All About Astraphobia, the Fear of Thunderstorms, and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is Astraphobia?

Astraphobia is the Fear of Thunderstorms and, like all other fears and phobias, can be a cause of significant anxiety and stress if you suffer from it.

There may be a number of reasons why you developed Astraphobia, for example:

• Negative experiences with Thunderstorms in the past.
• Growing up with a parent who suffered from Astraphobia.

Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence that Astraphobia is the result of any kind of biological fault or chemical imbalance in spite of the traction that biomedical models of mental illness are given in the media.

On the contrary, Astraphobia is much more likely to be the result of your own, subjective evaluation (meaning-making) of what happened to you and is therefore a psychosocial phenomenon.

Astraphobia Symptoms & Behaviours

All phobias, including Astraphobia, create feelings of anxiety because phobic objects or situations are always perceived as a threat.

Consequently, the symptoms of Astraphobia are both specific and generic and may include:

• Refusing to go out during Thunderstorms.
• An elevated heart rate.
• A sense of dread about what might happen.
• Worrying that you might pass out.
• Feeling dizzy or disoriented.
• Heart palpitations.
• Dry or Sticky mouth.
• Hot sweats.
• Stress.
• Difficulty breathing easily.
• Feelings of panic.

You may have all, some or even different symptoms to these listed here and this is due to the subjective nature of Astraphobia.

However, it is important to be aware that these symptoms WILL subside over time and rarely last for more that 20 to 30 minutes.

What Causes Astraphobia?

It’s possible that your Astraphobia may be the result of traumatic events or adverse situations that you experienced in your earlier developmental years.

For example, you may have been shocked by very loud thunder or intense lightning.

However, because a Fear of Thunderstorms is by no means universal, the most likely explanation for your Astraphobia is your subjective evaluation of earlier experiences around which you have developed a set of beliefs.

Counselling and Therapy for Astraphobia

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for Astraphobia the Fear of Thunderstorms.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for Astraphobia on the following links:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Astraphobia
• Counselling for Astraphobia
• Pluralistic Therapy for the Fear of Thunderstorms

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Furthermore, research also suggests that the therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming Astraphobia or recovering from related mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular phobia and the different types of mental health counselling we offer without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.