Today, I moved back to a small town after 4 years in the city. I was looking forward to getting away from the light pollution until I woke up in the middle of the night, peered into the pitch black void above my head, and had a panic attack. I need a night light at 23. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, I'm staying in a hotel where the lights are automatic. They turn on when something moves and turn off when everything is still. I'm a sensitive sleeper and I move in my sleep, so the light wakes me up. It's currently 2 a.m. and all together I've gotten about 20 minutes of sleep. FML
Today, I was walking to the kitchen in the dark. Something caught my eye and I turned to see a man standing in the corner, clear as day. I jumped and closed my eyes for a split second. When I opened them, he was nowhere to be seen. I'm now terrified to live in my own home. FML
Today, I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling with the lights off. It was 1AM and I'd just finished watching a scary movie so I was a little paranoid. I was about to fall asleep when an eerie light lit the room. I jumped, got tangled in the sheets, and hit my head against the bed frame. Where'd the light come from? Not a space ship. Not someone breaking in. It was my phone. FML
Today, I finally managed to sleep, after two days of being kept awake by the miniature floodlights my neighbors have installed to scare off burglars. Only a couple of hours into my sleep, I woke up to the sound of their car being broken into. FML
Today, I went downstairs a little after midnight to grab a snack, and in the dark hallway, I clearly saw a small child walk into the kitchen. I was freaked out, but I followed him in. There was nobody in the room. I'm now too scared to sleep, and am seriously considering moving house. FML
Today, I was awoken at the ungodly hour of 1 a.m. to find that everything was very dark and quiet. It took me way more time than I'd like to admit to figure out that there was a blackout. As I tried to doze off again, I was jump-scared by the sound of everything coming on again. This happened twice. FML
Today, after years of restless sleep in a noisy city, I finally moved to a very quiet place. So quiet that I realized I have tinnitus. I need to play background noise to cover it, so I can manage to get some sleep. FML
Today, I was the last to go upstairs, so I had to turn off the lights. My tired brain decided to use my phone flashlight to check if all the lights were out. FML
Today, I couldn’t sleep because the hall light was too bright. Someone left their room; I waited for them to return so we wouldn’t cross paths. I got up and went for the light, only to find them peeing naked with the door open. In a panic I flipped any switch, which made the hall brighter, then ran. FML
Today, I woke up loudly screaming from a "night" terror. I say "night"; I was actually at my desk at work, in the middle of the day, surrounded by dozens of co-workers in their cubicles. FML
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Top comments
Bloo2555 22
I'm 20 and still leave the hall light on. You're not alone.
Lobby_Bee 18
Yes, the boogey man can't see in the dark too. Leave a light on for him to find you, he will appreciate it.
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Comments (19)
Bloo2555 22
I'm 20 and still leave the hall light on. You're not alone.
Lobby_Bee 18
Yes, the boogey man can't see in the dark too. Leave a light on for him to find you, he will appreciate it.
jbuckets_404 39
OP, I'm sure that you'll adjust to eventually not needing a night-light w/ time.
julfunky 29
Another 23 year old who uses a night light. This girl doesn’t Iike to have to feel for her surroundings when she gets up to take a piss at night. No shame.
David Horgan 8
That's different. obviously you turn a light on when you get up.......
mt21mt 15
Comment moderated for rule-breaking.
I'm astounded how weak some people are in 2017, you would have died 100 years ago without your nightlight and your teddy bear.
raven_of_azarath 35
Dolls have been a thing for thousands of years. Just saying.
David Horgan 8
REALLY. That meme about Normandy and now is so true.
Andi90 8
I have pretty bad anxiety (diagnosed) and I can’t stand the dark. Pitch black dark alone gives me mini panic attacks and reading your post gave me some anxiety, so I understand your plight. There’s no shame/nothing wrong with using a nightlight. I’m 31 and still use one. It might just be that you’re overwhelmed from the move and not used to your new surroundings. I’m sure you’ll adjust in time. Keep using nightlights if you need to. Nothing wrong with it.
Sencilia101 31
OP, I'm 24 and I still use a night light. It helps me to sleep. You're not alone :)
Migole 36
You're not alone :) When I wake up at night and cant see anything I get an adrenalinrush and sometimes even a full sized panic attack before I even have the chance to fully wake up and tell my brain that theres nothing to worry about. I just carry a small nightlight when Im sleeping somewhere else and it has never been an issue. I know multiple people who cant sleep in complete darkness either btw
skippydoda 32
I love going to my grandparents cabin in the middle of the woods. I've always needed a light on at night. Small towns and middle of nowhere can be a little spooky at night. No shame.
faifai_fml 21
Nightlights are super handy. They keep you from tripping over the cat when you get up to pee at 2 o'clock in the morning. Don't worry about it. Totally understandable.