Fear of writing (graphophobia)

Graphophobia is a fear of writing, especially in front of other people. Signing a form at a bank counter, writing on a whiteboard or filling in a card while someone waits can trigger shaking hands or a racing heart. Some people avoid writing by hand altogether.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek graphein, meaning to write. It is mostly found on phobia lists, and the specific fear of writing in public is also called scriptophobia. Worry about being watched while writing is often understood as a form of social anxiety.

What it feels like

• Hands shaking or handwriting changing when someone is watching
• Avoiding signing documents or cards in person
• Worry that spelling or messy writing will be judged

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

Common questions

Why do my hands shake when I write in front of people?

Being watched can trigger the body’s stress response, and a shaky hand is a common sign of that. The shake then becomes something to worry about, which can make it worse next time. If your hands shake even when you are alone, it is worth mentioning to a GP.

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