Fear of the dark (Nyctophobia)
Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of the dark. The name comes from the Greek word for night. Children and adults with nyctophobia may fear being alone in the dark. They may have anxiety in dark places, and they may have trouble sleeping in a darkened room.
Providers sometimes call fear of the dark scotophobia (fear of darkness) or lygophobia. Untreated, people with severe nyctophobia may avoid any situation where there isn’t enough light. They may stay indoors after the sun goes down and avoid social situations that require being out after dark.
People with nyctophobia may also have trouble sleeping (insomnia), which can lead to fatigue during the day and even trouble keeping a job. Several types of therapy can help children and adults with this disorder.
Symptoms and Causes
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 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.