Fear of standing or walking (stasiphobia)

Stasiphobia is a fear of standing or walking. It often follows a fall, an injury or a spell of illness, and can lead someone to stay seated, hold on to furniture, or avoid going out. Any real dizziness, weakness or pain when standing should be checked by a GP, as there may be a physical cause.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek stasis, meaning standing. It is a rare term mostly found on lists, and it sits close to basophobia, the fear of walking or falling, with the two sometimes joined together. In older people, fear of falling is widely recognised and can limit daily life a great deal.

What it feels like

• Holding on to walls, rails or furniture even on flat ground
• Avoiding standing in queues or walking in busy places
• Feeling shaky, light-headed or unsteady when getting up

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

Common questions

Can a fear of falling make walking harder?

Yes, fear can make people stiffer and more hesitant, which can affect balance and confidence. A GP can check for physical causes and may refer on to a physiotherapist or a local falls service. Working on the fear alongside that can help with getting moving again.

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