Fear of speed (tachophobia)

Tachophobia is a fear of speed, whether travelling fast yourself or watching things move quickly. It might mean feeling panicky on motorways, avoiding fast trains or fairground rides, or asking a driver again and again to slow down.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek tachos, meaning speed, the same root seen in words such as tachometer. It is an uncommon term found mostly on phobia lists, though fear of fast travel often overlaps with better-known fears such as fear of driving, fear of flying or fear of losing control.

What it feels like

• Gripping the seat or holding your breath as a vehicle speeds up
• Choosing slower roads or routes even when they take much longer
• A racing heart or dizziness on fast rides, trains or escalators

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

Common questions

Why do I panic when a car goes fast?

Speed can trigger a sense of losing control, especially if you are not the one in charge of the vehicle. For some people it links back to a near miss or accident, while for others it grows out of general anxiety. Noticing exactly what feels threatening is a useful first step.

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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