Chronophobia - a fear of time
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325913)
Rockingham, Australia
February 27, 2020 8:26am CST
My husband, Vince belongs to a number of photo sites on the web. They put up photos to share with each other and occasionally share a bit about themselves too. Some of the sites run friendly competitions. The subject for one of the competitions is ‘Time’.
One of Vince’s friends on the site said the competition will be difficult for her as she has a phobia of time. We were both dumbfounded at this but sure enough, there is such a condition. The fancy name is Chronophobia. Linked to this is chronomentrophobia, which is the fear of clocks or watches.
The symptoms vary from person to person but can include extreme anxiety, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, and shaking.
I thought being allergic to cold was very ‘different’ but a fear of time seems even more bizarre although I’m sure it is very serious for those who suffer from it.
Vince put up this photo as ‘Time weighs heavily’
27 people like this
28 responses
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
28 Feb 20
I love the photo and wow it must be a little difficult to live without time.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Feb 20
Love his photo. No I did not know this existed.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (15741)
• Raurkela, India
28 Feb 20
I think I too am a victim of chronophobia as I sometimes become anxious with time. It may be a kind of anxiety too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325913)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Feb 20
@aninditasen I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't nice having anxiety.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15741)
• Raurkela, India
29 Feb 20
@JudyEv Being too anxious about time is a kind of phobia which I am sometimes.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
27 Feb 20
I had no idea. That's interesting. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325913)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 20
@FayeHazel There are dozens. There is a phobia website somewhere which lists them all.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Feb 20
@JudyEv I wonder how many things out there are phobias
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8539)
• United Kingdom
27 Feb 20
Chronophobia does seem a little strange. I suppose, though, that there must be a fear to go with everything. Is chronophobia a fear of time in a general sense? Or is it a fear of time passing? Or something more specific? I'd wonder how it worked as, surely, the person with the phobia would be in constant fear (unless they only feared it when they were aware of the time).
There are some unusual phobias around. My big sister @dorypanda has an interesting collection of them. I don't have any. Some may say I have cynophobia but my fear of dogs isn't an irrational one. My sister has, among others, vermiphobia/scoleciphobia, pogonophobia, and a fear of wire coat hangers.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8539)
• United Kingdom
27 Feb 20
@JudyEv No, she's just a bit weird 
I might ask her about that one, though. I don't know if there is a reason or, if there is, whether she remembers.
I might ask her about that one, though. I don't know if there is a reason or, if there is, whether she remembers.1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
7 Mar 20
Interesting. It is a weird phobia. First time to know
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40556)
• United States
29 Feb 20
That's strange. I must be the total opposite because I want clocks in every room, sometimes more than one. I just have this need to know the time. My daughter only has one on the microwave (she uses her cell) and when we're there, it drives me crazy!
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
27 Feb 20
I wonder how do these people cope with life
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
27 Feb 20
@JudyEv yes....I agree.and if we look deep they are so many fears that exist beyond our imagination
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85366)
• Bangalore, India
28 Feb 20
That's definitely a strange phobia. Not heard of it but guess we learn something new each day.
And I liked this photo of Vince and the title too
Wishing him luck. 
Wishing him luck. 1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170083)
• United States
28 Feb 20
That seems a strange one, something like fear of being late or some such thing, would make more sense.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325913)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 20
I agree. It seems a really strange thing to have.
@besweet (9861)
• Ireland
28 Feb 20
The word Chronometrophobia has greek origin!
"Chronos" in Greek means time, "Metro" means measure and "Phobia" means fear.
The Chronometro is the timer, that's probably why the use this word to describe the fear of watches.
Fear of time must be very very hard to manage, it is something we can't escape from.
"Chronos" in Greek means time, "Metro" means measure and "Phobia" means fear.
The Chronometro is the timer, that's probably why the use this word to describe the fear of watches.
Fear of time must be very very hard to manage, it is something we can't escape from.1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73506)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Feb 20
I love the photo. With all my writing deadlines and constant search for more work thank heavens, I am not afraid of time
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325913)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 20
I'm afraid I'd have trouble with someone professing to have some of these phobias. I'm not very patient/tolerant in some ways. Some phobias seem an 'easy' way to get away with strange behaviours.
