Fear of returning home (nostophobia)

Nostophobia is a fear of returning home. It may affect someone going back after travel, study or a long stay elsewhere, or someone who finds the family home stressful. The worry can build for days before a planned visit.

About this phobia

The term comes from the Greek nostos, meaning homecoming, the same root as nostalgia. It is uncommon and mostly found on lists of phobias. It can overlap with general anxiety about change and with the unsettled feeling some people have after time abroad.

What it feels like

• Dread as the date of a trip home gets closer
• Finding reasons to delay or shorten visits
• Feeling tense or low while travelling back

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

Common questions

Can past experiences at home cause this fear?

They can. If home holds difficult memories, or you were treated badly there, a GP or specialist counsellor can help. For others, the fear is more about change, expectations or losing a new sense of independence.

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