Fear of the bogeyman (bogyphobia)

Bogyphobia is a fear of the bogeyman, the shadowy figure used in many homes to scare children into behaving. In children it can show up as fear of the dark, of the wardrobe or of what is under the bed. Some adults find the feeling never quite went away, especially at night.

About this phobia

The name is built on bogy, an older spelling of bogey, as in bogeyman. It is not a recognised clinical term and is found mainly on lists of phobias. It sits close to fears of the dark, of being alone at night and of imagined intruders.

What it feels like

• Checking under the bed, behind doors or inside wardrobes before sleep
• Needing a light on or a door left open at night
• A sudden chill at shadows or odd shapes in a dim room

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

Common questions

Is it normal for children to be scared of the bogeyman?

Yes, fears of monsters and imaginary figures are very common in early childhood and usually fade with time. Calm reassurance, a night light and not using the bogeyman as a threat can all help. If the fear is affecting sleep for a long time, in a child or an adult, a GP is a good place to start.

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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