fear of darkness (Achluophobia) treatment

By M.Farouk Radwan, MSc.

Fear of darkness, Achluophobia

Fears are emotions triggered by your subconscious mind in order to protect you from danger. the subconscious mind was designed for survival as a basic priority and that's why it makes you afraid sometimes but The problem arises when that fear becomes irrational in such a way that its triggered where its not needed.

Fear of darkness or Achluophobia is an irrational fear of darkness, the person suffering from Achluophobia usually thinks that monsters or other evil things will harm him as soon as he stays in a dark place. The Achluophobia may impact his life to an extent that he may not sleep until the lights are turned on.(he may also switch on the television in addition to lights) .

What causes fear of darkness (Achluophobia)

Usually phobias happen when the person experiences an emotional trauma associated with the feared situation. For example in case someone freighted you while you were in a dark place when you were a child then you may develop Achluophobia.

how to treat fear of darkness (Achluophobia)

Achluophobia is an irrational fear. After all there nothing to be feared out there but what makes the belief of finding scary things in dark places remains intact is that the person rarely tests the belief. The person suffering from Achluophobia just escapes from him fears and that's why they remain where they are.

In order to deal with those irrational beliefs you can use exposure therapy (where you will get exposed to darkness until you discover that there is nothing to be afraid of in there).

If you are too afraid to get directly exposed to the feared situation then systematic desensitization could be used.

systematic desensitization is a method of therapy that is helpful in treating anxiety and phobias without involving direct exposure unlike the case with exposure therapy.

In systematic desensitization the feared situation should be divided into different levels. For example in the case of fear of darkness level one could be staying with a friend in a dark room, Level two could be staying alone in the same dark room and so on.

After you divide your fears into levels you should then try to experience each of these levels while controlling your emotions. If you succeeded to go through a certain level while feeling relaxed then you should move on to the next until you manage to go through them all.

Finally cognitive behaviour therapy can help you get over your fear of darkness. Since emotions are triggered by thoughts and since thoughts result from beliefs therefore changing certain beliefs can prevent certain emotions from being triggered.

That's exactly how CBT treats fear of darkness. By changing your beliefs about darkness you will no longer fear afraid in dark places.

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Did that help?

well the problem is that i fear ghosts

Yes but tell me more about exposure therapy

Yes but tell me about systematic desensitization

Yes but tell me more about cognitive behaviour therapy

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