Fear of anger (angrophobia)

Angrophobia is a fear of anger, either other people’s anger or your own. It might mean avoiding any conflict, apologising quickly to calm things down, or holding back irritation until it feels overwhelming. Raised voices, even on television, can be enough to set it off.

About this phobia

The word joins the English anger with the Greek phobos, meaning fear, so it is a modern blend rather than a clinical term. It is rarely reported. The alternative name cholerophobia can be confusing, as it is also used for fear of cholera.

What it feels like

• Going along with others to avoid any argument
• Feeling shaky or frozen when someone raises their voice
• Bottling up frustration for fear of what it might lead to

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

Common questions

Why would someone be afraid of their own anger?

Some people worry that if they let anger out, they will lose control or damage a relationship. This can come from growing up around angry outbursts, and if the fear relates to past mistreatment, a GP or specialist counsellor can help. Learning that anger can be felt and expressed safely often eases 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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