Fear of cemeteries (coimetrophobia)

Coimetrophobia is a fear of cemeteries and graveyards. It might mean taking long detours to avoid walking past one, feeling uneasy at a burial, or finding it hard to visit the grave of someone you have lost. For many it is less about the place and more about the feelings it brings up.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek koimeterion, meaning a sleeping place, which is also the root of the English word cemetery. It is uncommon as a clinical term. It is closely linked to thanatophobia, the fear of death, and to fears of ghosts and the supernatural.

What it feels like

• Crossing the road or changing route to avoid a graveyard
• Dread at the thought of attending a funeral or burial
• A heavy, uneasy feeling near headstones, especially after dark

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it normal to feel uneasy in a cemetery?

A little unease is very common, as cemeteries remind us of loss. It becomes more of a problem when it stops you saying goodbye to someone or visiting a grave that matters to you. If grief is part of the picture, bereavement support can help alongside work on the fear.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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