Fear of memories (mnemophobia)

Mnemophobia is a fear of memories, which often means a fear of particular memories surfacing rather than of remembering in general. People may avoid photos, music, places or conversations that bring the past back. If the memories you avoid are linked to something difficult that happened to you, a GP or specialist counsellor can help.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek mneme, meaning memory. It is a rarely reported term found mostly on lists of phobias. Avoiding painful memories can also be part of better-understood conditions, so a GP is a good first step if this feels heavy.

What it feels like

• Steering away from old photos, songs or places
• A jolt of anxiety when a smell or phrase brings back the past
• Keeping busy so there is no quiet time for memories to surface

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

Common questions

Is it unusual to be afraid of your own memories?

It is more common than the rare name suggests. Many people avoid reminders of hard times, and that avoidance can grow over time. Talking to someone trained to help is often a useful step.

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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