Fear of clocks (chronomentrophobia)

Chronomentrophobia is a fear of clocks. It can be about the objects themselves, the ticking sound, or what clocks stand for, such as time running out. Some people cannot sleep in a room with a ticking clock, while others feel a rush of panic watching the seconds go by.

About this phobia

The word draws on the Greek chronos, meaning time, and appears on several lists of unusual phobias, though it has little clinical documentation. It is close to chronophobia, a fear of time passing. For many people the clock is a reminder of deadlines, ageing or pressure rather than the real source of the fear.

What it feels like

• Being unable to rest with a ticking clock in the room
• Turning clocks around or taking them off the wall
• Rising panic watching a second hand or a countdown

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

Common questions

Is this the same as a fear of time passing?

They often overlap. Chronophobia is the name given for a fear of time itself, while chronomentrophobia points to clocks and watches. Working out whether it is the object or what it stands for can help shape the right support.

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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