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Countless men, women, and children everywhere are afraid of lightning and thunder, a common condition termed brontophobia. For as long as this fear has been around, people have been seeking out methods to fight it. Today, there is a variety of treatment options used. To help overcome this phobia, professionals call for certain hypnosis techniques that are proven effective in dissipating common fears.

Brontophobia sufferers experience an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning. Loud, booming thunder and intense flashes of lightning can trigger anxiety and panic attacks in brontophobia sufferers. Other effects include an increased heartrate, perspiring, and a strong sensation of fear, to the point where a person becomes sick.

For many, the fear of thunderstorms begins at a young age, when as children, we cower under the covers during a bad storm. The phobia can be especially difficult for children. Many scared children feel powerless during bad weather, and their mothers and fathers often feel helpless to take away their phobia.

Despite its common occurrence in children, the fear of storms can be triggered at any time in life, frequently after someone has an unpleasant experience such as getting shocked, which reminds them of a lightning strike. A stressful experience such as surviving a hurricane can also create a fear of thunderstorms.

People may come to link loud noises, the sensation of discomfort, or terror with rainy weather, which can grow into a phobia. This phobia is so widespread that it is even observed in some animals; for example, many pet owners report that their pets seem scared in bad weather.

People with brontophobia try to avoid seeing or hearing storms. They may suffer nervous breakdowns during storm disasters such as floods. This can be harmful to them if they cannot function under circumstances which requires them to remain calm and react quickly.

People with brontophobia may despise storm season, often suffering in summer when thunderstorms are common. They might continually check weather reports and behave extra cautiously during bouts of inclement weather. To other people, these actions may seem obsessive and highly paranoid. Phobia suffers may find this condition gradually taking control of their lives.

There are many techniques available for treating brontophobia and other strong fears. Common ones include talk therapy, anti-anxiety medication, and hypnosis. Hypnosis tends to provide safer, quicker results and it is non-invasive, having no harmful side effects. For these reasons, hypnosis is a a popular therapy.

Hypnotherapy is excellent as a form of stress-relief therapy and has long been used to this end. By starting with stress-relief techniques, hypnotherapy helps tense, nervous individuals with phobias begin the process of healing. When an individual is feeling at ease, it is easier for hypnosis techniques to direct the unconscious into a phobia-free line of thought.

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

Ericksonian hypnosis is a type of hypnosis that is commonly used to treat phobias. Named after its creator, Dr. Milton Erickson, MD, this type of therapy uses indirect suggestions hidden in conversation, stories, and metaphors to eliminate a phobia. Indirect suggestions are more effective than conventional direct suggestions because people tend to reject simply being told what to do. Those which are hidden from the mind are more able to help people to vanquish their fears.

Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques have another advantage over other hypnotherapy programs because they are designed to treat any phobia. Thus, a single program is usable for treating any phobia, or even several phobias if need be. Plus, each program combines a number of techniques to be effective for any individual.

Hypnotherapy is the perfect treatment option for many, which provides rapid and long-lasting results. Cowering under blankets and being frightened is not the way a brontophobia sufferer should live. With hypnosis and NLP techniques, nearly everyone can overcome this irrational phobia.