Do you have fear of darkness? It is very common to hear about people who are afraid of the dark. Others might laugh it off, but people who are scared of the dark may have serious issues. The level of fear varies from person to person, and some individuals have an extreme fear of darkness, which is termed Nyctophobia.
There can be various underlying reasons for the fear of the dark. Most of the time, it is the fear of ghosts and monsters that have been instilled in our minds right from childhood, and unfortunately, some people are unable to overcome that even after growing up. Nyctophobia is also associated with sleep disorders just as insomnia. When people have trouble in sleeping, they feel particularly anxious and distressed in the dark as compared to people who immediately fall asleep after lying in bed.
No matter, what causes the fear of the dark, it is essential to combat it and not let the fear get better of ourselves. Here’s a look at the practical tips that will help in combating the fear of dark:
Use dim lights in your room to avoid excessive darkness
One of the easiest and most helpful ways of sleeping in dark is to keep dim lights on. You can’t sleep peacefully if you have your lights on which is why you can get a small lamp for your room which dimly lights ups your room so that you can sleep in peace without fearing the dark
Prepare for the bed
One of the effective ways of fighting the fear of dark is to wind up before you go to bed. Keep all your electronic devices aside and avoid consuming caffeine. Now, try to meditate for 10 minutes by focusing on your breath and try to eliminate all negative or anxious thoughts from your mind. Avoid watching TV shows that are violent or stressing your mind.
Challenging your fears
Most of the fears are all created in our mind and don’t have any existence. It is better to get rid of them by facing them. Once you put off the light, if you feel anxious or scared that someone is inside your closet, standing at the corner, or under the bed, go and check the place. Prove yourself that there is nothing to worry about
Seek counselling
If these tips don’t work for you and your fear of the dark is extreme, it is recommended to seek professional help from a psychologist or counselor as they can help in eliminating the root cause of fear by studying your psychology and reasons for fear.
These essential tips will help in combating the fear of the dark and spend nights peacefully.
