Autism at 28 - Scared of Thunderstorms

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I think it started in July 2014 when we had thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning, when I woke to loud bangs and flashes and a lightning bolt struck someone's shed down the road, I was panicking and scared and since then when summer comes along and there are hot days I nearly always check the forecast for storms. When there is one on the way and could happen at night, I start getting quite anxious, I don't like it really when its during evening because I can't sleep until it passes, I would stay awake until the early hours of the next morning, I don't mind during the day as long as I'm not in the house and I'm out somewhere. When I'm indoors during a storm, I go and hide in the closet because I feel it shields the flashes and I listen to heavy music on my wireless laptop so I can't hear the bangs. Is this normal to be like this ?

I am terrified of thunderstorms, have always been. I am most comfortable when I'm in my house by myself, so I can do whatever I want without being ridiculed. I can hide and put on my headphones. I am not so much scared of being struck by lightning, it's more a case of hating being startled; the sudden light and noise. I am the same with other sudden things, such as balloons that might pop.

I'm not terrified of them----though a certain burst of thunder could startle me.

What I don't like is when they get severe, and cause damage.

Welcome to WP. I actually love thunderstorms and I have taught people who were afraid of them to no longer fear them and to actually enjoy them. If you want me to try to help you you can pm me and I will try to help you.

It's not abnormal for people to dislike thunderstorms, especially if they had a bad experience with lightning.

I'm afraid of snow.

Hey, I'm 27 years old, and I'm still scared of heights and clowns.

Everybody has their own dislikes and fears, It's perfectly normal, so don't fret about it.

If there are people who belittle/ridicule you for having those qualities, then they're just being insensitive idiots.

Thunderstorms don’t bother me at all. But I can understand how the thunder can be intimidating. I feel the same about dark clouds and thick fog when it says like that I am almost too scared to walk out of my own home.

Notice you live in Kent. So do I

I like thunderstorms, especially if there is large amounts of cloud to cloud lightning associated with it. It was quite common for me to go out watching storms as a kid. That was one major perk of growing up in tornado alley. Large hail I could do without (I have been pelted by baseball size hail once before), but lightning shows are pure fun for me.

My Dr. Frankenstein side says:

I cannot bring my creations to life without it....

I'm not ashamed to admit that even at 43 years of age, thunderstorms and that crazy crack of thunder still scares the heck out of me. My anxiety often shoots straight through the roof every time the first crack happens and every crack thereafter. I've never been able to get used to that sound it's just the most terrifying thing I've ever heard.

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*** High Functioning Autism - Asperger's Syndrome ***

ADHD, OCD, and PTSD.

Keep calm and stim away.

I know where you are coming from, I‘m also terrified of thunderstorms. I then hide under my blanked. Listening to your favourite music loudly could help you maybe? Also I lower the blinds.

Thunderstorms calm me, I much enjoy them. It might have to do with the fact I live in a place that cannot flood and does not have tornados or hurricanes.