Fear of ideas (ideophobia)

Ideophobia is a fear of ideas. It might show up as unease with new ways of thinking, avoiding debate or discussion, or distress at your own unwanted or unusual thoughts. Some people feel safer sticking to familiar routines and opinions.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek idea, meaning form or notion. It is a rarely reported term found mostly on lists of phobias, with little clinical documentation. It can be linked to fear of change, known as metathesiophobia, and to heresyphobia, the fear of ideas that challenge official doctrine.

What it feels like

• Shutting down conversations that raise new or challenging views
• Anxiety when asked to think creatively or brainstorm
• Being troubled by your own unwanted thoughts

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

Common questions

What if I am frightened by my own thoughts?

Unwanted or upsetting thoughts are very common and do not say anything about who you are. When they are frequent and cause a lot of distress, they can be part of anxiety or OCD. A GP can help you find the right support.

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