Afraid of the moon

I have had the weirdest phobia for as long as I can remember. I think it is called selenophobia. I am 57 years old and I think it started when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I used to like watching the old Dracula, Frankenstein, werewolf films and when I was about 9, they used to show them at 10.30pm and my mum would let me come down and watch them with her. I think this is what started my fear of the moon. The way it was always portrayed as sinister when it came through the clouds when full. Even today I need to know when the moon will rise and what shape it will be. I am alright if in my car or with somebody. The worst case is when I am out at night and don’t know where it is and if it is ‘out there’ somewhere. It is not so bad if I can see it. It is the not knowing where it is. It is such an embarrassing phobia that I have only jokingly mentioned it to my wife and kids but they don’t know how serious it is. I have been know to drive very short distances in the evening and night to overcome my fear as I feel ok in my car. Only last week I had to pop up the road to pick up a takeaway meal and I told my wife I was also going to the petrol station so I could take the car. But I only went to the takeaway shop. My worst nightmare would be me standing in a field or open space in the evening. My heart would be pounding. I used to go out at night a lot when I was younger but I always used to drive all my mates around. I never let on why as it would just seem ridiculous to them – as it is to me. How rare is this phobia, I often wonder.