Contributed Articles

Brontophobia is a common condition that millions folks around the globe have; the fear of thunder and lightning. For as long as this phobia has been around, we have been searching for methods to overcome it. Now there are a wide range of treatment choices in use. To help vanquish this phobia, professionals recommend specific hypnotherapy techniques that are shown effective in dissipating stress and phobias.

Brontophobia sufferers experience an abnormal fear of storms. Loud, booming thunder and intense flashes of lightning can spark nervousness and panic attacks in brontophobia sufferers. Other signs include a racing heart, sweating, and an intense sensation of fear, to the point where a person feels sick.

The fear of thunder and lightning begins early for lots of people, when as kids, we cower under blankets during a bad storm. Brontophobia can be especially overwhelming for small children. Many scared children feel helpless during bad weather, and their parents may also feel unable to help them cope with their phobia.

In spite of its common occurrence in kids, brontophobia can be triggered at any time, frequently after someone has an experience such as getting shocked, which reminds them of a lightning strike. A stressful experience such as living through a hurricane can also cause a phobia of thunder and lightning.

Many people may come to associate loud noises, the feeling of pain, or terror with rainy weather, which can grow into a phobia. Brontophobia is so widespread that it is even apparent in some animals; for example, many pet owners report that their pets seem scared in lightning.

Phobia sufferers try to avoid hearing or seeing storms. People may suffer nervous breakdowns during natural disasters such as tornadoes. This can threaten them if they cannot function under circumstances which requires them to remain calm and react rationally.

Phobia sufferers typically dread storm season, often suffering in summer when storms occur frequently. They might continually check weather forecasts and behave extra cautiously during periods of inclement weather. To other people, this behavior may seem obsessive and highly paranoid. People afflicted with the phobia may find this condition slowly taking control of their lives.

A wide range of options are available for relieving brontophobia and other irrational fears. Notable ones include talk therapy, anti-anxiety medication, and hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy tends to provide safer, quicker results and it is also non-invasive, having no side effects. For these reasons and many more, hypnotherapy is now a widely used therapy.

Hypnosis is ideal as a type of stress-relief therapy and has traditionally been used for its calming properties. By beginning with stress-relief techniques, hypnotherapy helps tense, nervous phobia sufferers initiate the process of recovery. When an individual is feeling at ease, it is easier for hypnotherapy techniques to direct the unconscious mind into a fear-free thought process.

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

Ericksonian hypnotherapy is a type of hypnotherapy that is often used to treat fear-related stress. Named for its founder, Dr. Milton Erickson, MD, this type of therapy uses indirect suggestions hidden in metaphors, conversation, and stories to cure a phobia. Indirect suggestions are more effective than conventional direct suggestions because we tend to resist simply being told what to do. Suggestions which indirectly communicate to the conscious mind are much better able to empower people to overcome their fears.

NLP techniques and Ericksonian hypnotherapy have an additional benefit over traditional hypnotherapy programs because they are generalized to work for any phobia. Thus, a single program is suitable for curing any phobia, or even several phobias if need be. Additionally, each program combines many different techniques to be effective for any individual.

Hypnosis is an ideal treatment option for many people, which delivers quick and long-lasting results. Cowering in bed and feeling scared is not how a phobia sufferer should have to live. Using hypnotherapy and NLP techniques, nearly anyone can vanquish this serious fear.

Alan B. Densky, CH has been eliminating irrational fears using Hypnosis & NLP since 1978. He offers panic attacks hypnotherapy CDs plus a broad range of Hypnosis CDs for stress & depression related symptoms. Visit his website for free NLP MP3's.