Fear of dust (amathophobia)

Amathophobia is a fear of dust. It may show up as frequent cleaning, discomfort in older buildings, or worry about breathing dust in. Some people notice the fear is strongest in places like building sites, attics or charity shops.

About this phobia

Both amathophobia and koniophobia are given as names for this fear, and koniophobia comes from the Greek konis, meaning dust. Neither is a widely used clinical term. The fear can overlap with mysophobia, the fear of germs and dirt, and sometimes with health worries about the lungs.

What it feels like

• Wiping surfaces again soon after cleaning them
• Holding the breath or covering the mouth in dusty places
• Avoiding lofts, garages or old furniture

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

Common questions

Is a fear of dust a sign of OCD?

Not necessarily. Some people with obsessive compulsive disorder do focus on dust or dirt, but a fear of dust can also stand alone. If cleaning takes up a lot of time, or dust causes coughing or breathing problems, a GP can help work out what is going on.

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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