Nyctophobia is a phobia or fear of darkness. If you were afraid of the dark as a kid, you might remember asking a loved one to turn on a nightlight at bedtime. Your heightened imagination can lead to scary thoughts of what could be lurking. As an adult, you may fear the dark because of a difficult or traumatic experience or a childhood fear that hasn’t left you. Behavioral therapy is one of the most effective treatments for nyctophobia and other phobias such as: Systematic desensitization, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Flooding and Virtual reality (VR).