Generality
Fear of the dark (or acluophobia) is a feeling of distress, or strong discomfort, that a person perceives when he finds himself in dark environments.
Also known as "nictophobia", this phobic disorder is quite common among children, while it is less common in adults.
The phobia of darkness involves physiological-somatic symptoms (such as, for example, increased heart rate, breathing and sweating) and psychological (anxiety, paranoia, panic and anguish).
Often, this phobic disorder represents a passing phenomenon, destined to disappear spontaneously. In the event that the fear of the dark is extreme, to the point of triggering intense panic attacks or profound discomfort in the management of normal daily life activities, it could be useful to undertake a path of psychotherapy or behavioral therapy aimed at overcoming the phobia.
What's this
Fear of the dark is a feeling of strong discomfort related to darkness and any dangers it might hide.
A certain degree of fear of the dark is natural and can be considered quite normal, especially in the developmental stages of the child. However, if the fear causes anxiety crises or panic attacks and becomes so severe that it is considered pathological, it is a real phobia.
Causes
Fear of the dark is basically a form of anxiety that occurs when the subject is exposed to a potential or imaginary danger, without having control over what happens.
This disorder is rarely seen in children under 2 years of age.
Fear of the dark can be triggered in three ways:
- Observing and listening to the fears of other children during infancy;
- Following a "traumatic experience lived in the present (such as an" assault, the loss of a family member, witnessing vulgar or particularly violent actions, etc.) or in the past;
- By associating a physical sensation - in this case, fear - with a nearby object (process also known as "anchoring").
Some researchers, starting with Sigmund Freud, consider the fear of the dark as a manifestation of "separation anxiety disorder. D" On the other hand, this phobia usually occurs during childhood, just in the period in which children learn to detach themselves and be independent from their parents, undertaking a path towards the search for autonomy.
In adults, acluophobia can depend on multiple causes, such as:
- Form of dysfunctional attachment towards one's parents in childhood (for example, overprotective behaviors prevent the child from dealing with tests at his height and generate insecurity);
- Traumatic episodes that occurred during growth;
- Difficulty or inability of the person to know himself and the surrounding world;
- Fears of situations that cannot be controlled.
Fear of the dark is mainly associated with these sensations, but the triggers can be different and appear in stressful times or particularly difficult to manage.
Symptoms and complications
The person suffering from acluophobia manifests an "unbearable anxiety, in conditions of darkness or even at the mere thought of such a situation. In the case of fear of the dark, this feeling results in the inability to sleep with the lights off and in the fear of staying alone. In this particular psychological condition, darkness hides known people and objects from view.
Severe fear of the dark produces psychological and / or physiological-somatic symptoms, such as:
- Excessive sweating
- Nausea;
- Dry mouth
- Increased heart rate
- Feeling faint
- Increased respiratory rate;
- Inability to speak or think clearly
- Feeling of detachment from reality;
- Anguish, paranoia and fear of dying.
To stem fear, phobic people implement avoidance strategies, that is they try not to expose themselves to the dark, delaying the time to go to bed and / or following a ritual (check that the doors are closed, that there is no one under the bed and so on.) Furthermore, the nictophobic may seek the reassuring presence of a family member, with serious limitations for his activities.
Fear of the dark is often associated with sleep disorders: those who suffer from this phobia are more likely to perceive and anticipate external sounds, which would prevent them from sleeping.
In children, fear of the dark triggers desperate crying, nightmares and insomnia. In adulthood, darkness typically triggers obsessive and irrational thoughts associated with uncontrollable emotional discharge.
Diagnosis
In many cases, acluophobia represents a passing phenomenon, destined to disappear spontaneously.
If it persists for several months, however, the fear of the dark can be addressed with the support of a psychologist. He can help the subject to understand the reasons behind his phobia and will be able to indicate the most appropriate remedies or therapeutic path.
Therapy
To deal with the fear of the dark, it is good to get used to the darkness from childhood. The approach must take place in a gradual and natural way, avoiding that the child experiences a sense of loneliness or a sudden change from routine.
The surrounding environment also plays an important role. To overcome the fear of the dark, it may be useful to keep a small night light on, so that the child can observe the reality of the bedroom and does not lose control of the environment.
In general, then, watching horror or particularly violent films before bedtime should be avoided, as it predisposes to oppressive dreams or nightmares.
As far as the therapeutic approach is concerned, a cognitive and behavioral intervention is possible.
From a cognitive point of view, the fear of the dark can be addressed by rationalizing the phobic reaction. Behavioral treatment, on the other hand, consists in "gradually exposing the person to his fear. In this sense, it is necessary to become familiar with the dark, planning activities to be carried out, first in dim light, and subsequently, increasing the level of darkness.
