Is it reasonable to be scared 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 called when you are scared of the dark?

Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of night or darkness that can cause intense symptoms of anxiety and depression. A fear becomes a phobia when it’s excessive, irrational, or impacts your day-to-day life. Being afraid of the dark often starts in childhood and is viewed as a normal part of development.

Why are people afraid in the dark?

Through evolution, humans have therefore developed a tendency to be scared of darkness. “In the dark, our visual sense vanishes, and we are unable to detect who or what is around us. We rely on our visual system to help protect us from harm,” Antony said. “Being scared of the dark is a prepared fear.”

What is the fear of the unknown?

The psychological term for fear of the unknown is “xenophobia.” In modern usage, the word has evolved to mean the fear of strangers or foreigners — but its original meaning is much broader. It includes anything or anyone that’s unfamiliar or unknown.

How can adults not Be Afraid of the dark?

Treatment for Nyctophobia

1. Exposure to the dark in small, incremental, non-threatening doses in a process called desensitization (this should only be done under professional supervision)
2. One-on-one talk therapy.
3. Learning relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.

What is the fear of the future called?

Fear of the future is anticipatory anxiety. It’s excessive worry about potential future events. People with anticipatory anxiety often experience panic attacks. The best way to define anticipatory anxiety is that it is the anxiety of “what if?”

What does it mean when you are afraid of the dark?

Overview. Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of night or darkness that can cause intense symptoms of anxiety and depression. A fear becomes a phobia when it’s excessive, irrational, or impacts your day-to-day life. Being afraid of the dark often starts in childhood and is viewed as a normal part of development.

What percentage of the population is afraid of the dark?

“It is estimated that 11 percent of the U.S. population is afraid of the dark,” he says, noting that it’s even more common than a fear of heights. That’s because the fear comes from a very logical place. “Darkness impairs our vision, quite literally, and this is inherently uncomfortable,”…

Are kids hardwired to be afraid of the dark?

Kids are hardwired to be afraid of the dark … Some fears are acquired based on specific life experiences; others are more universal and innate. Fear of darkness, which in extreme forms is known as nyctophobia or achluophobia, falls into that latter category.

Is it possible to grow out of fear of Darkness?

And unlike most childhood fears, it’s one that plenty of people never grow out of. Some fears are acquired based on specific life experiences; others are more universal and innate. Fear of darkness, which in extreme forms is known as nyctophobia or achluophobia, falls into that latter category.