Since a base game update released alongside the High School Years Expansion, Sims can develop fears that negatively affect their moods, interactions, and daily gameplay. These fears appear in the Traits panel and trigger Tense, Uncomfortable, or Scared Moodlets. This guide explains how to overcome every fear in The Sims 4 and restore your Sim’s confidence.
1. How to Conquer Fears in The Sims 4
Fears only appear in the Simology tab while active. Your Sim can only conquer a fear once its corresponding Fear-based Want shows up in the Wants and Fears panel (formerly known as Whims). These appear as jagged speech bubbles near your Sim’s portrait.
Active fears will appear in the Traits panel.
To remove a fear, complete the unique task shown in the fear’s Want. Most fears require your Sim to be Confident and face the fear directly. Once complete, the fear disappears from the Traits panel and grants a powerful Confident Moodlet lasting 12 in-game hours.
- Sims can have multiple fears, but only one Fear Want appears at a time
- Some fears require repeating an interaction multiple times
- Fears triggered by negative events won’t clear until the correct interaction is unlocked
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- Special Fear-based Wants appear when a fear is active.
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- Successfully overcoming a fear gives your Sim Confidence.
2. How to Make Your Sim Confident
Most fears in The Sims 4 must be resolved while your Sim is Confident. Use these methods to quickly gain this emotion:
- Use a mirror and select Psych Self Up
- Purchase and drink a Confident Potion from the Rewards Store
- Use the Regain Passion self-interaction (career-related fear)
- Get promoted or complete a successful interaction
3. How to Overcome Fear of Being Cheated On
This fear triggers if a Sim in a relationship hasn’t had recent romantic interactions or after a failed WooHoo. It does not require actual infidelity to occur.
To overcome it:
- Click your Sim’s partner
- Select Romance > Talk About Relationship Fears
- Repeat the interaction if needed until the fear disappears
Couples without romantic interaction for a while can become paranoid. Get them to speak up about their fears to clear the air.
4. How to Overcome Fear of Being Judged
This fear occurs after receiving Mean interactions from other Sims.
To overcome it:
- Click the Sim who insulted yours
- Select the unique interaction Figure Out Differences
- If it fails, try again later
Being judged by others isn’t a nice feeling. This can be fixed by the Sims working out their differences.
5. How to Overcome Fear of Cowplants
If your Sim is swallowed and spat out by a Cowplant, they may develop this fear.
To overcome it:
- Wait for the Cowplant to devour a Sim
- Make your Sim Confident
- Select Milk on the Cowplant
(Video by Vore in Media)
6. How to Overcome Fear of Crowded Places
Triggering events include attending parties, festivals, or visiting busy lots.
To overcome it:
- Visit a busy location
- Use Funny interactions like Tell Joke or Funny Story
Don’t let your Sims feel overwhelmed by busy places. Get a few jokes going to make their worries go away.
7. How to Overcome Fear of the Dark
This fear is triggered by vampires, alien abductions, or children woken by monsters under the bed (Parenthood Game Pack required).
To overcome it:
- Send your Sim outside at night
- Ensure they are Confident
Monsters under a child’s bed is one way to trigger a fear of the dark.
8. How to Overcome Fear of a Dead-End Job
This fear triggers if your Sim hasn’t been promoted in a while. It can happen in any career type.
To overcome it:
- Make your Sim Confident using Regain Passion (self-interaction)
- Trigger this within 1 in-game hour before work starts
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- Sims who are stressed at work can develop a fear of a dead-end job.
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- Send your Sims to work with renewed passion and confidence.
9. How to Overcome Fear of Death
This fear triggers for Elder Sims or Sims who witness another’s death.
To overcome it:
- Use the Talk About Fear of Death interaction
- Elders must talk to other Elders
- Alternatively, give the Grim Reaper a Death Flower
Death can be frightening for some Sims, including Elders in the last stage of their life. Talk it out to make them feel better.
10. How to Get a Death Flower in The Sims 4
How to Grow a Death Flower
- Graft Cherry to Apple to get a Pomegranate (requires Gardening Level 5)
- Graft Lily to Snapdragon to get an Orchid
- Graft Orchid to Pomegranate to produce a Death Flower
To get a Death Flower, your Sim needs a medium Gardening skill. Prepare to graft different flowers!
Alternative Methods
- Open rare seed packets
- Fish in specific locations
How to Use the Death Flower
- When the Grim Reaper appears after a death, give him the flower
- He will revive the dead Sim and remove the fear
The Grim Reaper usually only appears when a Sim dies, and he won’t stick around all day.
11. How to Overcome Fear of Disappointing Parents
Requires: High School Years Expansion
This fear arises from bad interactions between teen Sims and their parents.
To overcome it:
- Use Discuss Fears with a parent
Children can get reassurance from their parents if they’re worried about disappointing them.
12. How to Overcome Fear of Failing After-School Activities
Requires: High School Years Expansion
Teens develop this fear after bad experiences in extracurriculars.
To overcome it:
- Send your Sim to their activity while Confident
13. How to Overcome Fear of Failing Class
Requires: High School Years Expansion
This fear triggers if a teen Sim misses class or performs poorly.
To overcome it:
- Attend class while Confident
- Ensure your Sim Works Hard during school
There are a few fears based around school and failing. Being confident and successful are the key components to banishing any school-related fears.
14. How to Overcome Fear of Failing Tests
Requires: High School Years Expansion
This fear is triggered by failing Friday exams at high school.
To overcome it:
- Select High School > Study for Exams under self-interaction
- Attend the after-school study session on Wednesday
- Attend the next test while Confident
15. How to Overcome Fear of Failure
Triggered by low work performance or poor-quality creations.
To overcome it:
- Create something of at least Normal quality and use Show Off Work
- Go to work and select Ask for Performance Review
Sims floundering at work or producing shoddy handmade work can realise a fear of failure. Reassurance is what they need.
16. How to Overcome Fear of Fire
This fear triggers after a fire incident, often caused by low Cooking skill or fireplace placement.
To overcome it:
- Extinguish a fire
Cooking at a low skill level is a common cause for fires.
17. How to Overcome Fear of Ghosts
Developed after scary ghost encounters on haunted lots.
To overcome it:
- Wait for a ghost to appear
- Engage in a full Fight with the ghost
Ghosts aren’t always very friendly and can give your Sim a nasty scare.
18. How to Overcome Fear of Homework
Triggered by unfinished homework or poor-quality school projects (Parenthood Game Pack required).
To overcome it:
- Have your Sim complete homework while Confident
Homework is bad enough without having a fear of it. Doing it is the best way to beat it.
19. How to Overcome Fear of Swimming
Caused by a near-drowning experience with low Energy Need.
To overcome it:
- Send your Sim swimming while Confident
If swimming is your Sim’s fear, get them back into the water with confidence.
20. How to Overcome Fear of Unfulfilled Dreams
This fear appears if your Sim ignores Wants for too long.
To overcome it:
- Complete any active Want
- Use Discuss Fears with another Sim
Complete any active Want and then Discuss Fears with another Sim to reassure your unhappy Sim.
21. Final Tips on Managing Fears in The Sims 4
- Only one Fear-based Want can be active at a time
- You must wait for the right Want to appear before removing a fear
- Confident Moodlets are key to overcoming most fears
- Use the Simology tab to track current fears
- Keep an eye on Tense, Scared, or Uncomfortable moods to spot developing fears
- Don’t ignore fears. Your Sims can live with them, but they often trigger negative moods that last for hours.
