Fear of colours (chromophobia)

Chromophobia is a fear of colours, which may be about one colour, a few, or bright colours in general. Someone with it might avoid certain clothes, rooms or foods because of their colour. The fear is often tied to a memory or meaning the colour has picked up over time.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek chroma, meaning colour, and it is also called chromatophobia. It is rare and found mostly on lists of phobias. In biology the word chromophobe has a separate meaning, describing cells that do not take up dye easily.

What it feels like

• Strong unease around one particular colour
• Keeping clothes, decor and belongings in a narrow range of shades
• Feeling overwhelmed by bright, busy or clashing colours

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

Common questions

Can a fear of colour be caused by a past experience?

Yes, a colour can become linked to a frightening or upsetting event, such as the colour of a uniform, a room or an object, and then act as a reminder. Some people also find bright colours overwhelming because of sensory sensitivity rather than 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.

See all session options and prices