Recognize the Dark Phobia and How to Overcome It

Fear is an emotion that arises in a person's mind when facing a situation that is considered to be dangerous for his safety. Under normal conditions, this feeling of fear can actually be controlled.

However, if the emergence of fear cannot be controlled and feels excessive panic when faced with the source of the fear, then this is included in a phobia. There are many types of phobias, one of which is the dark phobia.

Causes and Symptoms of Dark Phobia

Fear of the dark is often experienced by children aged 2-8 years. However, it is possible that teenagers and adults can also experience it.

So far, the cause of the emergence of dark phobia is not known with certainty. However, some studies have shown that people with a phobia of darkness may have experienced a traumatic event in the dark, resulting in an intense fear of returning to a dark place.

There are also those who state that the emergence of this fear is caused by excessive worry because they cannot recognize and see their surroundings properly due to darkness.

When in a dark place, such as in a movie theater, in a room with no light, or in a dark forest at night, people with dark phobia may experience several physical symptoms, such as:

• Hard to breath
• A cold sweat
• Increased heart rate or palpitations
• Chest feels tight and hurts
• Shiver
• tingling
• Dizzy
• Stomach ache
• Faint

In addition, dark phobia can make sufferers experience a number of the following:

• Fear of traveling at night
• Feeling anxious, panicked, and nervous when in dark places
• Can only sleep in a bright room
• Always want to escape or get out of a dark place
• Angry for no apparent reason when in low light

In contrast to ordinary fear, people with a phobia of the dark usually experience disturbances in carrying out daily activities due to an unbearable fear of the dark.

In addition, this condition can make sufferers feel depressed, uncomfortable, and even experience insomnia.

How to Overcome Dark Phobia

If you have a phobia of darkness, here are some things you can do to overcome it:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can help people with dark phobias to identify feelings of anxiety and replace them with more positive thoughts when dealing with the triggers of the phobia.

One of the psychotherapy techniques that is often used to help overcome dark phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy.

With psychotherapy, a psychologist or psychiatrist will train you to think calmly and instill the understanding that being in a dark place is not always dangerous.

Exposure therapy (exposure)

Exposure therapy aims to help fight your phobia, so you can control your fears and anxiety. This method is done gradually by exposing or confronting you with the phobia you have.

When you're ready, a psychologist or psychiatrist will guide you to a dark place and train you not to be afraid of being there again.

Relaxation therapy

Relaxation therapies, such as breathing techniques and yoga, can help you calm down and deal with your fears. In addition, this type of therapy also helps you control stress and physical symptoms that arise from dark phobia.

If your dark phobia doesn't improve with psychotherapy or exposure therapy, your doctor may prescribe sedatives to make you feel calmer. However, the use of these drugs is usually only for the short term.

Everyone has their own fears or phobias. If the dark phobia or other phobias that you feel have made it difficult for you to move or have been felt for more than 6 months, then these conditions need to be consulted by a psychiatrist.

After undergoing a psychiatric examination, the psychiatrist will determine the appropriate treatment steps according to the severity of your dark phobia.