7 Ways To Overcome Dark Fear In Effective Children

How to overcome dark fear (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Fear of the dark, or medically known as nyctophobia, can interfere with a person's quality of life, especially children. So is there a way to overcome the fear of the dark?

The good news is, with the right approach, this fear can be overcome. Let's discuss the steps you can take to your child with a dark phobia to get back to enjoying life in peace.

The journalist released by Christa Melnyk Hines, through his writing published on the Sandiego Family page, gave some tips as follows:

Listen to your child with all your attention, without playing with their fears, to see if you can identify the trigger.

Fear at night may be caused by fairy tales before bed or even stress events during school days. Sometimes, these fears don't make sense at all.

"Just listening to what the kids say helps them feel heard and validated, which can help relieve irrational fear," explains Berkley James, a child's sleep consultant.

Before continuing, also read the article that discusses: Getting To Know Gynophobia, Someone's Fear Of Women

As children start to calm down after a busy day and the night arrives, they may start replaying scary pictures on their heads they see in books, movies, video games, or news.

So, limit exposure to violent images and turn off news when your child is around.

According to a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, exposure to repeated terrorism images in the media could have a negative impact on children's emotional health.

"These immediate events can cause feelings of despair and helplessness," the researchers wrote. They can also make children feel insecure.

In addition, small children often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. If they imagine the monster in the cupboard, in their minds then the monster must be there.

If your child can only fall asleep if the ceiling lights are on, just relax. Over time, dim the light.

Train your child gradually to turn to the warm light that is soft. It can start from the lights, then the cupboard light, and finally the bedroom light is yellow or orange.

If your child has struggled with anxiety, teach him the mechanism of koping during the day which can also be used at night.

Ask your little child to blow the bubble to calm down. Teach the child a larger deep stomach breathing. Their breaths inhale for five seconds and slowly exhale as if there is a birthday candle in front of them.

Calm your child with a special animal doll or blanket to help him sleep.

But if your child is used to hugging you in bed, but you prefer they sleep independently, then ask them to transition to a place next to your bed.

The sound of fans, machines, and soft background music can push back deafening night silence. Make sure your child's bed is comfortable, the room is cold, and get rid of annoying electronic devices.

Take time to reminisce about the happy events of that day. Listen to calming music and avoid electronics. You can also read a book that calms and raises your spirits before going to sleep.

In addition, you can also help your children have a positive picture when they start to fall asleep, such as playing with their favorite pets.

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