Fear of the moon (selenophobia)

Selenophobia is a fear of the moon. Some people feel uneasy looking at a full moon, others find its size near the horizon unsettling, and some avoid going outside on clear nights altogether. It can be linked to folklore, horror stories or simply the strangeness of something so large hanging in the sky.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek selene, meaning moon. It is uncommon and mostly found on lists rather than in clinical studies. It may overlap with nyctophobia, the fear of the dark, and with fears of space or the night sky.

What it feels like

• Avoiding looking up at night, especially at a full moon
• Drawing the curtains early so the moon is out of sight
• Feeling small, exposed or uneasy under a bright night sky

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

Common questions

Does the full moon really affect how people feel?

Folklore has long linked the full moon with strange behaviour, but the evidence for that is mixed at best. What matters more for someone with selenophobia is the fear itself, which can be strong whatever its cause. It responds to the same approaches as other specific phobias.

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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