Fear of certain places (topophobia)

Topophobia is a fear of certain places or situations, and the term is often linked to stage fright. Someone with it might feel fine most of the time but freeze before stepping on stage, entering a particular building, or returning to a place tied to a bad memory.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek topos, meaning place. It is a rare term with a loose definition, and lists use it both for fear of particular places and for performance anxiety. Stage fright and performance anxiety are far more widely discussed and are well recognised problems for performers, speakers and students.

What it feels like

• Shaking, a dry mouth or a blank mind just before performing
• Avoiding a specific place, route or building
• Strong anxiety in the days leading up to an event

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

Common questions

Is topophobia the same as stage fright?

The word is sometimes used to mean stage fright, but it can also describe fear of a particular place. If your fear centres on performing, information on stage fright and performance anxiety will usually be the most useful.

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