Feature

To be with Darkness

Munzerin Shahid

Why are people afraid of the dark? A recent study asserts that 70% of the people in the world are troubled by the idea of darkness. Have any of us ever wondered about the reasons behind it? It is the same bedroom as in the morning, the same closet, and all the same furniture. But why is it that we feel that hidden inside that same closet there is a killer waiting for the right opportunity at night? Or a monster waiting to pounce? The reason is quite simple.

Generally, people are frightened of things they cannot see, things they cannot feel, things they do not know, and most importantly, the things that they cannot conquer. I'll give you a scenario to think about. Lets say you're in a room with no lights on and there happens to be a killer in the room. He's looking for you and there is a chance that he might find you and there is a chance he might not find you. Here is another scenario. Let's say you're still in the room but there are lights on and there is still a killer in the room. Since the lights are on there is no doubt about it- you are going to get killed. He doesn't need to find you, because he already has. In which of these scenarios would you be more scared? Probably the first. Wondering why that is? As I stated before, people tend to fear the unknown. In the first case, you are extremely scared because you don't know where the killer is, from which way he's approaching you or when he will attack. Adding to all those three fears is the fact that because of the darkness, you cannot see any way of escape. Even the most courageous brain at that time would freeze in panic because ambiguity is not something the human brain deals with very well. Hence, the palpable fear of darkness. In the second scenario, however, you will be able to see the killer, where he is and how he is approaching you. You will definitely be scared but less so than in the previous case because your brain and your five senses will be working in a frenzy to give you an escape route.

And now the million dollar question how do we face our fears? Simply put, we have to face that monster in our closet. Imagine you are lying on bed, petrified, thinking that the monster will come out any moment. What should you do? FACE HIM! Get out of bed and open that closet! Do not be flabbergasted when all you find are the many dresses from Dressy Dale that you bought last Eid.

And if you are too horrified to try that, let's try the most clichéd solutions. Yes, it is about time you sat on your knees and genuinely thanked Sir Thomas Edison. If you know that you are afraid of the dark, then his invention would most likely be your best friend. Yes, you need to keep a light source around you at all times. Whenever you feel wary that you are being “watched”, TURN IT ON! When the light shines through, I believe you will not find the killer from “Scream” pointing a knife at you!

Before I stop, remember that bothersome word called “Stress”? I bet you do. It is right there in that dictionary called your life. KICK IT OUT! If you fly away to the world of dreams the moment your head touches your pillow with only happy thoughts, then most likely, you would not meet the “monster” that night. Phew.

Finally, believe what the great Martin Luther King said- “We have to build dikes of courage in order to hold back the floods of fear.”