Fear of a specific disease (monopathophobia)

Monopathophobia is a fear of one particular disease, rather than illness in general. A person might fear one condition so strongly that they check their body for signs or avoid any mention of it. Any real symptoms are always worth checking with a GP, who can look at them properly.

About this phobia

The word joins the Greek monos, meaning single, with pathos, meaning suffering or disease. It is rarely used outside lists of phobias. Fears of specific illnesses are more often discussed under health anxiety, and some have their own names, such as carcinophobia for cancer.

What it feels like

• Searching online about one illness again and again
• Checking the body for one set of signs
• Avoiding news, TV or conversations that mention the disease

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

Common questions

How is this different from health anxiety?

Health anxiety usually covers worry about being ill in a broad way, while monopathophobia narrows that to a single disease. The two overlap a lot. A GP can check any symptoms and talk through support for the worry itself.

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.

See all session options and prices