Storms & Anxiety

Children and adults alike can experience intense anxiety when a storm occurs or threatens to occur. Weather anxiety is not uncommon, according to Dbpeds.org. It can turn into a full blown specific phobia if it is not addressed.

Considerations

• If you have been involved in a flood, tornado or hurricane, anxiety is apt to occur when similar conditions arise or when you anticipate that they could happen. Post traumatic stress syndrome can include flashbacks and nightmares of the event you experienced that scared and traumatized you. Even if you haven't had a direct experience, it is still very possible to develop storm anxiety.

Features

• An example of storm anxiety entails an excessive and constant fear that is elicited by the anticipation or the actual presence of a specific situation or thing. If you hear thunder and see lightning, this can prompt the anxiety and you may experience a feeling of dread or paralyzing fear.

Approach

• If your child has storm anxiety, experts recommend that you take the child out into a non-electrical storm for a walk or just go out onto your porch and extend your hand, and your child's, into the rain. This lets the child, or even an adult who is struggling with this type of anxiety, know that there is nothing to fear.

Techniques That Are Used

• When an individual has terrible anxiety, going into therapy may help. Relaxation strategies are taught as well as controlled breathing and muscle relaxation.

Talking About It

• Storm experiences are discussed and gradually the patient is exposed to the feared situation. Anxiety can be controlled when an individual learns that he can stop uncomfortable feelings and thoughts.