Astraphobia is the formal name for the fear of lightning and thunder and is often associated with rainstorms of any kind. Though the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning can be jarring for many, another layer of fear emerges for others that classify it as a phobia and can be extremely anxiety-inducing. For some people (including myself), thunderstorms can be a fascinating and even relaxing event to observe and analyze as a beautiful natural phenomenon. Storms are a natural and frequent occurrence here on Earth, and they are difficult instances to avoid. This is why the phobia is often hard to combat and can be detrimental to the quality of life for its victims. Fun fact! Astraphobia is one of the only phobias that humans frequently share with animals. Many of us have dogs and cats that flee under the bed at the sound of thunder, but there are often many people that share the same fear but aren’t small enough to tuck away!
Photo courtesy of National Geographic
The symptoms of astraphobia are very common to those of other phobias, including rapid heart rate, dizziness, sweating/shaking, nausea, and hysteria. For people that suffer from the phobia, thunderstorms, or even a weather forecast that is predicting thunderstorms can induce jumpy and nervous actions and a need for reassurance of the safety of themselves, their home, and their belongings.
Many scientists believe the root cause of astraphobia comes from the innate fear of loud noises that begins as a child. Though having this fear as a child is completely normal, it becomes an unusual fear if an adult is unable to grow out of it. For others, astraphobia comes from a previous traumatic experience associated with thunderstorms and natural disasters, and the presence of thunder and lightning can trigger those negative memories. Some examples of these events can include flooding or a fire (resulting from a lightning strike) that destroyed one’s belongings or injured a family member or pet. Regardless, if the phobia persists into someone’s adult life, it can create a personality that is obsessed with weather forecasts and can potentially lead to a hermit lifestyle due to fear to leave the house.
In past weeks, I have focused mostly on the human treatment and impacts of phobias, but because this fear is so prevalent in animals, I thought that its impact on animals would be interesting to dive into. In fact, astraphobia impacts 15-30% of dogs around the country. The cause behind this storm anxiety is much more scientific and biological than many may believe. For one, many animals’ senses, especially dogs, are heightened in intensity, and a sound that may not bother humans could be extremely loud and frightening to a dog’s ears. Dogs can actually sense drops in barometric pressure much greater than humans can, and if you add the darkened skies and wind sounds to the mix, dogs experience an amplified and intense version of thunderstorms than we do. Additionally, in long-haired dogs, the build-up of static electricity in their fur can be a negative fear-inducing factor associated with an upcoming storm.
Some dogs may need anxiety medications to help them through a storm, but most just need the calming presence and reassurance of their owner to keep them at peace as it passes. For humans, it takes a recognition of the safety a person has within their home and the reminder that storms are very natural and common occurrences to keep the phobia at bay. Whether you love or hate thunderstorms, they are a powerful and unique part of our experience with the weather here on our planet.
I thought it was funny that you used the comparison that humans are too big to tuck under places :). I also had no idea that medication was able to be provided for animals this is something new to me. Could this phobia cause permanent damage for anyone, long-term?
That’s so interesting how few fears there are shared between humans and other animals (though it makes sense we’d be more afraid of things like heights than for example a cat), and I like how you explain how astraphobia works for dogs, since thunderstorms can be a very stressful time for a lot of pet owners (and parents of young children who haven’t coped with this fear yet). I never realized how much of an impact the barometric pressure would have on dogs’ ability to sense the thunderstorm, or how that could factor into their fear of thunder and lightning!
I have never considered that animals can have phobias, just like humans! But of course I knew that many dogs are scared of thunder. Although it is easy as humans to think these dogs are just being silly, their heightened sense of hearing certainly explains why they are so affected. Sadly, I have a friend who is blind that experiences similar sensations. Like dogs, she has a heightened sense of hearing. So, she experiences storms more intensely than I do. Therefore, she certainly fears and anticipates storms and other loud events much more than you or I.
It’s so interesting to me that this phobia also impacts animals. Even more interesting is that it only affects 15% to 30% of dogs. With the amount of dogs I’ve personally seen be scared of thunder, I’d expect the number to be higher.
Up here in New England, especially Connecticut, we can get REALLY bad thunderstorms because of the Atlantic and Long Island Sound just nearby. I remember as a child I was terrified of them but now as I’ve grown older, I find them cool and almost relaxing. Nature truly is beautiful and terrifying all at the same time; all the more reason for us to respect it.