weather anxiety, weather phobia

F3 · Post by F3 » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:55 am

I've used the program in the past, with some success at the time. My current problem is weather anxiety or phobia, and it's getting worse by the day. Today, in the NE USA is unbearable. I'm using med and it's offering minimal help. Can't think, having trouble typing! Fear is unbearable. Help!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:53 am

Hi F3. It is sad and unfortunate that this is happening, but the only answer lies within you.

It would be so easy if everybody else could actually to help us get over it, wouldn't it? I still struggle too, but remind myself of the things I learned in the program and the steps I must take when I feel this way.

Maybe you can go through the program again, and especially listen to session 8, that is such a good one.

Take care

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:16 pm

I have had a weather phobia for years. Mine concerns the snow as a lot of snow gives me the feeling that I am trapped with no way out. I can never enjoy the fall as I know the snow season is coming.

I am getting better and this season hasn't been too bad. I try and relax with meditation, I try diversion by playing online games or crossword puzzles, and I chat online or on the telephone for a diversion.

I haven't got over this completely and still "freak out" some over upcoming snow storms or heavy ice storms, so I try not to watch weather channels on television or on the computer. Sometimes during a bad snow storm I just close the curtains so I can't see it coming down and do something else.

Like I said, I am better as in the past it was so bad that I had to have a family member dig out the driveway every two hours or so so I could get my car out if need be (and never once have I had to use the car in a snow storm).

I wish you success in conquering this. I am still battling, but getting much better. You will too. Hang in there!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:48 am

F3,

I used to be afraid of storms, too. I would obsessively watch the radar, even online while I was at work. If at all possible, I would even take my lunch early so I could get home and feel safe when the storm hit.

Here is what got me past it. One day, there was a really big storm moving in. I had been tracking it online on radar for hours so I was really worked up by the time it got here. It started raining hard, then harder then... it was just over. Like Lucinda on the tape with her turblulence, it was nothing. I was expecting to get sucked out of my house and it was really just some heavy rain and thunder. That got me to realize, "Hey, my brain just tricked me into thinking I was about to die...And, it was just some rain and thunder" After that, I started going to the windows then out on my front porch to be IN the storm. By getting out there I proved to myself that while I might get a little windblown and wet, that was about it. And here I equated that with dying! See what anxiety does? It makes us think that we are about to DIE, we go into fight or flight, and it's all a LIE. Just remember that... confront it, in little steps that you can handle and you will show your mind that storms aren't going to kill you. And, you will lose the fear of them.

Hope that helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:34 am

Hi F3:
If I'm reading the weather news right, it looks like you have just received a huge snow storm. One of the worse ever. Once you have made it thru' this , some of your fear may dimisnish.
But one thing that has helped me to get thru' weather storms and also all other kinds of storms in life has been acceptance. Acceptance of what is. There is ono way that we can control the weather. But we can coach ourselves to accept what is.

Another thing that helps me is faith in God.
But faith has to be practiced. As Hot Rod mentioned, we have some laud storms here in Texas.
Part of the time when I was growing up , we had a tin roof. I can tell you, I learned to pray early on!!!! Whem the down-pours and hail hit that roof you can just imagine how a child would
be cringing in her bed . With streaks of lightening flashing all around.

I hope this helps. Storms are scary. But with acceptance and a faith in the goodness of God we can get thru' them. They make good stories to tell later.
MJ

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:39 am

oops!
I didn't proof read.
I meant to say, there is NO way that we can control weather.
MJ

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:33 pm

The storm was bad, but not as bad as further south. DC was much worse. More news: we're expecting another blizsard Tuesday night into Wednesday. I'm trying to accept, trying to have faith, but it's not easy to even think through the anticipatory terror. Thanks for your advice and for "listening"
F3

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:42 pm

Originally posted by Hot Rod:
F3,

I used to be afraid of storms, too. I would obsessively watch the radar, even online while I was at work. If at all possible, I would even take my lunch early so I could get home and feel safe when the storm hit.

Here is what got me past it. One day, there was a really big storm moving in. I had been tracking it online on radar for hours so I was really worked up by the time it got here. It started raining hard, then harder then... it was just over. Like Lucinda on the tape with her turblulence, it was nothing. I was expecting to get sucked out of my house and it was really just some heavy rain and thunder. That got me to realize, "Hey, my brain just tricked me into thinking I was about to die...And, it was just some rain and thunder" After that, I started going to the windows then out on my front porch to be IN the storm. By getting out there I proved to myself that while I might get a little windblown and wet, that was about it. And here I equated that with dying! See what anxiety does? It makes us think that we are about to DIE, we go into fight or flight, and it's all a LIE. Just remember that... confront it, in little steps that you can handle and you will show your mind that storms aren't going to kill you. And, you will lose the fear of them.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for listening. I have gone out in storms and found out that it wasn't as bad as I imagined. Last week's snow and now another major storm coming in the Northeast is more than I can handle. It's hard to even think through the terror of anticipating. Thanks for the quote from Timothy. I'm going to find that when I'm off line. ( I hope I did this posting correctly!)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:46 pm

Originally posted by Flyer99:
I have had a weather phobia for years. Mine concerns the snow as a lot of snow gives me the feeling that I am trapped with no way out. I can never enjoy the fall as I know the snow season is coming.

I am getting better and this season hasn't been too bad. I try and relax with meditation, I try diversion by playing online games or crossword puzzles, and I chat online or on the telephone for a diversion.

I haven't got over this completely and still "freak out" some over upcoming snow storms or heavy ice storms, so I try not to watch weather channels on television or on the computer. Sometimes during a bad snow storm I just close the curtains so I can't see it coming down and do something else.

Like I said, I am better as in the past it was so bad that I had to have a family member dig out the driveway every two hours or so so I could get my car out if need be (and never once have I had to use the car in a snow storm).

I wish you success in conquering this. I am still battling, but getting much better. You will too. Hang in there!

My6 terror comes from the feeling of being trapped. I've never been, but the anticipation causer terror. Anticipating the second major storm in 4 days is more than I can handle right now. Hearing that you've been able to get to feel better is reason for hope. Thank you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:47 pm

The program also teaches that the best way to get over our anxiety is to go through what makes us anxious over and over again until we learn to be comfortable. So believe it or not all these storm systems are what you need - taking the steps that the program teaches will help you get through it. Take it easy.