Astraphobia
Astraphobia may be defined as a persistent, abnormal and unnecessary fear of thunder and lightning. The term astraphobia is derived from Greek words 'aster' and 'phobos' meaning star and fear respectively. This needless phobia causes great amounts of distress to number of people around the globe. 
People who have astraphobia usually will not speak about their problem to others. Astraphobia is also more common in dogs.
What are the other names by which astraphobia is referred to?
Fear of Thunder and Lightning or astraphobia is known by several other names that include Brontophobia, Astrapophobia, Keraunophobia, Tonitrophobia and Ceraunophobia.
What does cause Astraphobia?
Similar to other phobias and fears, the fear of thunder and lightning or astraphobia is caused as a protective mechanism by your unconscious mind. This may be possibly due to an event that occurred in your past experience involving lightning and thunder that led to emotional trauma. The actual cause may also be a real-life shock of some sort or may be due to countless events such as TV, movies etc or may be due to witnessing others experience trauma.
If the negative perception is powerful enough, it makes the unconscious mind to think that thunder and lightning are very dangerous and should somehow stay away from such an event. This gives birth to a phobia to thunder and lightning.
How do astrophobiacs react to an event of lightning and thunder?
People who have the fear to thunder and lightning feel nervous even after they recognize the danger of being affected in an event of thunderstorm is minimal and as a result they seek refuge under bed, in basement or in closet. They watch the skies closely for any occurrence of electrical storms.
People who have astraphobia may get anxiety attack, while facing or even thinking of facing an event of thunder and lightning.
What are the symptoms of astraphobia?
The fear of thunder and lightning may lead to a number of symptoms that may include
• Excessive sweating
• Breathlessness
• Nausea
• Feeling sick
• Dry mouth
• Heart palpitations
• Shaking
• Inability to think or speak clearly
• Losing control or becoming crazy
• Fear of dying
• Complete anxiety attack.
• Feeling of separation from reality
How can we treat astraphobia?
Selected drugs may be recommended in order to appease people suffering from astraphobia. However exposure to the event that triggers anxiety is believed to be the most effective treatment. In certain cases, slow and even breathing like those practiced in Lamaze classes, may help.
