How to overcome the fear of thunderstorms? Discover our tips.

Are you afraid of thunderstorms and overreact when they occur? There are solutions to overcome your phobia.

If you have a panic fear of thunder and storms, you are probably suffering from brontophobie. The term is little known, but the phobia is very common, and not only among children. Indeed, Many adults are afraid of thunderstorms and cannot reason with themselves when thunder starts to rumble. This phobia, which often results from a bad experience in childhood, can be controlled and even completely disappear. Discover our advice.

Overcoming the fear of thunderstorms: our advice

Some people are so afraid of thunderstorms that they cannot keep their cool when the sky darkens. It is common for them to try to hide, under the table, in a closet or even under a bed.

If this is you, there is no need to be ashamed of it, because This phobia can be overcome.

Understanding the phenomenon

Have you ever been interested in the scientific reality of thunderstorms? Sometimes, you just have to understand why and how it manifests itself to no longer be afraid of it.

The storm is always linked to the presence of a storm cloud, that is to say a cumulonimbus cloud. Very often, it is accompanied by strong gusts of wind or heavy rain or even hail. All this is normal.

A storm will then form when the atmosphere is unstablethat is to say when the air is hot near the ground and cold at altitude. Electrical discharges will then heat columns of air which, when exploding, cause a noise, that is Thunder. Usually the storm is a short-lived phenomenon and rarely manifests itself for more than an hour. It can sometimes be impressive, but it is rarely dangerousprovided you are familiar with the safety rules to follow to avoid any risks.

Admire the spectacle of the sky

Thunderstorms are a truly fascinating and spectacular phenomenon. Have you ever taken the time to sit by the window to watching the lightning in the sky ?

The storm, a fascinating spectacle © Tamas Kadar

Arm yourself with courage and try to overcome your fear. Give yourself a goal from the start to help you stick with it. This can be a time goal: stay at least 2 minutes then at the next storm 3 minutes.

It can also be a more tangible goal like trying to take some pictures of lightning for example. This exercise, quite difficult, will allow you to focus on something else and forget your fear for a little while.

Trying to sleep

Thunderstorms often occur at night. Even if you are woken up by thunder, try to keep calm and stay in your bed. If the light of lightning frightens you, close your shutter if you haven’t already.

try breathe calmly and relax. This is the time to practice some meditation or sophrology exercises if you are adept at them. Realize that you are safe at home and that you are not at risk at all, so why worry? If you can’t do it, don’t hesitate to put in earplugs to reduce the noise or listen to some music. It won’t help you face your fear, but it’s one way to feel better when the storm is brewing.

Read next page: more tips for overcoming brontophobia