Fear of nothingness (nihilophobia)

Nihilophobia is described as a fear of nothingness. In real life a similar feeling can arise when thinking about the vastness of space, what lies beyond life, or a sense of emptiness that is hard to put into words.

About this phobia

Nihil is Latin for nothing. The term comes from Star Trek: Voyager, where it is a fictional fear, and it is not a recognised phobia. Thoughts about nothingness can overlap with a fear of death or with deep questions about meaning, which many people find unsettling at some point.

What it feels like

• Unease when looking up at a dark, empty sky
• Racing thoughts at night about what came before or after everything
• A hollow feeling that is difficult to describe to others

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

Common questions

Is it normal to feel scared when I think about nothingness?

Yes, many people feel a jolt of fear when they try to imagine nothing at all. These thoughts often come at quiet times, such as just before sleep. If they become frequent or upsetting, talking them through with someone you trust or a GP can help.

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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