Do you have a fear of thunder and lightning? Astraphobia, also known as brontophobia, is an extreme fear of thunder and lightning. It usually affects children, but it can also affect adults. One of the most common specific phobias is astraphobia. When thunderstorms are coming, people with astraphobia experience extreme anxiety or crippling fear. They may obsessively watch weather reports or experience rushes of anxiety that cause intense physical symptoms such as panic attacks during a storm.
Astraphobia is more common among children. People who have sensory processing disorders or autism spectrum disorder are more likely to have a fear of storms. You can be an astraphobic if you have a family history of depression, anxiety, or phobias, family members who have astraphobia, and previous experience with weather-related trauma, such as witnessing a major natural disaster. The main symptom of astraphobia is intense fear. You may also experience anxiety that can lead to physical symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness or fainting, diarrhea, heart palpitations, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath (dyspnea), sweating, and tremors.
To diagnose astraphobia, your healthcare provider might ask you if you have experienced anxiety for a long period, avoidance of thunder and lightning, extreme fear or panic when you see lightning or thunder, distress when you know a thunderstorm is in the weather forecast, and panic that interferes with your life. Astraphobia treatment is often similar to treatment approaches for other phobias. Treatment for astraphobia might include exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), medication, and stress management techniques. Many people outgrow the fear of thunderstorms as they get older. If your child has extreme distress over storms, you can help them by sharing some important facts about storms. If the anxiety doesn’t lessen, seek help from a mental health professional.
-PNFP Rowence Zorilla
References:
1. Astraphobia (Fear of Thunder and Lightning)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22101-astraphobia#:~:text=Astraphobia%20is%20an%20intense%20fear,when%20preparing%20for%20a%20thunderstorm.
