Fear of tombstones (placophobia)

Placophobia is a fear of tombstones or gravestones. It can make walking past a churchyard or attending a burial difficult, and it is often bound up with feelings about loss and remembrance. Some people feel fine day to day but notice the fear when visiting the grave of someone they love.

About this phobia

This term is rarely reported and appears mainly on online lists of phobias. It is not a recognised clinical diagnosis. It sits close to coimetrophobia, the fear of cemeteries, and to thanatophobia, the fear of death.

What it feels like

• Unease or a quick heartbeat when passing a churchyard or cemetery
• Finding it hard to visit a family grave
• Avoiding films, images or places with headstones

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

Common questions

Is it normal to feel uneasy around gravestones?

Many people feel quiet or sombre in cemeteries, and that is a natural response to reminders of loss. It becomes more of a concern if the fear stops you visiting someone you miss or attending a funeral. Gentle support, including bereavement services, can help if grief is part of the picture.

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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