Fear of the Dark: When a Normal Fear Becomes a Phobia

A fear becomes a specific phobia—in this case, nyctophobia—when it becomes disruptive in daily life.Halloween is almost here, and its presence is inescapable – from commercials and scary movies on TV to ghosts, goblins, and menacing figures in neighbors’ yards. And while it is an exciting and highly anticipated time for many kids, some look upon it with dread.

Though the technical fear of Halloween, Samhainphobia, is not listed as a disorder in our clinical diagnostic manuals, it is simply terrifying for many. It is associated with other fears, such as those of spiders, clowns, skeletons, zombies, death, getting startled, being chased, or approaching strange houses for trick-or-treating ; hyperventilation; dizziness; nausea; shakiness; feelings of terror and impending doom; fainting; or dizziness.

A phobia involves the intentional avoidance of the object of fear; in this case, a child's refusal to go to bed.Why Fear of the Dark Is NormalBetween ages 3 and 6, all children come to realize there is an external world that might be dangerous. Prior to this, they felt connected to their parents and did not realize in a deeper way that the external world could be dangerous place. They are beginning to learn that there are things that can hurt them. On top of that...

they do not have a clear sense of time, so going to bed may make them unsure of when they will see their parents again., so monsters, things that go bump in the night, burglars, and more pose have a threating reality, and they are separated from the caregivers they have long depended on to protect them after they are put to bed.

they are too young to control and regulate their own emotions, and when put to bed filled with fears, anxieties, and darkness that does not allow for distractions as the light of day does, their emotions can run wildMost kids begin to develop the capacities noted above starting at age 6. This is why much of the fear of the dark goes away as they mature. But wWhen these normal fears continue to significantly interfere with their life, they become phobias.

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