Fear of memory loss (amnesiphobia)

Amnesiphobia is a fear of amnesia, or of losing your memory. Small slips, like forgetting a name or why you walked into a room, can set off real alarm. If memory problems are genuinely getting worse, a GP is the right person to check them.

About this phobia

The name is built on amnesia, from the Greek for forgetfulness. It is rarely reported as a phobia in its own right. The fear often sits alongside health anxiety and worries about dementia, particularly for people who have watched a relative live with memory loss.

What it feels like

• Testing yourself on names, dates or facts
• Panicking over everyday forgetfulness
• Writing everything down in case it slips away

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

Common questions

Is it normal to forget things?

Yes, everyday forgetfulness is very common, and stress, poor sleep and anxiety itself can all make memory feel worse. Ongoing or worsening memory problems should be checked by a GP. Getting a proper check often eases the worry.

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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