Fear of fog (homichlophobia)

Homichlophobia is a fear of fog. Driving, walking or travelling in fog can bring on strong anxiety, and some people check forecasts closely or cancel plans when mist is expected. Losing clear sight, and not knowing what lies ahead, is often at the heart of it.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek homichle, meaning mist. It is an uncommon term with little clinical documentation, though unease about poor visibility is easy to understand. It can overlap with fear of driving, fear of the dark and fear of getting lost.

What it feels like

• Gripping the wheel, or refusing to drive, when fog rolls in
• A closed-in, trapped feeling when you cannot see far
• Checking forecasts and changing plans to avoid mist

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

Common questions

Is it reasonable to be scared of driving in fog?

Some caution is sensible, and slowing down or putting off a trip in thick fog is good practice. It becomes more of a phobia when even light mist causes panic or stops you going out at all. Noticing which part feels most frightening, such as losing sight or losing control, can be a useful start.

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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