Fear of success (achievemephobia)

Achievemephobia is a name given to the fear of success. It can show up as turning down a promotion, leaving projects unfinished just before they pay off, or feeling uneasy when praise arrives. People often describe it as a worry about what success might change, such as higher expectations or being more visible.

About this phobia

The word mixes the English achieve with the Greek phobos, meaning fear, which points to a modern coinage rather than a long standing clinical term. It is found mostly on lists of phobias. The wider idea of fear of success has been written about in psychology, and it often overlaps with fear of failure and with impostor feelings.

What it feels like

• Stopping short just as something starts going well
• Feeling more anxious after good news than after setbacks
• Playing down achievements or brushing off compliments

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

Common questions

Is fear of success the same as fear of failure?

They are different but often linked. Fear of failure centres on falling short, while fear of success centres on what might follow a win, such as pressure, attention or change. Many people notice a bit of both.

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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