Fear of justice (dikephobia)

Dikephobia is a fear of justice. It may mean dreading courts, legal letters or official processes, or living with a constant worry about being judged, blamed or punished, even when nothing has been done wrong.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek dike, meaning justice, which was also the name of the Greek goddess of justice. It is rarely reported and found mostly on lists. It can overlap with worries about authority, about being in trouble, and about guilt.

What it feels like

• A jolt of fear when an official letter or brown envelope arrives
• Feeling guilty or anxious around police officers or court buildings
• Running through worst-case scenarios of being blamed or punished

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

Common questions

Can a fear of justice come from feeling guilty?

It can. Some people carry a strong sense that they will be found out or punished, even without any reason. Others developed the fear after a stressful legal case or being wrongly blamed in the past.

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