Fear of property (orthophobia)

Orthophobia is listed as a fear of property. This could mean anxiety about owning things, about the responsibility of a home, or about damaging or losing possessions. In practice it might show up as stress over buying a house or a reluctance to own anything of value.

About this phobia

The term is rarely reported and is found mainly on lists of phobias. The prefix ortho usually means straight or correct, so the link to property is unclear, and different lists may use the word differently. It may overlap with general worries about money, responsibility and loss.

What it feels like

• Stress at the thought of signing a mortgage or lease
• Keeping possessions to a minimum
• Worrying about damage, theft or upkeep

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

Common questions

Is orthophobia a real phobia?

It is a term found on lists of phobias rather than a recognised clinical diagnosis. Even so, worry about owning or looking after property is real for some people, and it can be worked on like other anxieties.

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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