There is fear. And then there is the fear of fear – a deeper spiral, an echo that repeats itself not because danger is real, but because the psyche expects to suffer.
It is not the cliff that terrifies you, but the memory of falling.
Not the darkness itself, but your mind rehearsing a future panic attack in the dark.
This recursive loop is not merely psychological – it is ritualistic, neurochemical, and often karmic in nature. The fear of fear feeds itself like an ouroboros: the serpent swallowing its own tail, generating anxiety about anxiety, dread of dread, panic about the possibility of panic.
From a clinical standpoint, this experience has a name: phobophobia.
Phobophobia is the fear of fear itself — a state in which a person experiences intense anxiety, dread, or even panic in anticipation of the physical symptoms of fear. This often includes sensations like rapid heartbeat, dizziness, tightness in the chest, or shortness of breath. Importantly, phobophobia is not fear of a specific object or situation, but fear of fear’s return, fear of its inevitability. It commonly coexists with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, forming a kind of psychological echo chamber that amplifies distress.
But if we look beyond the diagnostic code, something more ancient reveals itself. What you’re feeling is not weakness. It’s a misfired prophecy from your nervous system, woven through synaptic memory, ancestral wounds, and sometimes unconscious soul contracts that bind you to the frequency of vigilance.
Table: Layers of the Fear of Fear
| Layer | Description | Healing Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Neurobiological | Fear loop triggered by overactive amygdala | Somatic regulation, breathwork |
| Psychological | Fear of past experiences repeating | Cognitive reframing, shadow work |
| Energetic | Stored trauma in body fields or chakra system | Psychoenergetic release, grounding rituals |
| Karmic/Ancestral | Transgenerational fear scripts | Karmic constellations, soul contract work |
How to Stop the Fear of Fear – In 5 Ritualized Movements
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Interrupt the Prophecy.
When your mind starts forecasting panic, say out loud:
“This is not the past. This is not a prophecy. This is an old voice I now choose to silence.”
Naming it breaks its psychic pattern. -
Anchor the Body into Now.
Fear of fear exists in the not-yet. So, bring yourself radically into the now.
Touch your skin. Stomp your feet. Inhale through the nose, exhale with a hiss. Reclaim territory from the future. -
Dissolve Soul Contracts with Anxiety.
Say internally or ritually:
“I unbind myself from any agreements to remain anxious in order to stay safe, seen, or connected. I dissolve this script in all timelines.”
This is not symbolic – it’s energetic coding. It shifts your field. -
Rewire the Loop with Neuroplasticity.
Use a daily practice like:
“I expect peace. I prepare for calm. I remember safety.”
These phrases, repeated during moments of stillness, overwrite anticipatory fear. -
Engage a Karmic Constellation Practice.
Visualize yourself in a sacred circle. Invite in the ancestors who feared the unknown. Speak:
“Your fear ends with me. I carry forward your strength, not your dread.”
Let the system recalibrate. This is healing through acknowledgment.
What If Fear Is a Portal?
Sometimes, what we call fear is actually the nervous system sensing a threshold of transformation.
When you’re close to a breakthrough, the body often mislabels the energy as danger – simply because it is unfamiliar.
In these moments, the fear of fear is the veil before revelation.
So instead of asking “How do I get rid of this?”, try asking:
“What part of me is trying to awaken underneath this trembling?”
“Is this panic… or is this power misunderstood?”
✴︎ With Grace,
Adrian Băjenaru Constantine
Karmic Energy Healer, Qibbala Creator, Author.