Fear of cold and ice (cryophobia)

Some people feel real dread around cold, ice and frost. With cryophobia, a frosty morning, an icy pavement or even reaching into a freezer can bring on anxiety, and winter itself may feel like something to get through rather than live in.

About this phobia

Cryo comes from the Greek kryos, meaning icy cold. The word is rarely used in clinical settings, and several similar terms for fear of cold, such as frigophobia and cheimaphobia, appear on lists with overlapping meanings. Slipping on ice, being caught out in freezing weather or a past bad experience in winter can all feed into it.

What it feels like

• Checking forecasts often and dreading frost or snow warnings
• Piling on layers well beyond what is needed, or staying in on cold days
• Tension or panic when touching ice, cold water or freezing surfaces

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

Common questions

Why would someone be afraid of the cold?

Often the fear is less about the cold itself and more about what it might lead to, such as falling on ice, getting ill or feeling stuck somewhere freezing. A frightening experience in cold weather can also play a part. Any health worries linked to the cold, such as poor circulation, are worth checking with a GP.

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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