Astraphobia - fear of thunderstorms & lightning

How do I start this..

I was diagnosed with Astraphobia when I was 7 years old. My first signs were that I was always watching the weather channel for upcoming thunderstorms and I was getting really anxious and sometimes I was vomiting when there was a thunderstorm in our town. So my parents took me to a psychologist for children and that's when they diagnosed me with Astraphobia. I have also read that this is an abnormal fear? I thought it was pretty common...

Anyway... Sometimes I panic so much that I eventually pass out on the floor and it's difficult to wake me up. I developed gastric catarrh because of my fear and I know that my gastric catarrh will get even worse this summer because they have said that there are gonna be more thunderstorms this year than last year.

I haven't really been hit by lightning before, but there was two times that I got an electric shock from a lightning. First time was when I was around 11 years old; I was gonna turn off our lamp in the living room in our apartment and the lightning struck right outside our apartment building and I got a huge electric shock.

Second time was when I was living in Norway, I was around 14-15 years old. I was standing in our hall talking to my mother over the phone (a phone with a cord) and the lightning struck in the power line outside our house and I got another huge electric shock. So after those two times, I refuse to be near a socket whenever there's a thunderstorm.

I get paralyzed when there's a thunderstorm. I read that some people use the restroom a lot, but I don't. I get paralyzed and I refuse to leave my spot. I usually cover up my window in my room when there's a thunderstorm and I get really paranoid, anxious and stressed.

This is something I want to "cure". I don't want to be afraid anymore. Do you guys have any good advice what I can do to calm down during a thunderstorm? I've tried listening to music through my iPod and it works a little bit, but is there anything else I can do to be less scared?

do you have a close friend that lives only a couple houses away?

just before the storm you could invite them round to sit with you and try and calm you down- hold your hand if need to

before the storm, climb in to bed and put the covers fully over you. that way you can think.. right, okay, this is my safe place, i can't hear it, i can't see it... and it can't get to me here.

try doing something you really enjoy beforre hand, read a long book, do a puzzle, or something- then when the thunder starts, you'll be still doing the activity and hopefully distracted enough not to notice.. but for it to work, it has to be something really affective

that's all i can really suggest- but, as long as you stay away from electrical sockets, don't go outside, it can't really hurt you. promise

I also fear SEVERE storms..... spring time is the worst here in SE USA with the tornado seasons.... I went thru two VERY severe storms in the past and still get chills running thru my back. Try and be ready for the bad weather... like noted above... over here I have my riding & bicycle helmets ready Hugs

I've been afraid of storms all my life. It is a little better now but not by much. I used to panic which was embarrassing. Now, if I know it is coming, I try to be somewhere where there are a lot people. Often I would go to the mall bookstore and/or food court. I guess in my mind I think-I am in a fairly secure building and if something happens there are people to help, I won't be alone. Spring is my worst favorite time of year all because of storms

When I was a kid I was terrified of them. The ones with flooding were the worst because I couldn't swim and I always thought the house was going to sink.

Unfortunately my fear of them stopped in a pretty bad way. I was at my grandmother's house and she lives on a hill. There was lots of thunder and water was sweeping all over the place. I had a major breakdown over it and my dad was just sitting there quietly.

I figured he either thought I was soft or that he was disappointed that I didn't feel safe with him. For whatever reason I stopped caring about storms after that...

Anyway it's basically a fear of something that isn't dangerous. As long as you're inside you'll be fine. But it is very true that you should NEVER use the phone during a storm except in an emergency and you should turn all your electrical devices off (tv, lights, e.t.c) because they can blow out or short.

I don't mind if there's a thunderstorm when I'm at school, I don't know why though. Is it because the building is so big? I don't know to be honest. I just feel safer there than in my apartment, I always hallucinate when I'm in my apartment; like the lightning is going to break my windows or fire balls will come out from the sockets and start following me around.

Now I have an iPhone though with a lot of games on it, maybe that will help me get distracted somehow...

Hi Angel., welcome to Psych Central!
That happened to remind me of something I posted (here) a couple of years ago:
I only had these experiences when I was by myself, never with other people around. It occurs to me now, that if I found I'd been magically transported to a haunted castle or another planet (or if a ball of lightning were to come out of an electrical socket), it would be a lot weirder if there were no one else around to compare notes with. "Did you just see what I saw?" versus "What if I try to tell someone else about this and they don't believe me?"

By any chance is the difference that you're the only one in your apartment at those times, whereas at school there are other people around?

I've never liked thunderstorms much, but I remember that they were most scary to me when I was dreaming about them as a kid. I remember one dream where I was in the basement, cowering under the electric meter, waiting for lightning to hit the house. I think (now) that I associated being struck by lightning with a parent or teacher getting mad at me without warning. YMMV, of course.

I also have a fear of storms and understand what you are going through. I'm not sure if you have pets or a friend that can be there with you during a storm but I have always found it helpful to be with my dog when it is storming. Petting animals helps to bring down your heart rate, it could also be helpful just to have a friend around for comfort. I also listen to my music to block out some of the noise. I hope this helps you!

Last year I scared my parents my running around the front yard while swinging a metal pole in the air. I guess I would call that a suicide attempt.. Face your fears! (not really. But walk outside on the porch at least).

You might try installing lightning rods on the roof of your house. The lightning will hit the rods and become grounded.

I have never been afraid of thunder and lightning storms.I often stand in awe of Gods creation. When I was younger, my dad had a ham radio station set up in the house. He built a antenna that extended at least 75ft from the house. One day there was a lightning storm, and the lightning hit the antenna and traveled right to the house. It damaged some of his Ham radio equipment. Luckily nobody was hurt. It did give me a appreciation for lightning storms.

Sorry I'm not much help for your problem.I hope you can find a way to deal with your phobia and fears.

I totally understand you because I am the same way about it ever since a few months ago. hugs xoxo.