Who is at risk of nyctophobia?
Nyctophobia is much more common in children than adults, but people of all ages can be afraid of the dark. Children and adults who had a traumatic or troubling experience in the dark are more likely to develop this type of phobia, especially if the event happened in the dark. Memories of that scary experience can return whenever the lights go out or even when you think about being in the dark. This means nyctophobia can develop as part of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Nyctophobia can also develop after watching a scary movie or hearing an upsetting story. You (or your child) may replay these frightening images in your head. And if it’s too dark to see around you, you may worry that the fear-provoking objects are real.
You have an increased risk of developing any type of specific phobic disorder if you have:
- Depression.
- Substance use disorder.
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
- History of mental illness.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Other phobias or a history of phobias in your family.
- Panic attacks or panic disorder.
What causes nyctophobia?
Some researchers believe that fear of the dark probably dates back to our ancestors. Many, many years ago, when our ancestors lived and slept out in the open, the dark was very dangerous. Predators roamed at night, and our ancestors had to stay aware in order to survive.
But nyctophobia isn’t just about being afraid of the dark. Kids and adults with this phobia actually have a fear of what they can’t see. In the dark, many children are afraid of ghosts, monsters or robbers. They may worry about noises they hear when the lights are out, especially if they can’t tell what caused them. They fear what’s in the dark as much as they fear the darkness itself.
A traumatic experience (even one that happened during the day) can lead to nyctophobia. The memory of a scary event can return when it’s dark, causing an extreme reaction.
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What are the triggers of nyctophobia?
Nearly everyone feels uneasy or uncomfortable in the dark from time to time. But a specific phobia is more than just an occasional fear. Phobias get in the way of everyday life. Children and adults with nyctophobia often have severe anxiety when:
- Entering a dark place (like a movie theater).
- Getting ready for bed.
- Seeing the sun go down.
- Thinking about being in the dark.
- Trying to sleep at night.
- Turning out the lights.
- Watching a movie or TV show with nighttime scenes.
What are the symptoms of nyctophobia?
People with an extreme fear of the dark experience intense fear or anxiety when they’re in the dark or think about darkness. Children may avoid going to bed or refuse to turn the lights out at bedtime. Signs of nyctophobia include:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and dry mouth.
- Dizziness and headaches.
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
- Feelings of dread, catastrophic (terrifying) thoughts and panic attacks.
- Increased heart rate, non-cardiac chest pain or heart palpitations.
- Intense emotions, crying and screaming in the dark.
- Nausea and vomiting when thinking about the dark or nighttime.
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea), difficulty breathing or fast breathing.
