Myctophobia
By:Molly Dugan
Definition
- Extreme or irrational fear of the night or darkness
- Triggered by the thought of what could happen if you can't see
Symptoms
- Panic attack
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- trembling
- sweating
- increased heart rate
- chest pain
Causes
- Traumatic event
- Trying to avoid something
Behavior
- avoids the dark
- carry excessive amount of lights
- related to being alone
- Doesn't talk about the phobia
Treatment
- exposure therapy
- combination of medications prescribed by a doctor for migraines, anxiety, and panic attacks
- self-help method
- relaxation techniques(yoga and deep breathing)
Celebrities
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Other Names
- Auchluophobia
- Lygophobia
- Scotophobia
- Nyctophobia
Percentages
- 11% of the US population
- 10% of adults won't use the bathroom in the middle of the night
- 90% of children are afraid of the dark
Work Consulted
http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/entertainment/fte/celebrityfears/celebrityfears
http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/library/nyctophobia/
http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/topics/nyctophobia.html
http://www.statisticbrain.com/fear-phobia-statistics/
http://persephonemagazine.com/2013/11/3-facts-you-may-not-know-about-nyctophobia/
http://pastorsusan.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/dark_room_by_ikiz.jpg
http://yanayoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DouPuntaGalera-90_Lowres1.jpg
http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3590172/a_young_woman_sitting_alone_on_a_beach_LV0008001f.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ujtXeywACxk/S9JCikVmBxI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xTAccrS82e0/s1600/panic-attack2.jpg
http://tomstuart.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Avoiding-Someone.jpg
http://davidbrinkman.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/hellomynameis.jpg