Hello, long time lurker, first time poster.
There might be a thread on this, so if there is direct me there please.
Anyway, what were people's irrational childhood fears? For example, toilet monster, monster under the bed, bogeyman in the closet, etc.
One night, when I was about 8 years old and watching tv with my mum, after watching a tv ad for sunscreen where people who didn't wear sunscreen turned into lobsters, I had this fear my mum would turn into a lobster--then I would have to act like she was still my mum, because if she knew I knew she was a lobster, then she would eat me. I couldn't look at my mum for the rest of the night, for fear she would be a lobster. Luckily, the next day in the sunlight, this fear went away.
As a child I was never scared of monsters in the closet, witches, etc, but was permentently terrified robbers would break in, and I would flip out if anyone left windows open at night--even though we lived in a third floor apartment!!! It's not like anyone could really get in.
Also, I never ever hung my hands or feet over the edges of the bed...and on particulary frightening nights, the only thing that would keep me safe would be to hide completely under the blankets, even if it was a hot night.
I wonder why children believe these things, the psychology of it. I mean, parents can sit a child down, and logically explain it (whatever the fear is) away, but the child will still persist in believing in their particular fear.
I was never scared of the dark, though. I liked it, figured I was safer in the dark, thinking the robbers/monster wouldn't be able to see me. I still like the dark.
So, to everyone here, what were your fears? How did you get over them? Do any still persist into adulthood? And were there any shared fears (i.e. shared with siblings, or school mates)?