All about brontophobia

Everyone has ever had an inexplicable feeling of anxiety when a thunderstorm approaches. Some greatly exaggerate its danger, and then fear gradually develops into a phobia. To begin treatment, it is necessary to understand the features of the pathology and the causes of its occurrence.

Fear of thunderstorms from a sense of self-preservation is inherent in many people. But it happens that the fear of lightning and thunder leads to anxiety disorder. A person experiences panic and loses self-control. He wants to hide, to hide in the farthest corner. Such pathological fear of thunderstorms is called brontophobia.

People of all ages are subject to these painful manifestations. In some cases, brontophobia can be closely intertwined with other phobias:

• astrapophobia - horror, arising from the sharp flash, cutting clouds;
• Tonitrophobia - panic fear of thunder;
• ombrofobii - fear of falling under the rain because of contact with drops or storm showers;
• ligi-phobia - the fear of any strong and harsh threatening sounds, in this case a roll of thunder;
• phonophobia acoustical, phonophobia - fear of loud noises.

The reasons may lie in the beliefs, genetics or mental trauma associated with this phenomenon of nature.

• Someone perceives a thunderstorm as God's wrath and heavenly punishment. Folk superstitions say that lightning strikes a person who is steeped in sins.
• Fear can be transmitted at the genetic level. People have a tendency to desire to hide from the weather, thereby protecting themselves.
• Feeling your own vulnerability to the power of nature, the irrational fear of a person arises in front of the impossibility of predicting the consequences of an unusual natural phenomenon. A person experiences an all-consuming horror at the sight of dark clouds, foreshadowing the approach of a thunderstorm.
• Some are afraid of ball lightning. There is evidence of the chaotic movement of mysterious fireballs, their ability to enter a dwelling through an open window and take the life of a person who happened to be there.
• Impressive natures are afraid of becoming a victim of lightning. They have heard about the dead and injured from natural disasters by people who by the will of fate are in the wrong place.
• Negative impact viewing news and movies the plot of which is built on the destructive actions of various natural phenomena.
• Negative personal experience may be associated with hitting the house of lightning and the construction of a fire. It is possible that a person had to fear because of the sudden onset of lightning discharges during his stay in the forest.
• Children often take over parental anxiety. and also experience fear when a thundercloud appears.
• Animal lovers are anxious, When they saw their pets approaching thunderstorms, they scared into secluded corners.

People with brontophobia may have specific symptoms.

• They experience an overwhelming horror at the sight of sockets, mistakenly believing that lightning through them can kill a person. Begin to be afraid of any contact with household appliances. Do not touch metal objects.
• Some in anticipation of thunderstorms there is a growing fear of being in an open area, as well as a fear of remaining in someone else’s house. Frightened people often cover their eyes and ears with their hands.
• In severe cases of brontophobes they behave incredibly strange: they build shelters from thunderstorms and bunkers, they acquire a private house with an underground where they can hide during the thunderstorm. They are afraid to leave the house. If a thunderstorm catches them on the street, then they panic and go into hysterics.
• Experiences towards the future pushes a person to a daily thorough study of weather forecasts. The brontophobe does not miss a single television program with a weather report, scrupulously views all the meteorological sites, tries to observe the behavior of animals and not forget about popular signs.

Physiological symptoms:

• stomach cramps;
• chills;
• tremor;
• tachycardia;
• decrease in body temperature;
• migraine;
• lack of oxygen;
• rapid breathing;
• increased sweating.

After the end of a thunderstorm, the symptoms disappear without a trace before the next event.

Parents need to make a lot of effort to prevent the children's fear of a thunderstorm, not to let it develop into a phobia. Child's fears can lead to severe mental disorders and stuttering. All kind should demonstrate calm. No need to scold and even more so shame the child. It is necessary to hug the baby, calm, support.

It is necessary to tell the little man about this unique natural phenomenon and tell where the lightning and thunder come from. It should overcome the fear of thunder in the form of a game. You can imitate a strong roar with covers from pots, bursting balloons. In this case, you have fun to laugh.

To conduct a full diagnosis and to distinguish the usual fear of bad weather from abnormal fear can a qualified specialist. The level of anxiety is estimated on a Zang or Beck scale. If necessary, the mental state of a person is determined by other methods.

There are cases when a person can independently overcome a phobia. For this it is necessary during the thunderstorm to create a comfortable environment for yourself, switch to your favorite things. You can listen to loud music, watch movies, do relaxing breathing exercises and some exercise. Not bad help soothing bath, herbal tea, motherwort, valerian tincture.

Densely pulled curtains give a person confidence in their own safety. It is advisable to be close to loved ones who always provide the necessary support.

The psychotherapist will help identify the cause of the phobia, advise and prescribe a comprehensive treatment. He may recommend medication. Antidepressants prevent the occurrence of severe depression. Tranquilizers eliminate vegetative and behavioral symptoms of panic, eliminate nervous tension, stop fear.

When hysterical syndrome is usually prescribed neuroleptic drugs. Additionally, there is a general strengthening therapy.

This phobia responds well to psychocorrection. Individual psychotherapy is based on identifying the causes that provoked the disease, and developing constructive ways to overcome this situation. Training courses in group classes contribute to the acquisition of the skills of complete self-control during a thunderstorm.

There is a conviction: a thunderstorm does not always promise terrible consequences. This method is suitable for people who tolerate hypnosis well. Hypnosis helps to adjust the psyche.

By the end of the hypnosis course, the fear of lightning and thunder dissipates, the phobia is supplanted by positive thoughts:

• there is no sharp reaction to the approach of a thunderstorm;
• a clear understanding comes that lightning discharges are of benefit to nature, and in the thunder of thunder there is nothing terrible at all;
• mental state is gradually restored;
• the perception of a thunderstorm as a frightening phenomenon disappears;
• there is a release from fear.

Having appeared in completely open district, the person should find deepening, kneel and lay face down, having clasped hands the nape.

How to get rid of the fear of a thunderstorm in a child, see below.