Explaining chronophobia (the extreme fear of the passage of time)

An extreme fear of the passage of time became a more common experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, but why does it happen and what can we do about it?

I once knew someone who, every time they stayed at their in-laws’ house, asked for the grandfather clock outside the guest room to be muted. “I don’t want to lie in bed and listen to the seconds of my life ticking away,” they said. But what may sound like a particularly fussy houseguest, could share aspects with a very real fear experienced by some.

Chronophobia is the fear of the passage of time. But this isn’t about wishing you were doing more with your life or feeling a bit grumpy on your birthday, chronophobia is considered an anxiety disorder that comes with feelings of dread, and depression, and even leads to the development of obsessive behaviours.

For someone who is experiencing chronophobia, time can feel like it’s moving too quickly – though, equally, for others, it feels like it’s moving too slowly. It may be accompanied by an extreme fear of death or dying (called ‘thanatophobia’), or an overwhelming feeling of having no control over the passage of time. But, as psychotherapist Kaire Davidson sees it, it rarely comes out of nowhere.

“Chronophobia has its roots somewhere in the past; it is not random,” she explains. “Even when we speak about triggers, such as a life-threatening health condition or a loss, we need to understand the bigger context of someone’s life, because not everyone will respond in the same way to these triggers. If I had a client with chronophobia, I would be asking myself: why has this person reacted in this way at this particular moment in time? Even if a client has experienced this for a long time, there will have been a starting point, and that is significant.”

Chronophobia tends to be more common among those who are elderly or ill, people who have had near-death experiences, or who’ve been through similar traumatic events, along with those serving time in prison. In fact, chronophobia is also known as ‘prison neurosis’ or ‘institutional neurosis’ – a recognised psychiatric disorder which affects people who have spent a long time in prison or a hospital, and can lead to a lack of motivation to cooperate in rehabilitation or recovery.

That said, chronophobia became a more common experience among the general population during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a paper published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry explaining that this happened due to people feeling forced to ‘live by the clock’. It’s thought that people in their 30s were particularly affected by this – with the hypothesis being that they were losing out on time when they may have usually been getting married, buying a home, or planning a family. In many cases, lockdown and restrictions made reaching those key life stages harder – and sometimes impossible – yet time continued on, as it always does.

For others, actually reaching these milestones can be a trigger for chronophobia. Events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and reaching other personal milestones such as job promotions or having children, can all bring these feelings to the forefront.

“The way I see it, chronophobia is really a state of frequent or near-constant anxiety – and life in near-constant anxiety, as we can imagine, is living hell,” says Kaire, reflecting on the broader impact chronophobia can have on our wellbeing. “Anxiety is always about the future, and it robs us of the ability to live in the present. A person who is always preoccupied with a worry about time (or life) passing, will find it almost impossible to experience joy, stay focused enough to follow things through, or grounded enough to relax on a day-to-day basis. This can affect relationships, career, health, and could lead to depression.”

When it comes to addressing chronophobia, most approaches will look at ways to treat the underlying anxiety.

“In the short-term, practices that are grounding and body-orientated can be helpful,” Kaire explains. “Start small: you can introduce a five-minute daily practice involving one of the five senses; or mindful breathing; or get involved in tai chi, martial arts, or yoga. These practices help to anchor us into the here and now.”

Some people may benefit from taking anxiety medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines, alongside talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy – which can help people take control over anxious thoughts and behavioural patterns. Hypnotherapy and support groups are also other options that may support people experiencing this intense fear.

“Longer term, this is a complex and potentially hugely debilitating issue, but I think therapy can help. It can help us understand how we got here and, in a way, demystify how we’re feeling. I believe this is crucial, and can offer hope, as well as an emerging sense of agency,” Kaire continues. “This is a good start, however, it’s not the whole picture. In working with someone who experiences a fear of time passing, I would probably hold in mind themes such as meaning, loss, and perhaps the spiritual self, if a client is that way inclined. For anyone struggling, I’d say, please do seek help – you don’t have to resolve this alone.”

The passing of time is inevitable, but feelings of distress, anxiety, and depression related to this do not have to be. So, if what’s been discussed here is resonating with you, let this be a sign that it’s time to take back control.