Fear of the dark is a key in ofspecific phobiacallednyctophobia.
Having nyctophobia means you have an irrational and extreme fear of the dark.
If left untreated, a fear of the dark can impact your sleep and quality of life.
ianmcdonnell /Getty Images
ianmcdonnell /Getty Images
What Is Nyctophobia?
When a person has an extreme fear of darkness it’s called nyctophobia.
This fear can be debilitating and interfere with their daily life.
Research has determined that when people fear the dark, it’s because they cant see their surroundings.
Darkness causes a “startle response” in the brain, which increases anxiety.
Symptoms of Nyctophobia
The symptoms of nyctophobia are similar to the symptoms of other specific phobias.
Symptoms can show up physically and/or emotionally.
With nyctophobia, symptoms can occur when you’re in the dark or anticipate being in the dark.
Diagnosing Nyctophobia
Adiagnosis of a phobiastarts with a conversation with your primary healthcare provider.
They can refer you to a licensed mental health professional.
During your appointment, you’ll typically fill out intake forms that include your health history.
Afterward, you’ll have a conversation with a therapist.
From there they will share their diagnosis.Nyctophobia isn’t a diagnosis in and of itself.
It’s categorized as a specific phobia, which does have an official diagnosis.
The goal is to reduce symptoms or fully resolve them.
Coping
Coping with a phobia can be aided by your healthcare professional.
Know that you’re not alone.
Research has shown that the lifetime prevalence of specific phobias is 3%15% worldwide.
You might consider joining asupport groupto connect and share stories with people who understand what you’re feeling.
It’s also important to keep up with your therapy appointments and commit to your healing.
This includes staying active, eating well, and practicing self-care.
Summary
Fear of the dark is also called nyctophobia.
This is a pop in of specific phobia.
If you think you might have nyctophobia, have a conversation with your primary healthcare provider.
They can refer you to a mental health professional.
Treatment includes talk therapy, relaxation techniques, and exposure therapy, to name a few.
Antianxiety medication may be prescribed if your healthcare provider thinks it’s right for you.
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