While some people love a good thunderstorm, others are terrified of them to the point of having a phobia. Lets take a look at this phobia, and see what we can do to identify how the phobia is triggered, as well as ways to deal with it.
Astraphobia
The phobia of thunderstorms is known as Astraphobia. Along with the thunder and rain created by these storms, people with the phobia are fearful of lightening as well. Unlike other phobias, a fear of thunderstorms is a phobia that both humans, as well as other animals can develop. Specifically, this phobia has been seen in dogs and cats. Children are more likely to develop this fear then adults.
Symptoms of Astraphobia
An individual with Astraphobia will show a number of symptoms when a thunderstorm comes. Most notable will be a heightened level of anxiety before and during the thunderstorm itself. In addition, a person with Astraphobia may try to seek an enclosed space, like a bathroom during a thunderstorm. It is also common for someone with Astraphobia to seek out reassurance from other people. Finally, a person with Astraphobia will make some effort in eliminating the sound of thunder, often listening to a headset or blocking sound in a room.
Treatments for Astraphobia
Treatments for Astraphobia most often involve exposure therapy, where the person continually exposes themselves to thunderstorms in order to build immunity to them. There is a lot of therapy done to practice normal breathing during thunderstorms, as well as saying that can be repeated to help alleviate some of the anxiety around thunderstorms.
Another common treatment is to explore the underling emotion that is causing the phobia in the first place. Most often a kind of repressed fear, there may be an underlying traumatic memory that is causing this continued phobia of weather. Regardless, the best way to deal with this fear is to take it slowly with particular interest in not emotionally harming the person with this phobia.
When it comes to treating a pet for astraphobia, techniques will differ depending on the type of animal. For cats, the best advice is to give them plenty of space and places to hide until they feel safe. For dogs, there are a few more options. Many dog owners have found success with thundershirts. These shirts are designed to compress the animal making them feel safe. In addition, people suggest treating the situation like there is nothing wrong, so that the dog sees that their owners are perfectly fine.