Nyctophobia is the fear of the dark. It is a type of specific phobia, which is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object or situation. People with nyctophobia may experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms when they are in the dark, such as:

• Sweating
• Trembling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Feeling faint
• Panic attacks
• Fear of being attacked
• Fear of being lost
• Fear of the unknown

Nyctophobia is a relatively common phobia. It is estimated that up to 30% of children and 10% of adults have some degree of fear of the dark.

There are a number of reasons why people might develop nyctophobia. Some people may have had a negative experience with the dark in the past, such as being lost or scared. Others may have learned to fear the dark from their parents or other caregivers. And still others may have a genetic predisposition to fear the dark.

Nyctophobia can have a significant impact on a person's life. It can prevent people from going to sleep, going outside at night, or even being in a dark room.