Fear of heredity (patroiophobia)

Patroiophobia is a fear of heredity, usually centred on inheriting an illness, a mental health condition or certain traits from parents. It often surfaces after a relative is diagnosed with something, or when thinking about having children. If you are worried about a specific condition in your family, a GP can talk through the risks and whether testing or genetic counselling makes sense.

About this phobia

This term appears mostly on lists of phobias and is not used as a clinical diagnosis. Very little has been written about it as its own fear. It often overlaps with health anxiety and with worries about family history, which are far more widely discussed.

What it feels like

• Dread that you will end up with the same illness as a parent or grandparent
• Watching yourself closely for signs of family traits or conditions
• Anxiety about passing something on to your own children

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

Common questions

Is it normal to fear inheriting a family illness?

Yes, worry about family history is common, especially after a relative becomes ill. Getting the real facts from a GP often helps, because many conditions are shaped by more than genes alone. If the worry stays high even after reassurance, support for health anxiety may help.

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