A great number of people everywhere have a fear of thunder and lightning, a common fear named brontophobia. For as long as this condition has been around, we have been searching for ways to fight it. Currently there are many treatment choices in use. To help overcome this phobia, professionals call for certain hypnosis techniques that are shown successful in alleviating anxiety and fears.

People suffering from brontophobia have an extreme fear of lightning and thunder. Loud, startling thunder and cracks of lightning can trigger anxiety and panic attacks in people with brontophobia. Other symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and an intense sensation of fear, to the point where a person becomes sick.

The fear of thunder and lightning begins early for lots of people, when as kids, we shiver under the sheets during a big storm. The phobia can be especially hard on children. Many terrified children feel helpless during bad weather, and their parents may also feel unable to take away their phobia.

Despite its frequency in children, brontophobia can be triggered at any time, often after a person has an unpleasant experience such as getting an electric shock, which recalls a lightning strike. A stressful experience such as living through a natural disaster can also trigger a phobia of thunderstorms.

Many people may come to associate loud noises, the sensation of pain, or terror with rainy days, which can grow into a full-blown phobia. Brontophobia is so common that it is even apparent in some animals; for example, many people observe that their pet dogs seem scared in lightning.

People with brontophobia try to avoid seeing or hearing storms. People may suffer anxiety during natural disasters such as floods. This can put them in harm's way if they cannot function under circumstances which calls for them to keep calm and react decisively.

People with brontophobia frequently dread storm season, often suffering in summer when thunderstorms are common. They might obsessively check weather forecasts and behave extra cautiously during periods of inclement weather. To people without a phobia, these behaviors may seem extreme and paranoid. People afflicted with the phobia may find this fear slowly taking over their lives.

There are many options available for treating brontophobia and other fears. Popular ones include counseling, anti-anxiety medication, and hypnosis. Hypnotherapy tends to deliver safer, quicker results and it is also non-invasive, having no harmful side effects. For these reasons, hypnosis is now a a common treatment.

Hypnosis therapy is notable as a form of relaxation therapy and has long been used to this end. By starting with relaxation techniques, hypnotherapy helps tense, nervous individuals with phobias initiate the process of recovery. When an individual is feeling tranquil, it is easier for hypnosis techniques to guide the unconscious mind into a fear-free line of thought.

Nearly all phobias are connected to negative triggers, which become linked to fear deep within the unconscious mind. For people with brontophobia, the loud rumble of thunder, the flash of lightning, or even the smell of rain often triggers alarm. Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) work at the unconscious level of the mind to disconnect fear from these triggers to provide powerful fear relief. One of the most effective techniques is called the NLP Visual/Kinesthetic Disassociation.

Ericksonian hypnosis is a form of hypnosis that is frequently used to treat phobia-related stress. Named after pioneering founder, Dr. Milton Erickson, MD, this form of hypnosis uses indirect suggestions integrated in metaphors, stories, and conversation to treat a phobia. Indirect suggestions work better than traditional direct suggestions because we tend to reject commands. Suggestions which indirectly communicate to conscious thought are better able to empower people to overcome their fears.

NLP techniques and Ericksonian hypnotherapy have an additional advantage over conventional hypnotherapy programs because they are generalized to treat any phobia. Thus, a single program is usable for curing any phobia, or even multiple phobias if needed. Plus, each program uses many different techniques to work for any individual.

Hypnosis therapy is the preferred treatment option for many, which delivers rapid and permanent results. Cowering in bed and feeling frightened is not the way a brontophobia sufferer should live. With hypnosis and NLP techniques, nearly anyone can vanquish this serious fear.