Fear of dawn (eosophobia)

Eosophobia is a fear of dawn. First light can bring a sense of dread, perhaps about the day ahead, and some people keep curtains closed or try to sleep through daybreak.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek eos, meaning dawn, and Eos was also the Greek goddess of the dawn. It is a rarely reported term found mostly on lists. It can overlap with fears of daylight, such as phengophobia, and with worry or low mood that feels worst in the early morning.

What it feels like

• Dread as the sky starts to lighten
• Waking early and lying tense until it is time to get up
• Keeping blackout blinds or curtains tightly shut at daybreak

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

Common questions

Why might someone dread the dawn?

Dawn marks the start of a new day, which can feel heavy for anyone who is anxious or low. For some it is linked to past night shifts, poor sleep or a difficult memory from that time of day. If low mood or sleep problems are ongoing, a GP can help.

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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