Fear of lakes (limnophobia)

Limnophobia is a fear of lakes. It might mean avoiding lakeside walks, refusing boat trips or open water swims, or feeling uneasy at the thought of what lies under still, dark water.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek limne, meaning lake. It is uncommon and mostly found on lists rather than in clinical use. It is closely related to aquaphobia, the fear of water, and thalassophobia, the fear of deep open water.

What it feels like

• Unease at how deep or dark the water might be
• Avoiding walks, holidays or days out near lakes
• Worry about what might be hidden below the surface

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

Common questions

Is a fear of lakes the same as a fear of water?

Not always. Some people are fine in a clear swimming pool but uneasy by a lake, often because the water is dark, cold and of unknown depth. Others find the fear covers all water, which is closer to aquaphobia.

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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