Do you really know? Why are we afraid of the dark?
Oct 31, 2025
Fear of the dark starts in childhood, often between ages 5 and 10, as dangers become more apparent. This fear is linked to the loss of sight, leaving us feeling helpless and vulnerable. Our imaginations often fill the darkness with threats. Additionally, the podcast explores the evolutionary roots of this fear, distinguishing between a normal fear of darkness and the more severe nyctophobia. Practical tips for overcoming fear include calming routines and professional help.
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Sight Is Our Primary Reference
- Darkness removes our main sense of reference, sight, making humans feel particularly helpless.
- Our brains fill visual voids with imagined threats, so fear of the dark often stems from sensory deprivation.
Ancestral Roots Of Nighttime Fear
- Fear of the dark likely aided ancestral survival by increasing vigilance against falls, separation, or predators.
- Modern humans retain these primitive instincts even though today's threats differ.
Fear Versus Nyctophobia
- Ordinary fear of the dark is common and doesn't disrupt daily life, while nyctophobia is intense and irrational.
- The key difference is the phobia's severe anxiety and avoidance that impair functioning.