Brontophobia and Its Treatment

Brontophobia is an irrational, persistent fear of thunder and lightening and of being struck by lightening. Sometimes referred to as Keraunophobia, Brontophobia derives from the Greek word "bronte," meaning thunder and "phobos" meaning fear.

Closely related to Brontophobia, is Cerunophobia or Tonitrophobia. However, these two phobias are a fear of thunder, but not of lightening.

What Causes Brontophobia?

As with all phobias, the person coping with Brontophobia has experienced an actual trauma at some point in their life. Perhaps, as a child, the individual was particularly fearful of thunder and lightening. Perhaps no adult taught this child that thunder and lightening was not to be feared. Maybe the individual coping with Brontophobia simply watched the reactions of others and began to imitate their response.

What Are the Symptoms of Brontophobia?

The symptoms of Brontophobia are individual and vary from person to person. During a thunder and lightening storm, the person coping with Brontophobia may actually try to hide. They may hide in closets, under bed covers or anywhere that interferes with them being able to see or hear the storm.

Other symptoms of Brontophobia include:

• A Dry Mouth
• Gasping or Shortness of Breath
• Trembling
• Muscle Tension
• Rapid Heartbeat
• Feeling Out of Control
• Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape
• Overwhelming Feeling of Disaster

How Is Brontophobia Diagnosed?

The majority of cases of Brontophobia are self-diagnosed. The person coping with this phobia realizes that their fear is irrational and that it has severely compromised their daily functioning.

The brontophobic person may then meet with their doctor to discuss their fears. Rarely will the doctor diagnosis Brontophobia. It is more likely that the doctor, after ruling out any physical reason for the phobia, will refer the person to a mental health professional for assessment and evaluation.

How is Brontophobia Treated?

When the fear of thunder, lightening and the possibility of being struck by lightening become so overwhelming as to impact daily functioning, there are a number of ways to treat Brontophobia. These can include:

• Talking to the primary physician who can refer the person to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.
• Traditional "talk" therapy that will help the individual to identify and cope with their phobia.
• Self-help Techniques.
• Support groups with other people coping with their fear of thunder and lightening.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Exposure Therapy.
• Relaxation Techniques.
• In the most severe cases of Brontophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Brontophobia is an intense, irrational fear of thunder and lightening. That fear can become so overwhelming as to completely disrupt a person's ability to maintain a daily routine. Unchecked, Brontophobia can become a debilitating condition that touches every aspect of a person's life.