does anyone else have a super fear of storms?

[aprilr]

i am 21 and recently have been dealing with horrible anxiety and panic and stress and when it storms i freak and dont know how to deal it could just start sprinkling and i freak and i live where it storms all the time i just wanna know if anyone else has this problem and how the heck do you deal with it?

[proudaussie]

READ THIS!
Hi Everyone, I am only 16, but I think I have better advice then any therapist can give you. I am pretty terrified of storms, and I go through the same kind of pain you all go through, but I have something that a lot of you may not have, which is God in my life. I know a lot of you may stop reading now, because I mentioned God, but if you really are going through such a hard time then you might be willing to try anything. Anyway I could go into a lot more detail but you all probably just want me to get to the point. You may or may not be able to get passed this fear on your own, but through God you can receive peace that you will have never experienced before. I know you may think that this won't work because I am still scared of storms and I have decided to use my faith in God to get over this fear, but that is because tonight is the first night I have decided I need God to help me through this, so I am new to this as well. So here is a starting point for all of you:

http://****.com/fv/fv_08.htm

I hope you don't give up as it may take time, but the rewards will be worth it.

God loves us all xx

[ausfirefighter]

I am also glad to see Im not alone, but unlike everyone on here I dont live in tornado stricken land. I live in Australia. Our weather patterns r changing and becoming very tropical, and u guessed it, bringing more storms. I am also a fire and rescue volunteer and when we get a bad storm I get called to go deal with the damage, Rain, hail, shine or thunderstorm.
I am petrified of thunder and lightning, rain and wind dont bother me, its just the thunder and lightning that get to me. Tonight we had a message over the pager warning of a severe tstorm warning for damaging winds, thunder and lightning and moderate to high flood risk. This is daunting to me as I have had this phobia ever since I was a toddler due to a bad experience.
I too have the issue of being teased and looked down on, especially in my brigade where I get thrown out in a storm whether im crying, screaming and panicing or not.
This sux and I truely feel for each and every one of u guys who live in the US. I guess Im lucky just to have to put up with the stomach churning rumble and the heart jerking flash. All I wanna say is that WE are not alone, we're in this together, even across the other side of the globe. Good luck everyone =)

[kishir]

I have read just about all these posts and can't believe how many people out there are just like me... Glad I'm not alone.  Storms, rain, wind, lightning, thunder it all scares me.  I see a storm coming I've already decided where I'm going to go and who I'm going to be with.  As long as I'm with people I seem to be better.  I just don't want to be alone.  My son is not scared at all of storms and I'm so glad.  I have a dog that actually trembles when he hears thunder.  Just typing about it is making me nervous.  This is a real problem and I also get so tired of being picked on about it. I am 42 years old and I haven't grown out of the fear.  I take lexapro but during a storm it does nothing for me.  What else is there we can do to conquor our fears?  I pray, I listen to music, I watch tv.. tried everything....

[trukingrandma]

I dont have any answers either, I am 48 have been suffering from horrible panic/ weather phobia for over 14 years since going through a terrible storm in Louisiana in 97, I too, just the mention of possibility of SEVERE WEATHER, seeing the red outline, starts my heart pounding, feels like the inside of me is on fire, diarreha, throwing up, shaking, almost convulsiions, cold chills, and feeling like I just want to run away, do anything I can to just not have to feel this way! I cant work, or make plans for more than 3 days in advance, I am so terrified of getting caught in a storm again, my husband doesnt understand, he tells me to just get over it, and others tell me to get hold of my Faith, or I have no faith, THAT IS NOT TRUE!  I have tried all of the drugs, all kinds of therapy, hypnosis, spent omg, dont even know how much I have spent, and get this I drive a truck for a living, well I use too, I cant now.. There has got to be a treatment for this.. If you know of anything PLease HELP

[BrookeAnn]

     I wonder if commenting will help me feel better. I don't know where it went wrong. I've always been afriad. The one thing that has helped me is praying and finding something that a website that helps with fobias is called an "anchor". Basically, you reteach yourself how to think. You reach a certain emotional high, like after you aced a test or got a raise or it's sunny or something, and you clench your first for example, and you do this while deep breathing and focusing for 5-10 seconds and this helps you train yourself to experience that feeling when you clench your fist on que. But you have to practice and teach your anchor often, in order to make it strong.
     As I am writing this, there is apparently a Tornadoe Warning outside, which isn't effecting me like it has before due in part to the anchor, as well as watching the weather and rationalizing it in my mind. It is important to remember that the news has to deliver a worse case senario to the public to prepare them.
     I am not sure how my fear started but it is paralyzing. That is for sure. It is easy to get swallowed into my fear of Tornadoes, but exposure and knowledge helps the most in getting over the fear, or at least medicating the symptoms that come along with my stress and anxiety attacks.
     Everything will be ok. Repeat that over and over as you start your anchor. It always helps. Be smart and stay safe.

[BrookeAnn]

     I wonder if commenting will help me feel better. I don't know where it went wrong. I've always been afriad. The one thing that has helped me is praying and finding something that a website that helps with fobias is called an "anchor". Basically, you reteach yourself how to think. You reach a certain emotional high, like after you aced a test or got a raise or it's sunny or something, and you clench your first for example, and you do this while deep breathing and focusing for 5-10 seconds and this helps you train yourself to experience that feeling when you clench your fist on que. But you have to practice and teach your anchor often, in order to make it strong.
     As I am writing this, there is apparently a Tornadoe Warning outside, which isn't effecting me like it has before due in part to the anchor, as well as watching the weather and rationalizing it in my mind. It is important to remember that the news has to deliver a worse case senario to the public to prepare them.
     I am not sure how my fear started but it is paralyzing. That is for sure. It is easy to get swallowed into my fear of Tornadoes, but exposure and knowledge helps the most in getting over the fear, or at least medicating the symptoms that come along with my stress and anxiety attacks.
     Everything will be ok. Repeat that over and over as you start your anchor. It always helps. Be smart and stay safe.