Fear of sinning (hamartophobia)

Hamartophobia is a fear of sinning, or of doing something morally wrong. People may go over their actions again and again, confess or apologise far more than needed, or avoid ordinary situations in case they slip. It can be exhausting and take much of the comfort out of faith.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek hamartia, meaning error or sin. The term itself is mostly found on lists, but the pattern it describes is well recognised as religious scrupulosity, which is often understood as a form of obsessive compulsive disorder. That means established help is available for it.

What it feels like

• Constant worry that a thought or action was sinful
• Repeated confessing, praying or seeking reassurance
• Avoiding people, places or media in case they lead to wrongdoing

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

Common questions

Is hamartophobia a sign of OCD?

It can be. When fear of sinning leads to repeated checking, confessing or reassurance seeking, it may be scrupulosity, which is often treated as a type of OCD. A GP can help you explore this and find the right support.

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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