FEAR OF THE DARK: WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT AS ADULTS - LOVE-E-PSYCHOLOGY

Fear of the dark: what are the causes and how can it be overcome as an adult

Each person has their own fear. There are those who fear heights, those who fear dogs, diseases and those who, on the other hand, are frightened by the mere idea of death. However, the ancestral phobia of man is none of these. In fact, it is the fear of the dark, identified with the technical term of nictophobia, that is fear of the night, or scotophobia, fear of darkness. Like all other phobias, including hypochondria, fear of the dark can also be defeated once you understand the causes that caused it.

Today we will discover why not only children but also adults fear the darkness of the night, what are the symptoms derived from this phobia and we will identify the best tips to eliminate the fear of the dark from one's life once and for all.

Fear of the dark in children

Recognizing when a child is afraid of the dark is very simple. Generally, at 2 years of age, children begin to develop cognitive abilities to imagine situations. Thus, they may begin to complain of discomfort when it is time to go to bed, especially if they are sleeping alone. Toddlers describe nictophobia as something that haunts them during the night, which often coincides with the fear of monsters, ghosts or other fanciful projections, but to them they are real and could manifest themselves during sleep.

In these cases, parents must never ridicule their child's fear. It is important that mum and dad help the child to manage his emotions by trying to understand if he could be helped to deal with the darkness in some way, perhaps with a "support" tool such as a soft toy or by reading some books. It is also very useful to keep a small light on in the first period and to play games that stimulate his imagination with positive figures. Depending on how old he is, instead of monsters and the "big bad wolf that comes at night", scenarios can be created where the child wins over darkness.

Adults and the fear of the dark

While it should by no means be underestimated, children's fear of the dark is easier, like most things, to resolve. What Iron Maiden call in their song Fear Of The Dark it also occurs in adults and can be traced back to different causes and show symptoms that must be taken seriously. Just as happens with children's scotophobia, even that in an adult person should not be ridiculed or liquidated for any reason: it will be necessary to find the right way to deal with it and rediscover the pleasure of sleep.

The causes of fear of the dark in adulthood

There are many reasons why some adults fear the dark. In general, it has been noted that some people who have never been afraid of the dark have begun to suffer from it following a traumatic event that occurred during the night or in a place with little light It may be the case of attacks or certain dangerous situations that have never really been overcome.

Then, it was noted that nictophobic adults are often individuals who have difficulties due to anxiety and stress. These disturbances are thus amplified when they are in a dark room, despite being their familiar bedroom and well-known environment. This suffering is increased if we are dealing with subjects who have little confidence in their abilities and a "low self-esteem, due to" overprotection always received by their parents.

Finally, we can begin to develop this phobia after a move, especially if it is the first, when our mind perceives every external noise as a threat. We cannot speak of "monsters" as in the case of children, but something that is beyond our control takes the name of "unknown" and it has always been one of the greatest human fears.

Symptoms of nictophobia

As already mentioned, the effects of fear of the dark on adults are particularly noticeable and can even become severe if not treated as soon as possible. One of the symptoms that presents itself more easily is insomnia. In fact, due to the strong discomfort that one feels, it is not possible to fall asleep peacefully and this leads not only to not sleep for a sufficient number of hours, but also to spend whole nights awake.

Additionally, scotophobes may present with panic attacks, dizziness-like sensations, shortness of breath, and palpitations. These symptoms are characteristic of all types of fear and those who suffer from them usually react in an uncontrolled way with defensive behavior towards an enemy that has neither form nor name.

How to overcome the fear of the dark

Any fear can be defeated: the important thing is to give yourself the time necessary to face it and not strive to obtain results within a few days. If you also suffer from scotophobia, we suggest you follow these simple tips to try to face and overcome this fear ancestral.

1. Recognize and accept this phobia

Like all situations of discomfort or disturbance, the first step to take is the one that may seem the most trivial but which, in reality, is the most important. It consists in recognizing that you have a specific problem and, in this case, that you feel a specific fear. Then, once you understand that you fear the "darkness, you have to try to accept it. When you accept a phobia, you stop ridicule or devalue it: it is made real and you can proceed to the" next phase ".

If you feel you need support to talk and rationalize your fear, you can consult a psychotherapist who can also help you identify the causes and origin of this phobia.

2. Face the dark gradually

The so-called "shock therapy" against fears can prove to be useful but also lead to the opposite effect of that hoped for, that is, to increase the fear. Our advice is to deal with what scares you step by step. Start by going to bed and keeping a small light on next to you, so that if you wake up in the night, you will see it right away and feel comfortable. Then, after a few weeks, try to remove that source of energy. light from your bed and maybe to experiment during the day some activities done in dim light. By doing so you will get used to the almost dark environments and all this will help you to complete your goal.

3. Use relaxation techniques

While you are getting used to spending time and sleeping in semi-darkness, you can use some relaxation techniques, which are useful to do in dimly lit environments. They range from meditation to yoga to mindfulness: there are many disciplines that combine physical exercise with breathing control and are perfect for managing anxiety and stress.

In addition, before going to bed, we recommend the help of some natural remedies, such as herbal teas or relaxing infusion herbs, or reading books that promote relaxation of the mind, such as historical, romance or funny novels - to be absolutely avoided. thrillers and thrillers.

You will see that little by little, the fear of the dark and all its unpleasant effects will vanish and The Fear Of The Dark there will be only a good song to listen to from time to time.