What Is Astraphobia?
Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightning.
Storms are natural phenomena that inspire strong emotions in both humans and animals, including fear.
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At times, this fear may represent astraphobia.
The DSM-5-TR estimates that 8-12% of adults in the U.S. experience a specific phobia each year.
Symptoms are often heightened when people are alone.
Many people with astraphobia seek shelter beyond normal protection from the storm.
For example, they may hide under the covers or even under the bed.
They may end the curtains and attempt to block out the sounds of the storm.
Another fairly common symptom is an obsession with weather forecasts.
Sometimes people develop an inability to go about activities outside their home without first checking the weather reports.
In extreme cases, astraphobia can eventually lead to people being afraid to leave their homes.
Specific phobias cause an immediate fear response that is excessive and unreasonable.
These symptoms make it difficult for a person to function normally in their daily life.
These symptoms must be present for at least six months and not be due to another mental health condition.
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact causes of astraphobia are not entirely clear.
However, in many cases, the exact cause of the phobia is not known.
A variety of factors can influence whether a person experiences astraphobia.
For example, genetics, family history, and experiences often have an impact.
Treatment
Specific phobias such as astraphobia respond well to treatment.
They also learn to identify catastrophic thinking patterns and replace negative self-talk with more helpful, positive self-talk.
Visualization exercises can also help people learn to calm their fears.
With continued exposure, feelings of fear gradually lessen.
These medications are most often used in conjunction with psychotherapy.
In many cases, these fears are not necessarily signs of a phobia but could progress into one.
Over time, a childs fear of storms could become a full-blown, difficult-to-treat phobia in adulthood.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry.
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