Summer is fast approaching, and many teens my age are already in the process of figuring out their plans. Some plan on camping, hiking and swimming, while others have decided to just hang out in their air-conditioned bedroom and play video games the whole time. I, however, harbor feelings of dread, as it’s the season for thunderstorms and tornado watches.
Lilapsophobia sounds like a mouthful, but its meaning is simple. It is the fear of tornadoes, hurricanes, and other weather-related disasters. It often stems from a fear of thunderstorms, which is commonly called astraphobia or brontophobia. While it usually is part of post-traumatic stress after experiencing a tornado or hurricane firsthand, it’s also possible to develop the fear by simply learning about these natural disasters.
My personal experience with astraphobia and lilapsophobia started when I was quite young.
I initially developed astraphobia after a thunderstorm temporarily knocked out the power in my house when I was five years old. When storms would occur, I would simply close my eyes, plug my ears and curl up into a ball, until the storm was over. However, after a few years of reading books about thunderstorms and other weather, I learned about tornadoes, and how they can develop from storms. Learning this information made me realize that a few loud rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning weren’t the worst things that could happen in a storm. From then on, I became afraid of tornadoes as well, but didn’t learn the scientific names of my fears until I was about 12 years old.
I live in a part of the U.S. where tornadoes are rare occurrences. Still, weather conditions can get bad enough that tornado watches can sometimes be issued. While, at the time of writing this, I have yet to personally experience a tornado, I still have enough knowledge about them to be afraid.
My fears have brought some positive aspects, however. From a young age, I’ve always had an interest in meteorology, and wanted to be a meteorologist growing up. While, in later years, I’ve discovered it’s not something I want to pursue as a full-time career, I still enjoy it as a hobby.
People may think storms are a silly or childish thing to be afraid of, but it’s actually common in 1 in 10 Americans. In my case, while the intensity of my fear has weakened somewhat over the years, it still returns each summer. I doubt I’ll ever go a summer without obsessively checking the weather every 5 minutes, or flinching whenever I hear the loud blare of a National Weather Service alert on the radio or television– even if it’s just a test. Not too long ago, I cringed just hearing the noises coming from the TV when my family was watching the film Into the Storm. However, I’ve long accepted that this is a part of who I am, and will continue to be for the rest of my life.
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