Fear of environmental catastrophe (ecophobia)

Ecophobia is a fear of catastrophic environmental change. News of floods, wildfires or rising seas can bring on dread, and some people find it hard to stop thinking about the planet’s future.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek oikos, meaning house or home, here in the sense of the natural world. It is narrower than eco-anxiety, which is a wider term for distress about the environment and is more often discussed today. Ecophobia also appears with other meanings on some lists and in academic writing.

What it feels like

• Dread or hopelessness after reading climate news
• Struggling to switch off worries about the future
• Guilt about everyday choices such as travel or shopping

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

Common questions

Is it normal to feel afraid about climate change?

Concern about the environment is a reasonable response to real problems, and many people share it. It becomes a problem when the fear stops you sleeping, enjoying life or doing things that matter to you. Taking small practical steps and limiting time spent on the news helps some people feel steadier.

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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