Is it OK to fear the dark?

Turns out that fear is pretty normal—experts say being scared of the dark is actually a fairly common thing among adults. 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.

Is it okay to be afraid of the dark at 14?

If your child is afraid of the dark, they're not alone. “It's very common in children and adolescents alike,” says Thomas Ollendick, a distinguished professor emeritus at the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech who has dedicated much of his career to understanding fears and phobias in children.

Is it bad to be scared of the dark at 12?

It is completely natural for your child to be somewhat afraid of the dark, but most children are able to move past their fears over time. For some children and teens, fears can turn into phobias that impact how they function in their everyday lives.

How do I get over my fear of the dark?

What age should you stop being afraid of the dark?

Most kids will actually outgrow fear of the dark by ages 4 to 5, helped along with some specific strategies. But about 20% of kids will have a persistent fear of the dark. “It's not always so easy to unlearn those startled, anxious, fearful responses,” said Mabe.

Why Are We Afraid of the Dark?

How common is fear of the dark?

“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. That's because the fear comes from a very logical place.

Why are fears worse at night?

Why Is Anxiety Worse at Night? Anxiety can get worse at night as people find themselves focusing more on their worries once they are lying in bed without the distractions of the day. For example, sometimes people with insomnia may begin to develop worries about whether or not they will be able to fall asleep.

Is it OK to be scared of the dark at 16?

Being afraid of the dark is often associated with childhood, mostly occurring in children ages 6 to 12, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But it's not uncommon for the issue to continue into adulthood.

Why do I feel suffocated in darkness?

Scientists have found that darkness creates a “startle” response in the brain, which causes it to release chemicals that heighten a person's perception of anxiety. While some people can quieten this increased anxiety, others cannot. Instead, they magnify it, creating an extreme level of fear.

What is the scariest phobia?

What is the rarest phobia in the world?

1. Arachibutyrophobia (Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. While the phenomenon has happened to everyone at one point or another, people with arachibutyrophobia are extremely afraid of it.

What is the longest phobia name?

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Understanding the phobia can help you overcome it and live a fulfilling life. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary, and ironically, it means the fear of long words.

Why am I scared at night and can't sleep?

Sleep and psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, often go hand in hand. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Similarly, if you have a sleep disorder, you might feel anxious or fearful before bed because you're afraid you won't get the rest you need.

Is it normal to be scared of death at 12?

Fear of death is common among children. In fact, most kids will experience fearful thoughts about death at some point in their lives. They may have a fear of dying themselves, or they may worry that their parents will die. They may even have fears about the family pet dying.

Does fear change with age?

As a child gets older, the nature and intensity of those fears often diminish, but sometimes the fears do follow us into adulthood.

How do I get my daughter to stop being scared of the dark?

“Be as calm as possible when you're talking to your child about her fear of the dark,” Dobbins says. “Listen and make sure you don't exaggerate and exacerbate to make it worse.” Give the child a sense that she is safe, that she can handle her fear, Dobbins says. And give the fear a name.

Why is my daughter scared of the dark?

Some children develop a fear of the dark without any specific reason. Others can point to a specific event, such as hearing a scary story, watching something scary on TV or living through a difficult experience, which started the problem.

Can Nyctophobia be cured?

Treatment for Nyctophobia

The rate of successful treatment for specific phobias like nyctophobia is about 90%. 4 Many techniques for nyctophobia treatment are drawn from the cognitive-behavioral school of therapy.

Are humans born with only two fears?

We are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. A 1960 study evaluated depth perception among 6- to14-month-old infants, as well as young animals.

Why are people scared of the number 13?

The most common theory that explains why the number 13 is deemed unlucky is actually based on Biblical Christianity. During the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles before his crucifixion, Judas was believed to be the 13th guest.

Why do I wake up at 3am with anxiety?

Sleep disorders

“If you wake up and begin to experience worry, anxiety or frustration, you likely have activated your sympathetic nervous system, your 'fight-or-flight' system,” explains Dr. Kane. “When this happens, your brain switches from sleep mode to wake mode.

Why does my bedroom give me anxiety?

For many of us, though, the bedroom can be a source of anxiety, because we tend to treat it more as a storage unit than a sanctuary. And at a time when 48% of us report lying awake at night due to stress, it's more important than ever to make the bedroom a calming environment for sleep.

Is it good to cry when you have anxiety?

Many people associate crying with feeling sad and making them feel worse, but in reality, crying can help improve your mood - emotional tears release stress hormones. Your stress level lowers when you cry, which can help you sleep better and strengthen your immune system.