Fear of going to bed (clinophobia)

Clinophobia is a fear of going to bed, which can mean dread of lying down, of falling asleep, or of what might happen in the night. People with it may stay up very late, sleep on the sofa or put off bedtime for as long as possible. Ongoing sleep problems are worth raising with a GP, especially if they affect daytime life.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek kline, meaning bed, a root also found in recline and clinic. It is uncommon as a clinical term. It often overlaps with somniphobia, a fear of sleep, and with worries about nightmares or sleep paralysis.

What it feels like

• A rise in tension as bedtime gets closer
• Finding reasons to stay up, such as screens or chores
• Lying awake listening for sounds or watching the clock

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

Common questions

What is the difference between clinophobia and insomnia?

Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, while clinophobia is a fear of going to bed in the first place. The two often feed each other, as fear makes sleep harder and poor sleep makes bedtime feel worse.

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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