Fear of new things (neophobia)

Neophobia is a fear of anything new, from new places and people to new routines or technology. It can make change of any kind, such as a new job or moving house, feel very hard. Plenty of people prefer the familiar; neophobia describes the point where that preference turns into real anxiety.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek neos, meaning new. Unlike many terms on lists of phobias, it is used in research, especially for animal behaviour and for young children who are wary of trying new foods. As a fear in adults it is less formally described.

What it feels like

• Sticking to the same foods, shops and routes
• Dread when plans change at short notice
• Putting off new gadgets, apps or ways of doing things

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

Common questions

Is it normal for children to refuse new foods?

Wariness of new foods is a common stage in childhood and often eases as children grow. If a child, or an adult, is eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP.

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