June 15, 2012 – It was thought that only children were affected, but a study conducted in Toronto (Canada) shows that some adults never overcome their fear of the dark and that their insomnia could be the result of deep anxiety.
Researchers at Ryerson University (Ontario) studied the sleep of a small group of Toronto students by measuring their eye response to unwanted noises in a dark, then lit room.
While the students with no sleep problems got used to the noises, those who admitted to being afraid of the dark showed signs of restlessness, anticipating the nocturnal noises.
This study was presented this week in Boston during the 26th Annual Conference of Sleep Experts (Associated Professional Sleep Societies).
“We assume that people with sleep disturbances are more tense in the dark because they associate going to bed with an inability to sleep. Now we wonder how many people have a latent phobia,” explains the study author Taryn Moss.
Among the other studies presented at this conference, one of them shows that a lack of sleep can influence our dietary choices. The less you sleep, the more you tend to opt for fatty and sugary foods, thus increasing your risk of a cardiovascular attack.
In addition, to deal with nocturnal fears, some experts recommend surrounding yourself with reassuring objects and setting up a sleep ritual including an herbal tea or a hot bath.
© 2012 Relaxnews
