Fear of flashes of light (selaphobia)

Selaphobia is a fear of flashes of light. It might mean avoiding concerts and clubs with strobe lighting, flinching at camera flashes, or feeling tense during a thunderstorm. Flashes seen in your own vision that are not coming from outside should be checked by an optician or GP.

About this phobia

The name appears to come from the Greek selas, meaning a bright light or flash. It is rarely reported and found mostly on lists. It can overlap with photophobia, which in medicine usually means discomfort from light rather than fear, and with worries about migraines or seizures set off by flashing lights.

What it feels like

• Shutting your eyes or looking away when cameras flash
• Avoiding gigs, clubs, fireworks or flashing screens
• Tension during storms while waiting for the next lightning flash

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

Common questions

Is selaphobia linked to epilepsy?

Not directly, but some people with photosensitive epilepsy or migraine have good reason to be careful around flashing lights, and that caution can grow into fear. Anyone with seizures or new visual symptoms should speak to a GP. Where the fear goes beyond the real risk, it can be worked on separately.

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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