Fear of the colour black (melanophobia)

Melanophobia is a fear of the colour black. It may show up as unease around black clothing, cars or rooms, and some people find that very dark colours bring on a heavy, uneasy mood.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek melas, meaning black, which also gives us the word melanin. It is a rare term found mostly on lists. It can be confused with a fear of the dark, known as nyctophobia, but it is about the colour rather than the absence of light.

How it shows up

Black is common in clothing, cars and modern design, so a fear of the colour can come up often. Someone with melanophobia may feel heavy or uneasy around black objects, avoid dark clothes or tense up in a room with black walls. For some the colour carries a sense of gloom, illness or loss. This goes beyond a matter of taste, as it can affect mood and choices quite strongly.

Common triggers

• Black clothing, especially formal wear
• Black cars or vehicles
• Rooms with dark walls or furniture
• Black animals such as cats or crows
• Mourning dress at funerals
• Dark screens or blank displays
• Dark winter evenings

Where it shows up

• Formal events and ceremonies
• Shops and modern offices
• Nightclubs and theatres
• Homes with dark decor
• Car parks and roads
• Funerals and memorials

Symptoms

In your body

• Heavy or flat feeling
• Fast heartbeat
• Tight chest
• Feeling cold or shaky
• Tense shoulders

In your mind

• Low or gloomy mood
• Memories of loss or bad times
• Sense of threat or bad luck
• Feeling drained or flat

What you might do

• Avoiding black clothes or items
• Choosing bright colours at home
• Looking away from dark objects
• Avoiding events with dark dress codes

What may cause it

There is almost no research on melanophobia itself. Fears of a colour often grow from links with past events, such as a funeral, a frightening figure dressed in black or a superstition learned as a child. Black is also tied to darkness and danger in many stories, which may feed the fear. Avoiding the colour keeps these links in place.

How it can affect your life

It can make getting dressed, choosing a car or going to formal events harder than it should be. Some people find their mood dips on days when black is all around them. As black is such a common colour for uniforms and work clothes, the fear can also limit some jobs.

Related fears

• Fear of the dark (nyctophobia)
• Fear of colours (chromophobia)
• Fear of death (thanatophobia)

Things that can help day to day

• Notice what black reminds you of and jot it down
• Look at small black items for a short time and notice the feeling fade
• Pair black with bright colours in clothes or decor
• Talk about any loss or sad memory linked to the colour

When to get help

If the fear is tied to grief or a hard time, talking to your GP or a counsellor can help. A therapist who works with phobias can help when the fear itself is limiting daily life.

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

About me

Common questions

Is melanophobia the same as a fear of the dark?

No, although the two can overlap. Fear of the dark is about not being able to see, while melanophobia is about the colour itself, even in daylight. For some people, black is tied to mourning or a hard memory.

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.

Further reading: Cleveland Clinic: Nyctophobia (fear of the dark) · NHS: Phobias

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