although when I watch, I can't stop laughing.

"Little Carol Ann has crossed over..."

Sad about Heather O'Rourke, though.

 

[chrisberez]

I'm skeptical about any apparitions, hantings, ghosts, ghouls, spirits, and any ectoplasm-ghostbuster-thing, but how come I still feel afraid when alone, especially in the dark

I know how you feel. I get the same way some times. I don't believe in ghosts for a second, but the thought of being alone in a cemetary at night freaks me out, even though I know I'm being rediculous. It's because I have a very active immationation, and I'm very good at scaring the hell out of myself. I suspect you're the same. Like another poster suggested, exposure is the only way. But I also suggest, try playing music at a low volumn as you go to sleep, or leave the television on. A little background noise can be really comforting.

 

[Nigel]

Just my opinion, but I personally don't see this as any different than any other fear. Not knowing you (and not being qualified to make any sort of medical statement - there, that should hold out as a disclaimer), I can't say it's a phobia, but it seems like my fear of flying. I get terribly stressed when I have to fly - but I rationalize going through with it because if I'm going to get to my destination, I have to fly. As for what to do about the dark, either sleep with a light on somewhere, or learn to properly relax. There's a scientific technique called Progressive Relaxation. It can help with some stress-related problems, maybe even getting over a fear of "ghosts". I'll see if I can dig up (no pun intended ) more information about PR.

 

[sackett]

Fear of the dark

is perfectly normal.

Opinions differ, but fear of the dark may be hard-wired into us. No complicated explanation is necessary, either: back in Africa, long before anybody dreamed up ghosts or demons, our ancestors had damn good reason to be afraid in the dark. Leopards! Lions! Hyenas!

I for one know perfectly well that there's something ravening close by at night, and keep my head under the covers like a good Christian.

Sleep with a light on, perhaps in the next room. No reason to be hard on yourself.

 

[Nigel]

I agree it's normal, sackett, but no reason to suffer...
Here are two sites that describe Progressive Relaxation (and this isn't mumbo-jumbo, meditation, or any other pseudoscientific garbage). I think PR may help you, at least somewhat. It may not cure your fear of the dark, or of ghosts, but I'd be willing to bet you'd get a more restful night's sleep.

http://www.mindspring.com/~yepstein/progrel.htm
http://www.guidetopsychology.com/pmr.htm

 

[sackett]

Helping with fears

Nigel

We don't disagree about helping a sufferer (especially one with such a cool handle as True-Gossiper), I just favor a soothing approach -- in particular, an approach in which the patient gives himself a break.

One good thing about ghosts, and I think this may even be documentable: they've never injured anyone.

 

[Nigel]

Re: Fear of the dark

*snip*
No reason to be hard on yourself.

Nigel We don't disagree about helping a sufferer (especially one with such a cool handle as True-Gossiper), I just favor a soothing approach -- in particular, an approach in which the patient gives himself a break.

sackett, I think we both agree, certainly on these points. My only point was that your idea of the fear being hardwired is right, but that doesn't mean we can't do something about it. In fact, we're both saying you can do something about it.

I was only trying to add something constructive of my own.

 

[iain]

My four year old son has a fear of spiders. Not massive, but he doesn't like them at all. Neither I nor my wife are bothered by spiders (at least not the UK varieties) and handle them frequently in front of him. He has not seem programs about scary spiders as far as I know and has never been harmed in any way by any insect or arachnid.

Why is he scared of spiders?

The only reason I can think of is that his friends at nursery all think spiders are something to be scared of and have convinced each other of this fact.

So, can you be scared of something for no good reason? Sure you can, and probably for the flimsiest of reasons.

 

[sackett]

Fears

Interesting: Fear of leopards in the night isn't irrational until you're living in a land without leopards. Then you switch to bears (still a rational fear), then perhaps to burglars (a quite rational fear), then to ghosts and sperrits -- an irrational fear with a perfectly natural explanation.

My sympathies go out to anyone suffering from irrational anxieties; I suffer plenty from them. All I know to do is QUIT BEATING UP ON YOURSELF FOR THINGS YOU CAN'T HELP!

Nigel: good on yer for wanting to be of assistance. Of course, you already know that no good deed goes unpunished. (Not trying to make you anxious or anything like that.)

 

[Nigel]

Sackett, I'm driving home from work on the freeway. Ain't no way you are going to make me more anxious.

btw, I'm the champion of beating myself up over sh** I can't control. But I finally found a shaman who's working with me to change that.

 

[epepke]

I dunno where exactly to put this thread, so mod you're okay to replace this thread in its appropriate room.

Okay here we go. I'm skeptical about any apparitions, hantings, ghosts, ghouls, spirits, and any ectoplasm-ghostbuster-thing, but how come I still feel afraid when alone, especially in the dark, fear that I might see some ugly, bloody, pale and horror images? Do you have any ideas why?

I really want to get rid of the fear. It's very discouraging. I even can't sleep with lights off now!

I'm sort of serious here. Get a dog. Then you'll wake up with ugly, pale, hairy images in your face that even smell bad. But they're real.

 

[Undodog]

Re: Re: Fear of ghosts

I'm sort of serious here. Get a dog. Then you'll wake up with ugly, pale, hairy images in your face that even smell bad. But they're real.

Leave my wife out of this..(etc..)

I dont think fear of walking through a graveyard is irrational. Theyre hang-outs for all manner of unsavoury characters.

There was a woman on TV today who has a strong fear of onions.
Then Paul McKenna came on and hypnotised her - I dunno if it worked, I switched over.

 

[The Don]

Re: Re: Re: Fear of ghosts

There was a woman on TV today who has a strong fear of onions.

A FEAR of onions, I've heard of people being allergic or not liking onions but being afraid.

Woooooooooo scallions woooooooooooo!!

 

[Archangel]

Quit watching Poltergeist....

Although when I watch, I can't stop laughing.

"Little Carol Ann has crossed over..."

Sad about Heather O'Rourke, though.

Actually, when I was a child I had the same problem... I got over it by watching more horror movies etc and seeing there really was nothing to be scared of in there.

 

[glee]

We have active imaginations, so when there is no real information (it's dark), our minds can imagine all sorts of unspecified horrors.

All horror films work best before the monster appears. Imagine scary music , being alone facing an open doorway when suddenly ... a shadow appears!

Now you're nervous!

But then the shadow turns out to be cast by this...



See, that's not so bad.

It is a well-known fact that all ghosts + spirits cannot harm you if:

- you turn on the light
- you hide under the blanket
- your Mum comes in
- you shut your eyes
- you fall asleep
- you have great sex

Try one of the above.

 

[Beady]

Re: Re: Fear of ghosts

I don't believe in ghosts for a second, but the thought of being alone in a cemetary at night freaks me out, even though I know I'm being rediculous.

To each his own. I live next door to a cemetery, and it's never bothered me. In fact, there's a break in the fence through which I often sneak after dark with my astronomy gear; there are a lot of trees around my house, and the cemetery has a nice, open sky and low horizon.

Partly, it's my training. I used to be a hospital orderly working the (cough!) graveyard shift, and it's amazing how people seem to prefer the middle of the night to do their dying. I don't know how many corpses I've carted to the morgue at two in the morning.

I'd say that job desensitized me to the dead, but I don't recall that corpses bothered me even when I first started that job. [shrug]

 

[TheBoyPaj]

Re: Re: Re: Fear of ghosts

There was a woman on TV today who has a strong fear of onions.
Then Paul McKenna came on and hypnotised her - I dunno if it worked, I switched over.

In the end they had to wean her off her fear. Starting with shallotts...

I tell you what scares me. Watching Derren Brown perform. I know it's trickery, but I get such delightful chills.

 

[joyrex]

My only real fear is when I'm about to see my reflection in a dream. I'm afraid it's not going to be what I expect; it's going to be something else.

Is this a subconscious fear of self-transformation?