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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
afraid of the dark
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
afraid of the dark
by january, Feb 22, 2000 12:00AM
I'm 19 and still afraid of the dark. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and make him keep the light on all night. I'm so afraid of the dark. What is my problem???
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS-M.D.-HG, Feb 23, 2000 12:00AM
Dear January
I am not clear on how much of your fear of the dark is affecting your functioning and since how long you have been having this problem. A phobia is an irrational fear that produces a conscious avoidance of feared situation. They usually disrupt people�s ability to function in life. If the phobia is related to only one situation, it is called specific phobia. Specific phobias are common in females. Cognitive- behavioral therapy would be helpful for specific phobias. If you are getting frustrated by this problem, I would recommend that you get evaluated by a trained Mental Health Professional.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D.
I am not clear on how much of your fear of the dark is affecting your functioning and since how long you have been having this problem. A phobia is an irrational fear that produces a conscious avoidance of feared situation. They usually disrupt people�s ability to function in life. If the phobia is related to only one situation, it is called specific phobia. Specific phobias are common in females. Cognitive- behavioral therapy would be helpful for specific phobias. If you are getting frustrated by this problem, I would recommend that you get evaluated by a trained Mental Health Professional.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D.
