Fear of nyctophobia (fear of the dark ness)

"the color of night," Eiseman said, "the color of darkness. The color that conceals all."We fear what we cannot see.
."Prehistorically, people would have been more at risk of being attacked by predators or by enemies when 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."Eiseman agreed that "the unknown" is an inherent association that humans make with the color black, as It prevents them from seeing distinct shapes and veils potential threats.
Though fear is natural, it may become an issue if it gets excessive,
This excessive fear can then become a phobia -- specifically known as nyctophobia -- when it begins interfering with relationships, work or the ability to do things they want to do, unable to leave their house at night.

1. by Col Mukteshwar Prasad( Retd ), MTech (IITD),CE(I),FIE(I), FIETE,FISLE,FInstOD,AMCSI Contact -9007224278, e-mail –[email protected] for book ”Decoding Services Selection Board-A Career in Armed Foces As An Officer” and SSB guidance and training at Shivnandani Edu and Defence Academy Fear of Nyctophobia (Fear of the Darkness ) Ref- Psychology Today

2. Introduction and Some Views on Fear of Darkness "the color of night," Eiseman said, "the color of darkness. The color that conceals all." We fear what we cannot see. ."Prehistorically, people would have been more at risk of being attacked by predators or by enemies when 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." Eiseman agreed that "the unknown " is an inherent association that humans make with the color black, as It prevents them from seeing distinct shapes and veils potential threats . Though fear is natural, it may become an issue if it gets excessive, This excessive fear can then become a phobia -- specifically known as nyctophobia -- when it begins interfering with relationships, work or the ability to do things they want to do, unable to leave their house at night.

3. Fear of Nyctophobia (Fear of the Dark) Being afraid of the dark may be a part of normal development in young children but not for older children and adults. Nyctophobia is an age-inappropriate fear of darkness that can prompt someone to limit their activities, avoid certain situations, and experience anxiety in anticipation of there being no light. When concern crosses over from being an inborn protective mechanism to disrupting everyday life that it is designated a phobia. Causes Nyctophobia / scotophobia / achluophobia / 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) Lack of security and confidence may also be a reason especially if you tend to be afraid of the dark more often while alone. May be related to separation anxiety from a primary attachment figure

4. Fear of Nyctophobia (Fear of the Dark) Symptoms and Diagnosis Becoming nervous in any darkened environment Being reluctant to go out at night Experiencing physiological symptoms like Increased heart rate, Sweating, Visible shaking, and Feeling ill when forced to spend time in the dark Need to sleep with a night light Attempting to run away from dark rooms Becoming angry or defensive if anyone tries to encourage you to spend time in the dark Compulsively staying indoors at night Nyctophobia has some diagnostic criteria that are common to all phobias, which distinguishes them from simple fears.

5. Fear of Nyctophobia (Fear of the Dark) Treatment for Nyctophobia Challenge fearful beliefs about the dark and reduce the severity of symptoms one experiences due to that fear. Successful treatment rate for specific phobias like nyctophobia is about 90%. Techniques used is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Exposure to the dark in small, incremental, non-threatening doses in a process called desensitization (this should only be done under professional supervision) One-on-one talk therapy Learning relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing