Fear of kissing (philemaphobia)

Philemaphobia is a fear of kissing. It may come from worries about germs, bad breath, getting it wrong, or simply being so close to someone. Dating and relationships can become hard, and some people also feel uneasy about a social kiss on the cheek.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek philema, meaning kiss, and it is also spelled philematophobia. It is a rare fear rather than a separate clinical diagnosis, though it is sometimes written about alongside fears of intimacy. It can overlap with mysophobia, the fear of germs.

What it feels like

• Tension or nerves as a date ends or a moment becomes close
• Worry about breath, germs or doing it badly
• Turning away or making excuses to avoid a kiss

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

Common questions

Why would someone be afraid of kissing?

Reasons vary from person to person. For some it is about germs or hygiene, for others it is fear of being judged or of closeness itself. If it connects to an upsetting or unwanted experience, a GP or specialist counsellor can 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