Fear of feathers (pteronophobia)

Pteronophobia is a fear of feathers. Lists often describe it as a fear of being tickled with feathers, but in practice people may react to loose feathers on the ground, feather pillows and duvets, or birds moulting nearby. It can turn something soft and harmless into something to avoid.

About this phobia

The name is taken from the Greek pteron, meaning feather or wing. It is not a well documented clinical term and appears mostly on online lists. It is often linked with ornithophobia, the fear of birds, though some people with pteronophobia are fine with birds themselves.

What it feels like

• A shiver or skin-crawling feeling when a feather brushes against you
• Checking bedding, cushions and coats for feathers before using them
• Stepping well around a single feather on the pavement

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

Common questions

Is a fear of feathers the same as a fear of birds?

Not always. Some people fear birds and feathers together, but others only react to the feathers, especially loose ones or the feel of them on skin. Knowing which part causes the fear helps when deciding how to work on it.

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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