Dear Queenie,
I’m all grown up and living on my own but I’m still afraid of the dark like when I was a kid. I always keep a light on, even when I’m sleeping, and when I have to go outside after dark I always carry a flashlight, but still it’s scary.
Queenie, what’s wrong with me?—Scaredy-cat
Dear Scaredy-cat,
This kind of irrational fear is called a phobia, and it almost certainly will take professional counselling to help you learn to deal with it and get over it. Ask your doctor to refer you to such a specialist.
