Fear of missiles and bullets (ballistophobia)

Ballistophobia describes a fear of missiles, bullets or other objects fired through the air. For some people it is set off by news coverage, war films or video games, while others feel uneasy at fireworks or near shooting ranges. For anyone living in or near conflict, this fear is entirely understandable.

About this phobia

The word comes from ballistics, the study of objects in flight, which in turn goes back to the Greek ballein, to throw. It is not a recognised clinical diagnosis and appears mostly on lists of unusual phobias. Where the fear follows a frightening real event, it may be closer to trauma than to a simple phobia.

What it feels like

• Jumping or freezing at sudden bangs, such as car backfires or fireworks
• Switching off films, games or news reports that show gunfire
• Avoiding places like shooting ranges, military displays or bonfire nights

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

Common questions

What if this fear started after something that really happened?

Fear that follows a real frightening event can be a trauma response rather than a phobia, and it deserves proper support. A GP can point you towards trauma-focused help, and it is fine to take things at your own pace.

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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