Fear of sitting down (kathisophobia)

Kathisophobia is a fear of sitting down. Someone with this fear might stand through meals, meetings or long train rides, or tense up the moment they are offered a seat. If sitting causes real pain or discomfort, it is worth getting that checked with a GP, as a physical cause can sometimes feed the fear.

About this phobia

The term turns up mainly on online lists of phobias and is not a recognised clinical diagnosis. In practice, a fear like this is often tied to something else, such as feeling trapped once seated, worry about a chair giving way, or the memory of pain.

What it feels like

• Tension or dread when someone offers a seat
• Choosing to stand at events, on transport or at the table
• Perching on the edge of a chair, ready to get up quickly

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

Common questions

Why would someone be afraid of sitting down?

There is rarely one simple answer. For some people it links to feeling stuck or unable to leave, and for others to a past fall, injury or embarrassing moment. Looking at what the fear is really about is usually more useful than focusing on the chair itself.

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