Diagnosis of fear of the dark.
The fear of the dark is medically called nyctophobia, and the diagnosis is especially common in children, although people of any age can develop this phobia.
The fear of the dark is so strong that it is difficult for a person with nyctophobia to sleep peacefully, a panic attack begins in a space where there is not enough light, and after sunset, when it is dark, you cannot force yourself to leave the house.
Nyctophobia has a negative impact on the rhythm of a person's life - insomnia disrupts the normal routine of the day, trying to escape from the dark itself separates you from social relations (as you know, most events are in the evening or at night).
As a rule, children with nyctophobia are afraid to be alone in a room, they cannot sleep in a bedroom where the light is turned off.
Nyctophobia is not just a fear of the dark. In this phobia, both children and adults are afraid of things they cannot see because of the darkness. For example, children may be afraid of ghosts, monsters, robbers in the dark. They are also frightened by the sound they hear in a darkened room, especially if they do not know what is causing the sound. They fear what lies in the darkness as much as the darkness itself.
Nyctophobia may develop due to a traumatic event in the past.
Some parents may not really perceive what fear a small person experiences in the dark - if the child has complained of this phobia at least once, consult a psychologist.
At home, the following strategy may help (reduce fear):
- Repeat the following phrase often: "It's dark, but I'm safe." You have to convince yourself that you are fine;
- Lie down in bed and breathe deeply. Imagine a large amount of air entering the body;
- In the dark, imagine the most positive image, for example, think how you play with a cat in nature;
- Relax your muscles.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22785-nyctophobia-fear-of-the-dark
