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'Astraphobia', also known as 'Brontophobia', 'Keraunophobia', or 'Tonitrophobia', is a fear of thunder and lightning. It is especially common among young children, though adults and teenagers can also experience this phenomenon as well. It is also quite common in dogs and sometimes in cats.

Contents

Symptoms

Treatment

People with astraphobia

Fictional characters with astraphobia

References

See also

Symptoms

Symptoms (similar to that of all other extreme phobias) can include, but are not limited to acute panic attacks, breathing difficulty, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and nausea. Sometimes, these feelings can become overwhelming.
The phobia itself is extremely common and in some cases can be totally debilitating; evidence of such was captured from an astraphobic on a BBC message board who wrote the following passage about their phobia :
Many individuals who are afflicted by this condition try to cope with their fear by hiding from the source itself. During a thunderstorm, children typically hide in seemingly secure windowless places, such as a cupboard under a staircase or under their bed. Adults and teenagers share the same thought mechanism as the aforementioned and will essentially seek solace anywhere one cannot see or hear the storm.

Treatment

Treatment for astraphobia is similar for that of all other phobias. Exposure to the stimulus is thought to be the most effective treatment, but deliberate slow, even breathing can help as well in some cases, as practiced in hypnotherapy.

People with astraphobia

Pop singer Madonna reportedly suffers from the condition.

Fictional characters with astraphobia

Characters in videogames and anime that have astraphobia:

★ The character Rikku in the videogame ''Final Fantasy X''

★ The character Shion Uzuki in the videogame series ''Xenosaga''

★ The character Haruhi Fujioka in the anime ''Ouran High School Host Club''

★ The character Tails in the anime ''Sonic OVA''

★ The character Chibiusa in the anime Sailor Moon

★ The character Nobita in the anime Doraemon
Characters in non-anime that have astraphobia:

★ Pterri from ''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' (''Rainy Day'')

★ Scooby-Doo in the ''Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue!'' ('Lightning Strikes Twice')

References

# Definition MedicineNet Retrieved 20070618
# Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)

See also

★ List of phobias

★ Ligyrophobia