How can I get over my fear of the dark?

7 Tips to Overcome Fear of the Dark

1. Discuss the fear. Listen carefully to your child, without playing into their fears, to see if you can identify a trigger.
2. Be Aware of frightening images.
3. Switch on the light.
4. Teach breathing techniques.
5. Offer a transitional object.
6. Set up a sleep-promoting environment.

Can adults be afraid of the dark?

Turns out that fear is pretty normal—experts say being scared of the dark is actually a fairly common thing among adults. According to clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph. D., author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life, fear of the dark is “very common” among adults.

What is the fear of the dark called?

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). 1.

Are You Afraid of the dark as an adult?

Being afraid of the dark can make going to sleep a literal nightmare. A fear of the dark doesn’t just plague kids; many adults suffer from a fear of the dark, too, so there’s no need to be embarrassed about your fear, no matter what age you are.

Is your kid scared of the dark?

Kids can develop some random irrational fears — the vacuum, thunder, monsters — but one fear that is universal and completely legitimate in my opinion is the dark. Even as an adult, I’m still scared to be wandering around in the dark by myself. But, why?

Why does the dark feel scary to a 10-year-old?

Here’s why: The dark can feel scary at this age. With their imaginations running wild and free, they might put their own explanations to strange night-time noises or shadows on the wall. They might convince themselves that the sound of a moth hitting a lightbulb is definitely a robber, because no other explanation makes any sense.

What are the treatment options for fear of the dark?

Other treatment options include: This treatment exposes people to their fears repeatedly until the thing they fear, such as being in the dark, no longer triggers feelings of anxiety or panic. There are a couple of ways to be exposed to fears, including visualizing the fear and experiencing the fear in real life.