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There are several alternative names used for this disease, some of the names are tonitrophobia and astrophobia.
A patient suffering from brontophobia has a strong fear of thunder.
Brontophobia is a word of Greek origin: bronto means thunder and phobia refers to fear.
Brontophobia, which is specifically the fear of thunder , is often associated with astrophobia, which is the fear of thunderstorms, or with keraunophobia, which is the fear of lightning.
Brontophobia is also suffered by animals, according to the research carried out, brontophobia is a type of problem that can start from childhood, but the problem can disappear as soon as puberty is reached. It is basically a type of disorder that causes anxiety.
Anxiety can ultimately trigger the panic attack .
A person suffering from brontophobia can also have many other complications, they can behave strangely when there is thunder. The rapid response of the patient can be uncomfortable at times.
This abnormal behavior can lead to other physiological problems as well.
This is one of the ten most common phobias in the world, this fear is really present in both humans and animals.
While a person may rationally understand that thunder does not pose a danger to them, it often fails to calm their fears and, without help, the sufferer of this phobia can become agitated during storms.
Although it is more common in children, this is still a very real fear that many people suffer from even in adulthood.
Causes of brontophobia
Brontophobia is more of a response than anything else, it can be associated with past experiences and these experiences can be very unpleasant.
There are multiple factors that trigger certain types of phobias and brontophobia is one of them. Events in life can be influencing factors that can cause brontophobia.
This series of multiple events may be the causes, as it is actually a kind of phobia that can gradually get stronger over time.
Symptoms
People who suffer from brontophobia are often filled with anxiety during thunderstorms, even if they are safe at home.
Like most phobias, panic attacks, crying, sweating, and a racing heartbeat can occur while the person is in control of their fear.
Unique to this group of fears, however, is the interesting fact that most brontophobes will seek companionship for reassurance during a storm. This can dramatically reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Brontophobic people may also try to “hide” from a storm, cover their ears, or climb into closets.
They will also pay attention to the possibility of an impending storm much more closely than other people, feeling an impending sense of dread that is likely to make symptoms worse.
There are several symptoms that can identify the problem. Like the other forms of phobias, the patient is fearful and there is excessive sweating as a result.
The patient often trembles at the sound, it is often seen that the patient cannot control crying.
Due to the sudden panic attack, you may have trouble breathing. Especially in such situations, the heart rate also increases.
You may feel very sick and vomit a lot. The patient in general can assume the following behaviors:
- Anxiety attacks during thunderstorms.
- A marked interest or even obsession with following weather patterns.
- The need to seek company during a storm.
- The desire to hide from the storm.
- An unwillingness to leave the house due to the potential danger of storms.
In extreme cases, brontophobes can become obsessed with viewing weather reports and tracking storms during rainy weather.
Sometimes they may even refuse to leave the house without first checking the weather to know that they will be “safe” from the object of their fear.
Occasionally this leads to a kind of agoraphobia , where the patient refuses to leave home because no other place is safe.
Symptoms get worse over time if not treated correctly.
Diagnosis of brontophobia
The doctor may perform some routine tests for neurological examinations such as a simple magnetic resonance image, an EEG, motor function tests, among others; to rule out any other associated brain abnormalities such as brain injury, cerebrovascular impairment, mental retardation, injury, or problems with brain function.
Treatment
Distraction is often the first key to treating brontophobia, which is one reason a company during a storm can help reduce symptoms. If the phobia is more serious, then professional help may be required.
There are multiple methods and therapies that can be applied to cure the disease. Exposure therapy is done to help the patient overcome the problem by exposing him to a particular situation.
But this therapy is generally not preferred because it can make the problem worse. Another therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy in which patients are carried away by an open discussion.
Calming therapy is also used for breathing and relaxation exercises. Distraction is one of the methods in which patients are guided on methods to forget about fear.
