Why am I sometimes afraid of the dark?
Why am I sometimes afraid of the dark?
Being afraid of the dark often starts in childhood and is viewed as a normal part of development. Studies focused on this phobia have shown that humans often fear the dark for its lack of any visual stimuli. In other words, people may fear night and darkness because they cannot see what’s around them.
What is fear of darkness phobia 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).
Why is my child suddenly afraid of the dark?
Why is my toddler suddenly afraid of the dark? Once a toddler’s thought process becomes more sophisticated, fears can appear to make kids anxious about a whole array of stuff — especially at night, when it’s easy for anyone’s imagination to run wild.
Is it common to be scared of the dark?
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. “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.
Is it normal for an 11 year old to be afraid of the dark?
Being afraid of the dark is a very common complaint among young children and one worth addressing. Helping a child overcome this fear can give them confidence that they can face other fears in the future. Some children develop a fear of the dark without any specific reason.
Is it normal for a 13 year old to be scared of the dark?
Fear of the dark is a common and typical fear for most children. Fear of the dark usually starts to crop up in toddlerhood. When children’s cognitive abilities expand – so does their imagination! For some kids, this fear never goes away.
Is it normal for a 12 year old to be scared of the dark?
It is quite common and natural for a child to be afraid of the dark. Fears that keep a 12-year-old from going upstairs sound more severe than normal. The fact that her fear is impacting her ability to perform normal activities (by keeping her on the main floor after dark) is worrisome.