ACHLUOPHOBIA

Is the fear of darkness, When our brain has a wrong perception about dark environment.
No matter how safe the place is, our brain think different.
This usually begins in childhood and is normal in the development of the person.
The research shows that this fear is because we cannot see what is around us.
When we cannot sleep normally, it causes anxiety until adulthood and is considered
achluophobia.

Some causes of this fear in children are:

Traumatic experience: any traumatic or stressful experience relations with the dark is a
reason for the child feel afraid of this.
An anxious caregiver: some children learn to feel afraid looking at parent’s anxiety.
An overprotective caregiver: when children become very depends of their parents.
Horror movies, book, ghosts: all these are relationed with the dark and can developed
achluophobia.

Some consequences are:

 Panic attack:
 Nightmares:
 Sweaty palms, palpitations, vomiting.

Ways to overcome it

Exhibition therapy: It consists of exposing the child to his fears constantly. For example,
staying in a dark room until that situation does not cause anxiety or panic.
Cognitive therapy: this therapy help to identify and anxiety feeling and replace it for other
positive or realistic feelings.
Relax: Relaxation treatment includes deep breathing

PERSONAL OPINION: I think that is important to learn to control our emotions and ask help
if we feel that we can not have a normal life. Nowadays we have psychologists, several
treatments to learn how control those emotions.