Fear of responsibility (hypengyophobia)

Hypengyophobia is a fear of responsibility. It may lead someone to turn down promotions, avoid leading projects, or leave decisions to others, even when they are perfectly capable. Big life steps, such as becoming a parent, owning a pet or signing a lease, can feel overwhelming.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek hypengyos, meaning responsible. It is a rare term found mainly on lists of phobias rather than in clinical writing. It often sits alongside fear of failure, known as atychiphobia, and fear of making decisions, sometimes called decidophobia.

What it feels like

• Saying no to roles or tasks that involve being in charge
• Intense worry about being blamed if something goes wrong
• Putting off commitments that come with long-term duties

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

Common questions

Is fear of responsibility just a fear of failure?

They are closely linked, but not quite the same. Fear of responsibility often centres on being accountable or blamed, while fear of failure is about not succeeding. Many people notice a bit of both, and it can help to work out which feels stronger.

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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