Handle a Fear of Thunderstorms
Fear of thunderstorms is natural reaction an event that stimulates our basic human instincts for danger. There are different ways to handle this fear, but a caring and deliberate approach tends to yield better results.
Instructions
1. Consider the aesthetic element of the storm, the beauty of the flashing and booming. It can help to alter perceptions away from fear, but it's not a long-term solution.
2. Reason with the fear. Explain the small odds of lightning striking anything near you to the frightened individual. Experts recommend you admit the danger while pointing out how minimal it is. Use this rational approach to coach the fearful person into confidence.
3. Deal with the "conditioned response." For some reason, the frightened person associates thunderstorms with danger, or some formative trauma involving storms has given this individual a heightened sense of association that induces panic. To overcome the conditional response, provide new associations or get the fearful person to use a mantra or imagery to "override" their conditioning.
4. Consider age as a fear factor. Children usually outgrow their fears, especially of storms, and many times, helping means caring more than fixing. When they are older, they will remember the way their parents responded to their fears as a factor in their relationships.
5. Don't force people with over-reactions. Don't be foolhardy yourself and wander out in storms to convince others that their fears are unfounded. This kind of grandstanding can produce negative results.
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