Fear of words (logophobia)

Logophobia is a fear of words. Depending on the person, that might mean dread around reading, writing, or certain words that carry a strong emotional charge, and it can make emails, forms or exams feel much harder than they should.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek logos, meaning word. It is rarely reported and not a formal diagnosis. It is different from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, the jokey name for a fear of long words.

What it feels like

• Putting off reading letters, emails or forms
• Feeling tense when writing in front of others
• A strong reaction to certain words, spoken or written

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

Common questions

Is a fear of words linked to dyslexia?

It can be for some people. Years of struggling with reading or spelling can leave a lasting worry around words. A dyslexia assessment can be useful if this sounds familiar, though not everyone with logophobia has dyslexia.

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.

See all session options and prices