Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of the dark. This phobia is very common among children but can affect people of all ages. People with this specific anxiety disorder may have trouble sleeping, have panic attacks and may avoid leaving the house after dark.

What causes a fear of the dark?

Being afraid of the dark often starts in childhood and is viewed as a normal part of development. Studies focused on this phobia have shown that humans often fear the dark for its lack of any visual stimuli. In other words, people may fear night and darkness because they cannot see what's around them.

How rare is the fear of the dark?

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. “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.

When do kids become afraid of the dark?

Children are most often afraid of the dark starting at around the age of about 2 through the preschool years, although it can appear in older children as well. A fear of the dark usually lasts for a few weeks to a few months.

What phobias exist?

Common phobias include:

• fear of spiders, or arachnophobia.
• fear of flying in an airplane, or aviophobia.
• fear of elevators, or elevatophobia.
• fear of heights, or acrophobia.
• fear of enclosed rooms, or claustrophobia.
• fear of crowded public places, or agoraphobia.
• fear of embarrassment, or katagelophobia.

Why Are We Afraid of the Dark?

What's the most common fear?

Social phobias are the most common type of fear. They are considered an anxiety disorder and include excessive self-consciousness in social situations. Some people can fear being judged so much they avoid specific situations, like eating in front of others. Up to one in 20 people have a social phobia.

Do I have Nyctophobia?

Symptoms and Diagnosis

In general, symptoms of nyctophobia include: Becoming nervous in any darkened environment. Being reluctant to go out at night. Experiencing physiological symptoms, including an increased heart rate, sweating, visible shaking, and even feeling ill when forced to spend time in the dark.

What is the fear of death called?

Thanatophobia is an extreme fear of death or the dying process. You might be scared of your own death or the death of a loved one. Psychotherapy can help most people overcome this disorder. Appointments 866.588.2264.

What is the fear of clowns called?

Coulrophobia brings on feelings of fear when you see clowns or clown images. It's a specific phobic disorder that causes anxiety, a racing heart, nausea and profuse sweating. Most people can avoid clowns. Some need exposure therapy, a type of psychotherapy, to help manage their reactions to clowns and clown images.

What is the fear of rain called?

Ombrophobia is an intense fear of rain, from intense weather to a drizzle. An ombrophobe might worry about acid rain, germs in rain, floods or other dangers. Ombrophobia is a type of anxiety disorder that can cause symptoms and emotions that affect daily life. But certain types of therapy and medications can help.

What is the fear of water called?

Aquaphobia is a fear of water. People with this specific phobia feel anxious when they think about or see water. They may avoid baths, showers, pools and bodies of water. Many people with aquaphobia have had traumatic experiences with water.

What is the fear of the number 13 called?

People who harbor a Friday the 13th superstition might have triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, and often pass on their belief to their children, he noted.

What's the phobia of being alone?

People who have autophobia have an irrational, extreme fear of being alone. A person may experience this fear when they're alone. Some people may have autophobia even when they're with other people. In this case, the fear centers on worries about isolation.

What is the rarest fear?

21 Rare and Weird Phobias You've Likely Never Heard Of

1. Arachibutyrophobia (Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) ...
2. Nomophobia (Fear of being without your mobile phone) ...
3. Arithmophobia (Fear of numbers) ...
4. Plutophobia (Fear of money) ...
5. Xanthophobia (Fear of the color yellow) ...
6. Ablutophobia (Fear of bathing)

What is the most scariest phobia?

Then again, some of the scariest phobias are ones almost everyone has to some degree.
...
These Disturbing Phobias Make Life For Their Sufferers A Waking Nightmare

• Taphophobia. ...
• Claustrophobia. ...
• Pediophobia. ...
• Coulrophobia. ...
• Nyctophobia. ...
• Athazagoraphobia. ...
• Trypophobia. ...
• Chronophobia.

What is the least popular phobia?

10 Least Common Phobias

• Alektorophobia: The fear of chickens.
• Metrophobia: The fear of poetry or rhyming verse.
• Ephebiphobia: The fear of youths.
• Ergasiophobia: The fear of work.
• Optophobia: The fear of opening one's eyes.
• Neophobia: The fear of newness.
• Anthophobia: The fear of flowers.

What are the weirdest phobias?

Here are some of the strangest phobias one can have

• ​Ergophobia. It is the fear of work or the workplace. ...
• ​Somniphobia. Also known as hypnophobia, it is the fear of falling asleep. ...
• Chaetophobia. ...
• ​Oikophobia. ...
• ​Panphobia. ...
• Ablutophobia.

What is the fear of Friday called?

Today we will talk about Paraskevidekatriaphobia, which is an extension of Triskaidekaphobia. It originates from Paraskevi, (Greek for Friday). Other names for this phobia include Friggatriskaidekaphobia which originates from Norse mythology where Frigg is the Norse Goddess for Friday. Many people fear number 13.

What is the fear of spiders called?

Arachnophobia is an intense fear of spiders. Many fears seems reasonable. We all try to avoid things that make us feel uncomfortable.

What is a fear of fruit called?

As much as I've tried to hide my fruit phobia (or fructophobia, as it's sometimes referred to), I've also found that offering it up is a way to connect with new people.

What is the fear of fire?

“Pyrophobia” is the term for a fear of fire that's so intense it affects a person's functioning and daily life. Pyrophobia is one of many specific phobias, which are a type of anxiety disorder.

What is the fear of scorpions called?

Arachnophobia is a specific phobia brought about by the irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions. Arachnophobia. Other names.

Is there a fear of pooping?

Experts believe that anxiety about pooping is a type of social anxiety or phobia. A person who experiences anxiety about pooping will be fearful of pooping in places that are not completely private, such as in public restrooms or in another person's home. It can affect men, women, and children.

What is fear of snow called?

Chionophobia is an extreme fear of snow and snowy weather. People with this disorder have severe anxiety and panic attacks when they think about or see snow. To avoid snow, they may live in warmer climates or stay indoors during winter.