Fear of fatigue (kopophobia)

Kopophobia is a fear of fatigue, either of becoming tired or of what tiredness might mean. Someone with this fear may cancel plans to avoid getting worn out, or treat every dip in energy as a warning sign. Ongoing or unexplained tiredness is worth checking with a GP, so that any physical cause can be looked into.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek kopos, meaning weariness. It is an uncommon term found mostly on phobia lists rather than in clinical use. It can sit alongside health anxiety, where normal body signals are read as signs of something serious.

What it feels like

• Watching energy levels closely throughout the day
• Turning down activities in case they lead to exhaustion
• Worry that feeling tired means something is badly wrong

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

Common questions

Is it normal to worry this much about being tired?

Everyone feels tired at times, and some concern about it is natural. When the fear starts to shape daily plans, it may be part of a wider health worry. A GP can check any real symptoms, which often eases the uncertainty.

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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