Fear of darkness in childhood .. Why does it continue until adulthood?

We all had a hard time sleeping in the dark when we were little kids, and some of us still fear the dark even when we're older.

But, have you ever wondered why you are afraid of the dark?

Could it be that what we fear is not darkness per se, but something else?

In an article published by the Turkish website "webtekno", writer Erim Denli says: We must all have experienced in our childhood a state of fear of the dark, where we leave the lights on and then sleep, because monsters may come out of their hiding places at nightfall, or at least this What we used to think in our young minds, noting that it is considered simple if this fear remains in childhood, but the darkness is still a source of horror even after we are old, but we do not understand why.

Why then?

The writer shows that - as with all phobias - the fear of the dark has a psychological explanation, as the world-famous band Iron Maiden says, "Sometimes you are afraid even to look in the corner of the room."

In our childhood, we used to leave the lights on and then sleep because monsters might come out of their hiding places at nightfall (Getty Images)

Journey from the color of death to confidence

The writer explains that nowadays, when we see a person dressed completely in black, we may find it difficult to know whether they will attend a funeral, a business meeting, a fashion show, or just a visit, after all these events can be attended in black.

"Perspective towards black has changed dramatically over the past 50-100 years," says Letris Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

The writer adds that nowadays people prefer to wear black as a symbol of expensive clothes or to give them a sense of self-confidence, noting that “the association of black with melancholy and the unknown still exists in some cultures in the form of demonic images such as witch’s clothes. In fact, these fictional drawings and the like are It's also part of the evolution of a fear of the dark."

Currently people prefer to wear black as a symbol of expensive clothes or to give them a sense of self-confidence (Getty Images)

Fear of the dark is a legacy of the past

Suppose you're home alone and watching a movie on your couch in the beautifully lit living room, and the wind-blown tree branches outside, where you're having a classic evening, there's nothing to be afraid of, is there? Until suddenly the lights go out and leave you alone In the dark. This is where irrational fear will begin to take over you," says Martin Anthony, professor of psychology at Ryerson University in Toronto and author of The Anti-Anxiety Workbook. "Fear is like feeling pain, it's just there to protect us from potential danger."

In prehistoric times, the writer says, humans were more vulnerable to attack by predators when it gets dark, but with the help of advanced technology, humanity has settled at the top of the food chain over time.

"We started by creating imaginary monsters to fill the void left by these extinct predators, which is why good horror movies don't show the monster directly, but leave our imaginations to create the most terrifying monsters ever. That is, we don't really fear the monster but the unknown.)

According to the suppressor, during this long evolutionary process, our need to protect ourselves, the "fear of the dark," was so deep that it has remained with us to this day.

On this topic, Anthony says, "We rely on our visual system to protect ourselves from danger, and in the dark this visual sense becomes useless, and we cannot perceive what is around us, and therefore the fear of the dark is a pre-prepared fear."

Eiseman points out that people instinctively associate black with the unknown, because it blocks potential threats. "How we see colors in nature has a huge impact on human psychology. We know very well that black is the color of the night that can hide any insidious act that can be done under cover." Darkness,” the author asserts, as this concept begins to penetrate our minds when we are young children.

Today, thanks to technology, we can turn on the light and have fun even in the darkest hours, but some of us still can't get over this fear.

Fear is a natural and necessary life-saving response, but it is worrisome when it reaches the point of exaggeration (Getty Images)

What if this fear starts to affect our daily activities?

The writer follows up with Anthony, who says, “Fear is a natural and necessary response to save life,” but stresses that it is “worrying when it reaches the stage of exaggeration,” noting that “the fear we feel when we are alone at night in the outskirts of the city is normal, but it is not normal that We have the same feeling when we're alone in our own room at night."

She states that an overwhelming feeling of fear of darkness can arise as a result of a number of different reasons, such as a negative experience, being attacked in a dark place, or perhaps something as simple as watching a horror movie, explaining that if this fear does not disappear on its own over time, it may develop into A phobia known as 'nectophobia' that can easily negatively affect our relationships, work and the things we normally do.

According to Anthony, if a person reaches the point where they cannot leave their home at night, this is not an ordinary fear but rather a phobia.

In such cases, a person may resort to aids called "safety signals" such as night lights, leaving the door open enough to let in a dim light, or having a friend that makes us feel more secure and connected to reality.

Anthony stresses - according to what the writer quoted - that there are also other treatments available, such as gradual exposure to the feared situation. In such treatments, professionals ask their patients to list the situations they fear, and then gradually expose them to those situations until they completely get rid of the feeling of fear.

People who wear black feel safe and look more attractive and confident (Getty Images)

Black is a symbol of self-confidence

The writer points out that black has two different sides, just like the two sides of a coin, while black makes many feel anxious and fearful and keeps them awake at night, it makes others feel more confident and secure especially when it comes to fashion.

Here Eiseman says, "I think a lot of people see black as a color that conveys a certain degree of safety, and they can get wrapped up in it and get lost in the shade. So there is a difference of opinion associated with black."

The writer says that if you think about it, you will notice that usually the most powerful fictional characters are depicted in black or at least dark tones.

This is also true in reality, when we imagine powerful businessmen, aren't we often accustomed to seeing them all in dark suits?

The author advised that the fear of the dark is just a small gift left to us by our ancestors who were always on the alert to protect themselves.