Astraphobia

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Astraphobia, also known as Brontophobia, Keraunophobia, or Tonitrophobia, is a fear of thunder and lightning. It is especially common among young children, though adults and teenagers can also experience this phenomenon as well.

Symptoms (similar to that of all other extreme phobias) can include, but are not limited to acute panic attack, breathing difficulty, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and nausea. Sometimes, these feelings can become overwhelming.

The phobia itself is extremely common and in some cases can be totally debilitating; evidence of such was captured from an astraphobic on a BBC message board who wrote the following passage about their phobia :

"I hate summer because I have a thunderstorm phobia. I am constantly on edge from May to September and can only start to relax once the cooler weather comes along in autumn. I get worse after each storm and am usually a nervous wreck at the end of summer. I am now obsessed with thunderstorms and am already dreading next summer." [1]

Many individuals who are afflicted by this condition try to cope with their fear by hiding from the source itself. During a thunderstorm, children typically hide in seemingly secure windowless places, such as a cupboard under a staircase or under their bed. Adults and teenagers share the same thought mechanism as the aforementioned and will essentially seek solace anywhere one cannot see or hear the storm.

Treatment for Astraphobia is similar for that of all other phobias. Exposure to the stimulus is thought to be the most effective treatment, but deliberate slow, even breathing can help as well in some cases, as practiced in hypnotherapy.