Brontophobia is a common fear that countless folks everywhere struggle with; the fear of thunder and lightning. For as long as this phobia has been around, we have been searching for ways to fight it. Today, there are a number of treatment choices used. To help beat this phobia, professionals call for certain hypnotherapy techniques that are shown successful in dissipating common fears.

Brontophobia sufferers have an extreme fear of storms. Loud, startling thunder and flashes of lightning can set off nervousness and panic attacks in people with brontophobia. Other signs include an increased heartrate, sweating, and an intense feeling of fear, to the point where a person feels sick.

The fear of thunder and lightning develops early for many people, when as children, we hide under the sheets during a serious storm. The phobia can be particularly overwhelming for children. Many frightened children feel helpless during a thunderstorm, and their parents often feel unable to help them cope with their fears.

Despite its frequency in children, brontophobia can develop at any time, often after a person has an experience such as getting a static shock, which reminds them of a lightning strike. A stressful experience such as surviving a hurricane may also cause a fear of thunderstorms.

Some people may come to associate loud sounds, the sensation of pain, or shock with thunder and lightning, which may escalate into a full-blown phobia. Brontophobia is so widespread that it is even apparent in many animals; for example, many people observe that their pet cats seem scared in lightning.

Brontophobia sufferers try to avoid the sights and sounds of storms. People may experience nervous breakdowns during disasters such as floods. This can put them in danger if they cannot function in a scenario which calls for them to keep calm and respond decisively.

Brontophobia sufferers frequently hate storm season, often struggling during times of the year when storms occur frequently. They might obsessively check weather conditions and act extra cautious during bouts of bad weather. To others, these behaviors may seem extreme and paranoid. People afflicted with the phobia may find this fear gradually taking over their lives.

A wide range of options are available for treating brontophobia and other irrational fears. High-profile ones include counseling, anti-anxiety medication, and hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy tends to offer safer, faster results and it is non-invasive, having no side effects. For these reasons and more, hypnotherapy has become a a popular therapy.

Hypnosis therapy is excellent as a class of relaxation therapy and has traditionally been used to achieve relaxation. By beginning with relaxation techniques, hypnosis helps tense, agitated phobia sufferers initiate the process of recovery. When a person is feeling calm, it is easier for hypnotherapy techniques to direct the unconscious mind into a fear-free thought process.

Nearly all phobias are linked to negative stimuli, which become connected to fear inside the unconscious mind. For people with brontophobia, the loud rumble of thunder, the blinding flash of lightning, or even the sight of dark clouds often triggers alarm. Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) work at the unconscious level of the mind to dissociate the feeling of fear from these triggers to bring powerful phobia relief. One of the most successful techniques is known as the NLP Visual/Kinesthetic Disassociation.

Ericksonian hypnotherapy is a form of hypnotherapy that is often used to treat phobia-related stress. Named after its founder, Dr. Milton Erickson, MD, this form of hypnosis uses indirect suggestions integrated in conversation, metaphors, and stories to cure a phobia. Indirect suggestions are more effective than conventional direct suggestions because we tend to question, resist, and reject commands. Suggestions which indirectly communicate to the mind are better able to help people to overcome their fears.

NLP techniques and Ericksonian hypnosis have an additional advantage over traditional hypnosis programs because they are designed to work for any phobia. So one program is suitable for treating any phobia, or even more than one phobia if required. Additionally, each program includes many different techniques to be effective for any individual.

For many people, hypnosis is the perfect choice of treatment, which offers rapid and long-lasting results. Cowering in bed and feeling scared is not how a brontophobia sufferer should live. Using hypnotherapy and NLP techniques, nearly everyone can overcome this irrational fear.