Fear of experiencing pleasure (hedonophobia)
A fear of experiencing pleasure can show up as guilt when you are enjoying yourself, or a sense that something bad must follow a good moment. It is an unusual fear, but a real one, and it can be helped.
What it feels like
- Feeling guilty when enjoying yourself
- Expecting something bad after good news
- Turning down treats, fun or relaxation
Common questions
Why would anyone fear feeling good?
It can feel strange, but it often comes from learning early on that good times are followed by bad ones, or that enjoyment is selfish. The mind then tries to protect you by keeping pleasure at arm’s length. It is related to the fear of happiness, called cherophobia.
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
Hypnosis downloads for this fear
Prefer to start on your own? This recorded session from my store is £9.99 and yours to keep.
