Fear of punishment (mastigophobia)

Mastigophobia is a fear of punishment. It might show up as intense worry about being told off at work, dreading any mistake, or feeling like a child in trouble when a manager or partner seems displeased.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek mastix, meaning whip. It is a rare term found mostly on phobia lists. A fear of punishment can grow from strict or harsh experiences earlier in life, and it can overlap with perfectionism and fear of authority.

What it feels like

• Strong fear of making mistakes or being found out
• Over-apologising or explaining before anyone has complained
• Feeling small and anxious around people in authority

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

Common questions

Can a fear of punishment come from childhood?

It can. Growing up with harsh discipline or unpredictable reactions can leave the body on alert for trouble well into adult life. If this fear is linked to past mistreatment, a GP or specialist counsellor can help.

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