Face Your Fear of Thunderstorms

It is a primal fear, that feeling of fear that creeps over one in the face of raw thunder. The sound sends a chill down to the very marrow of your bones, splitting asunder your usually calm exterior and leaving you trembling, afraid, and in need of flight. To cope with your fear of thunderstorms, learn the following techniques and stop dreading the next storm.

Steps

 * 1) Try learning more about them. If you do your research, you'll find that thunderstorms aren't as scary as they seem.
 * 2)   Get reassurance from your friends and family. If they tell you there's nothing to be afraid of, then believe them. It's true. Remember, it's just a bunch of noise that seems like it's trying to scare you. If you fall for it, you'll just get more and more scared every time
 * 3)   Distract yourself from the loud noises and red colors. Find a place to do something you love like read a book or watch t.v. If you find it hard to do anything fun while there's a thunder storm going on outside, then try listening to your favorite music with headphones. You can turn it up so that you can't hear the noise of it all, but don't make it blasting in your ear. Ask someone to stand at least 3-4 ft away from you. If they can hear the music coming from your headphones, then it's too loud.
 * 4)   Use your imagination. Imagine that the lighting is just lights coming from a party in heaven (that is, if you believe in God). Picture the thumping of feet on the ground  from the dancing. Having a fun picture in your head makes thunder storms easier to bear. In fact, you might actually start to like them!
 * 5)  Make a mix of songs you like that you think can help you relax during a thunderstorm. Burn them on to a CD or your iPod/MP3 Player. If possible, wear headphones.

Tips

 * If a thunder storm is happening at night, don't be afraid to climb into bed with a family member. You shouldn't be ashamed of being scared. Don't think that people always want you to be brave, even if they say they do. Everyone is afraid of something.
 * Cuddle up with a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. They always make you feel better and will make your heart feel safe.
 * Watch a local weather channel and see how strong the storm is and if it's moving out of your area.
 * Talk to your school counselor if these tips don't help you. He or she will tell you how to face your fears, too.

Warnings

 * Never become careless - severe thunderstorms can (and sometimes do) cause tornadoes. If a thunderstorm strong enough to cause destruction comes your way, be prepared to take extreme measures. If you hear a siren coming from outside, you need to get into your basement or bathroom. Try to stay away from windows.

Things You'll Need

 * A stuffed animal
 * Research
 * Confidence
 * A comforting parent or sibling

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Protect Yourself in a Thunderstorm
 * How to Sleep Through a Thunderstorm
 * How to Relax in the Comfort of Your Living Room
 * How to Survive a Winter Storm