Get to know the Dark Phobia and how to overcome it

Dark phobia or nyctophobia is a psychological disorder in which a person has an excessive fear of darkness. People who have this disorder can feel panic or anxiety disorders when in an unlit place, even in their own bedroom.

Fear is an emotion that arises in a person's mind when facing a situation that is considered dangerous to his or her own safety. However, under normal conditions, this feeling of fear can be controlled. When fear arises in one's mind that cannot be controlled, it is called phobia.

Phobias are excessive and irrational fear reactions. If you have a phobia, you may experience a deep fear or panic when you face something or think about the source of your fear.

There are many types of phobias, for example phobias of certain objects, such as blood or sharp objects, phobias of certain animals, phobias of the sea or fear of drowning, phobias on airplanes, to dark phobias.

Causes and Symptoms of Dark Phobias

Fear of darkness is often experienced by children aged 2-8 years. However, it is also possible for adults or teens to have it. So far, the cause of the emergence of dark phobia is not known with certainty.

However, several studies have shown that people who have a phobia of darkness may have experienced a traumatic event in a dark place, so they feel a great fear when returning to a dark place.

There are also those who claim that the emergence of fear is caused by excessive worry because they cannot recognize and see the surrounding environment well due to darkness.

When in a dark place, such as in a movie theater, in a room without light, or in a dark forest at night, people with dark phobias can experience some physical symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Cold sweat
• Heart rate increases or palpitations
• Chest tightness and pain
• Shaking
• Tingling
• Dizzy
• Stomach ache
• passed out

Dark phobia can make sufferers experience the following symptoms:

• Fear of traveling at night.
• Feeling anxious, panicky, and nervous when in a dark place.
• Can only sleep in bright room conditions.
• Always want to avoid or leave a dark place.
• Angry for no apparent reason when in a low light setting.

In contrast to ordinary fear, people who have dark phobias can experience disruption in their daily activities due to an unbearable fear of darkness.

Excessive fear in the dark can make people with dark phobias feel depressed and uncomfortable. Furthermore, dark phobia can even cause a person to experience insomnia.

How to Overcome the Dark Phobia

If you have a phobia of darkness, here are some things you can do to overcome dark phobias, including:

Psychotherapy can help people who have dark phobias to identify feelings of anxiety and replace them with more positive thoughts when dealing with the originator of their phobias.

One of the most commonly used psychotherapy techniques to help overcome dark phobias is cognitive behavioral therapy.

With this psychotherapy technique, a psychologist or psychiatrist will train you to be able to think calmly and instill an understanding that being in a dark place does not always bring danger.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy aims to help fight phobias, so you can control the fear and anxiety that arise. This method is done in stages by exposing or confronting you with a phobia that you have.

When you are ready, a psychologist or psychiatrist will guide you to come to a dark place and train you not to be afraid to be there again.

Relaxation therapy

Relaxation therapy, such as breathing techniques and yoga, can make you more calm in the face of fear experienced. In addition, this type of therapy also helps you control stress and physical symptoms that arise due to dark phobias.

If your dark phobia does not improve with psychotherapy or exposure therapy, your doctor may prescribe sedatives to make you feel calmer. However, the use of these drugs is usually only for a short term.

Everyone has their own fears or maybe phobias. If the dark phobia or other phobias that you feel have made it difficult for you to move or have been felt for more than 6 months, then these conditions need to be consulted to a psychiatrist.

After undergoing a psychiatric examination, the doctor will determine the appropriate treatment steps according to the severity of the dark phobia you experience.

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