Hi for the longest time I've had this fear of the dark I do not know where it orginated from or how to come to terms with it it diffentally effects my married life and my life period. My husband thinks I'm silly he's never heard of this he thinks if I simply just sleep in the dark for awhile I'll be fine I keep telling him its not that easy but he doesn't believe me. If I do try and sleep in the dark I start panicking, my heart beats really fast I get hot and start sweating I feel like I'm going to get sick. I refuse to sleep upstairs which is where our bedroom is because I'm afriad if the lights go out up there I won't be able to get downstairs and I'll be trapped. So I sleep on the couch downstairs with a lights and a arrangment of candles by my side just in case I also have a ups on my computer so if nothing else I'll get the light from my computer. I want to get help but I don't want to get laughed at I'm 25 years old people think I'm silly and they say that only children are this way. I would really like to know where I could go for help what can I do?? I'm tired of living this way but I don't want to feel humilated thank you for any advice you may have.

Rebecca