Nyctophobia (from Greek νυξ - "night" and phobia, also called scotophobia, from σκότοσ - "darkness", lygophobia, from lyge - "twilight", or achluophobia) is a pathological fear of the dark. Its symptoms include breathlessness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly or sensation of detachment from reality. Normally, since humans are not nocturnal by nature, humans are usually a bit more cautious or alert than in the day, since the dark is a vastly different environment. Nyctophobia produces symptoms beyond the normal instinctive parameters.

Sufferers have an abnormal and persistent dread of the dark and experience anxiety even though they may rationally understand that the dark does not pose such a great threat. Treatment options are typical for any of specific phobias.

Nyctophobia is most often associated with children.

See also

• Nyctohylophobia
• Phototaxis

phobias | Nyctophobie