How do I Overcome a Fear of Darkness?

While a fear of darkness is most common in children, adults can also suffer from it. In both cases, the first step in conquering that fear of darkness is examining the root cause of the fear and finding constructive ways to confront those fears. In children, a fear of darkness is often borne from some frightening image that is enhances or triggered because of the darkness; in adults, fear of darkness is often borne from the memory of a traumatic event. In both cases, understanding the cause is the most important step in conquering the fear.

The fear of darkness plays on one's fear of the unknown. That's why horror movies work so well: most people are made uncomfortable by what they cannot see, touch, feel, or otherwise understand, so a fear is born. In the darkness, the human eye cannot see well or at all, meaning the brain often imagines dangers that might be present. Many of these fears are unfounded, but others are not, creating a sense of paranoia. Whether the danger is real or imagined matters little; what matters is understanding one's own level of control and replacing that fear with rationality. Ask questions: Can I control the situation? Do I fear a real danger, or is it made up? If it is real, how can I avoid the danger?

Much of the fear of darkness is borne from a sense of losing control. This may stem from a frightening event, a lasting image, or some other experience that causes anxiety or panic. It is important to remember that the person suffering from such fear suffers because of a real issue, not necessarily because of irrationality. That person needs to be encouraged, not belittled; one should help build confidence in the person rather than putting pressure on the sufferer to overcome his or her fear. By building confidence rather than pressure, the sufferer will become better prepared to face his or her fears, even if it takes a long time to do so.

For children and adults alike, a night light may be a good solution to a fear of darkness. This allows the sufferer to gain a sense of safety during the night, especially when sleep is interrupted and the sufferer wakes disoriented and anxious. Overcoming this fear can take time, and a good way to facilitate such progress is to slowly phase out the night light until the sufferer is used to complete darkness. This can take weeks, months, or even years, but it can yield good results with patience.