My phobia of ghosts

[Jessica]

Hi everyone!  I am 27 years old, and I have had an intense phobia of ghosts since early childhood.  I’ve never had an actual ghostly experience, so I am unsure as to how my fear developed into something so extreme.  I’ve tried a few “self-help” techniques, but they haven’t been successful.  Primarily, I believe, because I am unable to completely convince myself that my fear is irrational.  With so many people claiming to have paranormal experiences I am finding it hard to convince myself that the frightening scenarios that I visualize in my mind cannot happen.  Every night my imagination overtakes any rational reasoning, and it spins out of control filling my head with the most frightful images of ghostly encounters.  I think that I probably need to seek some therapy because it impacts my life drastically, and if left untreated, I only see it getting worse.  I look into the future and fear I’ll be an inadequate parent because I do not know how I will be able to get out of bed in the darkness of the night and tend to my crying child.  I think, “How will I assure my child of their night time fears, when I am sharing them?”  I feel embarrassed and heartbroken.  I’d love to hear from anyone suffering from this phobia who can offer me their advice.

[gloomy]

when you say you have tried a few things what are they?  It doesnt really matter what your phobia is the reasons why you have it are more important. Of course controlling it is the most important thing.  For what its worth I have a fear of ghosts and paranormal experience too. However, I guess mine isnt at the phobic level.  Is the phobia worse when accompanied by the dark?  Would you say the dark frightens you more? or more specifically what could happen in the dark?

[Jessica]

Yes, my phobia is definitely exasperated, although not limited, by the dark and being alone.  Some of the techniques I’ve tried so far are trying to expose myself to phobia-inducing situations, breathing exercises, and reciting reassuring thoughts when I start to feel anxious.  It’s pretty difficult for me to keep a straight head and properly guide myself through those processes alone.  It feels like the harder I try to suppress or replace my feelings, the scarier and more vivid my imagination and fears become.