Fear of collarbones (clavicophobia)

Clavicophobia is a fear of collarbones, your own or other people’s. It might show up as discomfort at bones that stand out under the skin, avoiding low necklines, or not wanting the area touched. Some people find the thought of the bone breaking or moving the hardest part.

About this phobia

The word comes from clavicle, the medical name for the collarbone, from the Latin clavicula, meaning little key. It is rarely reported and found mainly on lists of unusual phobias. It sits alongside other fears of bones and body parts, which often centre on how they look or the idea of injury.

What it feels like

• A shudder at collarbones that stand out in photos or in person
• Avoiding touching your own neck and shoulder area
• Choosing clothes that cover the base of the neck

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

Common questions

Is a fear of collarbones linked to body image?

It can be, especially if the fear is about how collarbones look on yourself or others. If worries about your body are taking up a lot of time, a GP is a good place to start. Any pain or lump near the collarbone is also worth getting checked by 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.

See all session options and prices