Lilapsophobia

Lilapsophobia is an abnormal fear of tornadoes or hurricanes. Lilapsophobia is considered the more severe type of astraphobia, which is a fear of thunder and lightning.[1]

Causes

Like many phobias, lilapsophobia is caused by an unwanted experience, specifically tornadoes or hurricanes that cause injuries, destruction, or loss of loved ones to self or others they know. People who survive those storms should seek professional advice, especially to determine if a person is suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.[1] This phobia can even be caused by learning news about tornadoes or hurricanes using the media, like television, internet, radio, or newspaper, even though they happened far away from homes.[2]

If a person learns that someone in the family have the phobia, then that person is more likely to suffer from it.[3]

Symptoms

Mental and emotional symptoms of lilapsophobia include

Physical symptoms of lilapsophobia include

Many lilapsophobes also suffer autophobia, fear of being alone. Sufferers often make arrangements with people they know to help soothe the fear.[1]

Effects

Lilapsophobes spend a lot of time watching the weather or checking weather online to keep an eye on for oncoming storms. When a storm hits, sufferers either watch for severe weather alerts constantly or take cover, like under the bed or in the windowless room. In the extreme cases, sufferers take tornado shelter as soon as rain starts falling,[1] usually in the basement or storm shelter. Sufferers who have weather radio or mobile phones can watch the radar and alerts using it while hiding.

In children

Like astraphobia, lilapsophobia is a common fear for children, although less common. Because children are just learning to distinguish between fantasy and reality, major storm broadcasts on television or discussion by parents can cause fear that the storm is coming with a tornadic potential or a hurricane.[1]

Because fear is a part of normal child development, this phobia is not diagnosed unless if persisted for more than six months. Parents should conquer the child's fear by telling them how rare the major storms that hit hometown area are.[1]

Treatment

Like many other phobias, lilapsophobia can often be treated using cognitive-behavioral therapy, but if it stems from post-traumatic stress disorder, then alternative therapy may be more recommended.[1]

In popular culture

In the 1996 film Twister, Dr. Jo Harding (Helen Hunt), while becoming a storm chaser, suffers from lilapsophobia due to her father's death in a tornado when she was a child.[1]

The 2011 tornado in Joplin prompted Karin R. Herrmann of Miami, Oklahoma, who suffered from lilapsophobia, to write about her experience.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fritscher, Lisa (June 14, 2014). "Lilapsophobia - Fear of Tornadoes or Hurricanes". about.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Page, S.L. (July 5, 2012). "Lilapsophobia: Overcome Your Fear of Tornadoes, Severe Storms, and Hurricanes". Registered Nurse RN. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Lilapsophobia – Fear of Tornadoes & Hurricanes". March 11, 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Herrmann, Karin R. (2011). "Panic set in after the May 22 tornado". Joplin Independent (Online News Association). Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Herrmann, Karin R. "Tornado Phobia (Lilapsophobia): Caught in the Vortex". Fear of Stuff. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Herrmann, Karin R. (March 26, 2012). "Battling a Weather Phobia". Severe Storm & Weather Phobias. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
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