AngelHands

I'm new around here, so I don't know if you guys have ever talked about this before, but it's something that's bothered me for years. I cannot be in a bathroom with the lights off. It doesn't matter what the reason is. If the room is not well lit, I panic. I get this creepy feeling that just drives me to get the hell outta there as fast as I can. I think it all goes back to when I was told about Bloody Mary as a kid, but I remember that even before that I'd go nuts if the lights went out for whatever reason. Any thoughts/ experiences?

GoldenOuroboros

Yep, sounds like it, just have to conquer your fear of it, I've got a few I aint conquered yet.. lol.. problem with me is that if I see a movie I take it to heard.. like the candy man one.. call me stupid if you wish..

I think Demons profit on this, and when they know that you're in a situation where you can be easily attacked they do so..

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Johnny Rotten

I think it has to do with having a mirror facing you in the dark, the curtain on the bathtub perhaps hiding something, and the usually chilly air. After I've seen a spooky movie or read a ghost story, I have to have the curtain pulled back before I can have some piece of mind.

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Flesh

I gotta have the light on so I don't piss on the floor

muckluck

I always think theres something behind the curtians it creeps me out. Especially when its late and dark. Then i look in the mirror and scare myself.

MacGnG

gradual testing and acceptance

let a little light in so u are comfortable and gradually make it darker.

you can try to over come it but it will be hard

fuzzix

Also, when you're doing your business you often feel extremely vulnerable, it's not something that you can comfortable just stop and run from. Staring into the mirror in the dark is creepy, your face looks weird if you stare at it long enough in the light, but in the dark all kinds of weird things happen.

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Latch

I've had these problems, especially the "behind the curtain one". I make myself push it back or look behind it, now they don't bother me as much. Same for "stuff in closet" when I was little.

Cynthetiq

can't you just listen for the water sound?

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Semi-Normal

Well if his aim's off in the first place, it'll be much too late by the time he hears anything.

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jujueye

I usually get the feeling that an immense tentacle will wind through the pipes and eat my bits an pieces. This is why men pee standing up. Sitting is too vulnerable.

motdakasha

I can't stand mirrors in the dark. I used to just close my eyes when going to the bathroom in the dark just so I wouldn't have to look in the mirror (which spans the entire length of the bathroom). Bathroom curtains can be spooky, but I don't have a fear of it that affects me. But to add to the creep factor.... My mother's friend came home one night to change clothes/bathroom break/get something for another party or some such (story from a long time ago, details are vague) and then left. When she came back home, she found out someone had broken in before she came home and was likely still there until she left. Turned out that the person was most likely hiding in her tub. I think this was based on what the cops told her. Kooky, eh?

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joesmith

to take the mirror in the dark thing one step further - try holdinga candle about 5 inches away from your face, and then having the candle about a foot away from the mirror - stare into your eyes for a couple minutes - this is one of my first experiences with true horror when i was younger

motdakasha

what happened??


I'll never make a good scryer, that's for sure.

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Nimbletoe

Was always curious if I was the only one with this fear. I can stay in a bathroom dark, as long as I dont look at the mirror. Damn scary movies.

fallen_angel

ya but i live in the dorms and in our bathroom the pipes make loud noises with no warning. so its all nice and lit then when i flush it makes lots of noise then i open the door and the pipes make noise so i wash my hands real quick then run down the darkened hall way to my room... and hide under the covers

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Psivage

Hell I like dark bathrooms, I turn off the lights and just stay there. Gives me a good feeling. Like I'm at peace.

Nimbletoe

Heh, I also live in a dorm, so the bathroom lights are always on. In a way, im glad. But our second toilet explodes when you flush it, spitting water all over. Its fun not telling friends that come visit, as they walk in with a glare and wet leg =)

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etardedraverboy

as far back as i can remember i have always thought that some wher out ther ther wuz someone watching me from the other side of the mirror

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Nefir

I work in a large office building in New York. When the blackout happened, we were about to be evacuated, so we took the opportunity to use the bathroom, as it might be our last chance for the day.

As you can imagine, the office was dark, the hallway was dark, and of course the bathroom was dark. So dark in fact, that you had to guide yourself by instinct alone (I wouldn't use touch in this situation ). It wasn't really "horror movie scary", but just a wee bit "september 11th scary". It was an interesting experience...

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daydream

I've heard about that Bloody Mary story and to this day I would still never take the chance of trying it out... You won't catch me standing in the dark in front of a mirror at midnight and saying her name. For the most part im ok with being in the bathroom in the dark... as long as I don't think about that story!

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Munku

Day, I so did that with my friends. Man that was freaky. Being like 7 spinning and chanting bloody mary.

forgotten_dream

It's definitely good to know I'm not the only one freaked out by dark bathrooms! ^_^ For just about as long as I can remember i've always been creeped out by small dark enclosed areas. Horror movies don't make that much difference to me, although after reading It by stephen King I couldn't go into the bathroom without keeping one eye on the drains... :P

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daydream

Munku... that's crazy that you had the courage to do that... so tell me.. did anything creepy happen?

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Munku

Yah! My friend, little 7 year old girl or so, I went RAAAAAHHHH and she was real scared. So that's about it.

daydream

lol, I mean in my head I knowww that nothing can really happen... but just i could still never get myself to do it

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maynard0012

When I was a kid, I sort of had a deal set up with the monsters. If I was in the bathroom in the darkness for more than 5 seconds, they could have me.

I knew those monsters were in my head, but I was freaked out anyway. Damn scary books.

rev_skarekroe

When in a public restroom, and some lone soul is in the stall, be sure to switch the lights off on the way out. sk

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Cynthetiq

i wait until my friends at work sit for a spell.. i carry a flashlight now.. .

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Minx

The dark part doesn't scare me at all but the whole idea of "something behind the shower curtain" freaks me out! Yes...I'd even go so far as to peek behind it just to make sure (I think this all goes back to watching the Shining somehow!!). Now I have a see-through shower curtain!

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nostalgic1

dark bathrooms don't freak me out that badly... not to say that i'm going to turn the lights off intentionally to piss or anything...

there are sometimes when i get scared...mostly from my over-active imagination..

but thats rare...

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Mel

At the house I lived in when I was younger, the bathroom there freaked me out, with the lights on or off... but that doesn't happen where I am now. Do you think it's it the Mirror? Behind the shower curtain?

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TerresqueÜ

I hate dark bathrooms...I always sleep with the TV on in my room too. Yeah I just don't like the whole darkness and aloneness feeling...It's that wierd vibe you get with just the ambiance of the night wind blowing and a lone cricket chirping, you can see shadows moving and in your mind your trying to say to yourself there's nothing there, it can't hurt me! And you know that in the back of your mind your being devoured by countless demons lurking in the shadows just waiting for you to be alone in the dark...

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nightwatcher

I remember seeing "jaws' when I was a kid... I would not use the toilet for days as we were living metres from the beach at the time. Hey, I was 7!!!

These days, my bathroom phobias are in line with that posted by 'Flesh'. Just because you think it's pointing that way, don't mean that it is! The sound of wee hitting the floor (or worse, your magazine collection!!!) is more disturbing than scary curtains!

bobw

Does that happen in any other room also?

veruca

I am the biggest scaredy cat ever....I am 24 and still afraid of the dark....if I am alone, or have seen a scary movie, I have to have a night light...but the one thing that really upsets me, is being outside in the dark...not even alone, just outside, I keep thinking there is an axe murder in the woods...I have to run to the bathroom when I go camping,and check all the stalls of course! Someone might be hiding in there.

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dawnoffawn

I get paranoid when I'm awake late at night and no one else is awake and when I close the lights downstairs and start climbing the stairs to my bedroom I always get the feeling that someone is climbing behind me and I start climbing as fast as I can and I'd dare not look back!
This happens EVERY time when I'm the only one up late at night.

papermachesatan

I appeared in the mirror. I shoulda brought a camcorder... joesmith screamed like a little girl!

papermachesatan

I dunno, I've always worked my bodily functions into the escape plan in such situations. Anyone that jumps me while I'm taking a leak better expect a spray of piss in the face before I take off running in the other direction.

abaya

What a great thread! I no longer feel so alone in the world... other people share my fear of bathrooms. Actually, for me it's not so much the dark bathrooms, but going to the bathroom *at night* (even if the light's on). I don't like being on one side of any curtain, but I get most scared when I can't see the whole bathroom. So if I'm taking a shower, I get paranoid about what's going on *outside* the curtains (when I was a kid, I would force one of my parents to sit in the bathroom while I showered, or I'd even bring the cat in if they weren't available!).

And if I'm washing my face over the sink, I get scared the instant I close my eyes and have to keep them closed until all the soap is gone... meanwhile, in my head there are axe murderers, ghosts, what have you, all creeping up on me while I'm washing my face. Things got really bad when my grandmother died last November... I imagined her walking silently all over my apartment, especially when I was in the shower or washing my face. It took me a while to break myself of that fear.

I don't know where this fear of bathrooms came from, for me. I mean, I grew up watching horror flicks (thanks, Dad)... but I don't remember any particular bathroom scenes creeping me out. Maybe there's just something about the coldness of the bathroom facilities... so much chilled white porcelain, no carpet, etc. Dunno.

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