Fear of wooden objects (xylophobia)

Xylophobia is a fear of wooden objects. It might mean avoiding wooden furniture, floors or toys, feeling uneasy in timber buildings, or disliking the feel of wood grain under the hand.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek xylon, meaning wood, the same root as xylophone. It is rarely reported and appears mostly on lists, some of which also give it as a fear of forests. The fear may link to texture, splinters or a particular memory rather than to wood itself.

What it feels like

• Avoiding touching wooden tables, handrails or utensils
• Discomfort in rooms with wooden floors or panelling
• Worry about splinters or rough surfaces

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

Common questions

How can someone be afraid of wood?

Like other specific fears, it often grows from an association, such as a painful splinter or an upsetting memory linked to a wooden object or place. It can also be partly sensory, with the texture itself feeling unpleasant.

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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