Overcoming a Fear of the Dark (Nyctophobia)

Overcoming a Fear of the Dark (Nyctophobia) Phobias Types Print Symptoms and Treatment of Nyctophobia (Fear of the Dark) By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on December 17, 2018 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 21, 2020 Donald Iain Smith / Moment / Getty Images More in Phobias Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment While being afraid of the dark may be a part of normal development in young children, that is not the case for older children and adults. Nyctophobia is an age-inappropriate fear of darkness that can prompt someone to limit their activities, avoid certain circumstances, and experience anxiety in anticipation of there being no light. It is when the concern crosses over from being an inborn protective mechanism to being a clinical issue that it is designated a phobia. Causes Nyctophobia, also referred to as scotophobia, achluophobia, and lygophobia, may be evolutionary in  nature  as many predators hunt at night. The fear may not be related to darkness itself but unknown dangers hidden in the darkness (which is why horror and suspense movies often use darkness as a way to scare viewers). Lack of security and confidence can play into this as well, especially if you tend to be afraid of the dark more often while alone. Some psychoanalytic writers believe that fear of the dark may be related to separation anxiety from a primary attachment figure, a phenomenon that is detailed further in a 2014 analysis on attachment and fear arousal published in the journal Psychoanalytic Dialogues. Symptoms and Diagnosis Symptoms of nyctophobia vary from person to person and according to the severity of a particular case. In general, symptoms of nyctophobia include: Becoming nervous in any darkened environmentNeed to sleep with a night lightBeing reluctant to go out at nightExperiencing physiological symptoms including an increased heart rate, sweating, visible shaking, and even feeling ill (nausea, headaches, and diarrhea are common) when forced to spend time in the dark Symptoms of more severe cases of nyctophobia include: Attempting to run away from dark roomsCompulsively staying indoors at nightBecoming angry or defensive if anyone tries to encourage you to spend time in the dark Nyctophobia has some diagnostic criteria that are common to all phobias, which  distinguishes them from simple fears. Treatment for Nyctophobia The  goal of therapy  is to challenge fearful beliefs about the dark by replacing negative self-talk with more positive messages. The rate of successful treatment for specific phobias like nyctophobia is about 90 percent and often accomplished through techniques drawn from the cognitive-behavioral school of therapy. The treatment plan your therapist suggests for you or your child may include: Exposure to the dark in small, incremental, non-threatening doses in a process called desensitizationOne-on-one talk therapy, family therapy, or group therapyLearning relaxation techniques, such as deep breathingAnti-anxiety and antidepressant medication