I am studying in class 10. I am extremely scared of the dark, to the extent that I cannot sleep without keeping a light on at night. I am also scared of insects. My parents have never taken this matter seriously. They think that I am overreacting to petty things. Is this abnormal behaviour? Is there any treatment for this?

For someone in her mid-teens, being scared of the dark and insects is not normal. Fear of darkness and various animals (including insects, etc.) occurs during our developmental phase, and as we grow, we usually learn to face such situations with more confidence. One may not feel very comfortable in all such situations, for example with insects, or spiders, but one wouldn’t be “scared” of those situations at the age you are in.

It may not be very distressing, nor might it incapacitate you much now. But it is definitely a deviance from normal, and it might prove to be more troublesome later. I would recommend you seek correction of your reactions.

In one way your family is right — it is over-reaction to what is petty for others, but they must realise that it cannot be wished away, nor can it be corrected if people keep telling you it is over-reaction. There are excellent medicines and other psychological methods to gain control over your problem, and after discussing with a psychiatrist and a psychologist, you can select either or both methods for yourself.