Oklahomans Describe Battle Against Weather Phobias

Dan Bewley & Travis Meyer, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Spring means severe weather, which brings anxiety and stress for thousands of Oklahomans. Weather phobia's can cause people to lose control while trying to make it through a storm.

"I get sweaty, I guess you could say, I get anxious," Day Hall, a Tahlequah resident, said.

Severe weather can strike fast and leave a lasting impression.

"Tornadoes is the biggest," Mandy Summers, who lives in West Siloam Springs, said.

"And now I don't want rain, ever," Tulsan Nichol Harvey said, laughing.

Springtime in Oklahoma is known for its wild weather. There's hail, wind, rain, and, of course, tornadoes. Each brings its own dangers and the very threat of bad weather can send some people into a tailspin.

"My stomach will just knot up and I will have goose bumps all over," Summers said.

Mandy Summers has been dealing with a fear of severe weather all of her life. Her storm shelter is her way of coping. She keeps it as clean as possible and leaves toys for the kids.

She says when she hears about a storm, no matter where it is, her own personal radar gets activated.

"My family actually calls me their meteorologist because I will tell them in advance and if the storm is anywhere near any of us I'll call them and let them know," she said.

 For Day Hall, it's not rain or thunder it's the wind that gets her anxious.

"Yeah, the wind freaks me out because wind is what does more damage than anything," Hall said.

She said it started during a storm when she was a new mom.

"I was living in a trailer and didn't have a way to escape and I had a child, a one year old, and it scared the crap out of me," she said.

Nichol Harvey never had any issues with weather until last spring when a storm blew through her neighborhood and covered everything with debris.

"I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I felt like the house was literally going to take flight," she said.

That storm made a vivid impact on Harvey. She now winces even if it begins to rain.

"Just really sick at the stomach and I just get into prayer mode, I want to pray, I'm just totally scared," she said.

Dr. Gerry Clancy, President of OU-Tulsa, is also a trained psychiatrist.

"I do think we're wired to be cautious, particularly around weather," he said.

Dr. Clancy said less than 5 percent of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with a phobia and the percentage of weather phobia's is even smaller.

But they do exist.

For example, Anacrophobia is the fear of wind, Lilapsophobia is the fear of tornado's or hurricanes, and Brontophobia is the fear of thunder and lightning.

"No phobia I have ever seen has come upon someone simply by just being a weakness of character or anything," he said. "They just happen."

Dr. Clancy said most people suffer either anxiety or post traumatic stress when it comes to severe weather and each can be treated through counseling.

While the storm is happening, Dr. Clancy, said it's important to do whatever you can to keep your mind calm: read a book, listen to music, or talk to someone.

Dr. Clancy said someone who's least emotional about weather should watch the broadcasts and something he's found that helps is having an emergency plan.

"They have a plan in place in case things go from bad to very bad they know where to go what to do, having that plan in place is reassuring to many people," he said.

Neither Summers, Harvey, or Hall have been clinically diagnosed with a weather phobia but each says bad weather can leave them on edge.

"It could just sprinkle and I am just in panic mood," Harvey said.

"I definitely do a lot of praying, a lot of praying," Summers echoed.

"I can't sit down. I got to be up moving around, watching the weather because you never know around here," said Hall.

Whether it's the wind, rain, or a twister that causes your nerves to frazzle it's important to know you're not alone and there are ways to help calm your fears.