How Exactly Did I Get Over My Childhood Fear of Thunder?

Question

What sort of psychology principles would apply to my experience? That's what I'm asking for. 

These are the general details...
-I began staying home by myself everyday after school around late 2nd grade or early third grade year. Before this, I actually rotated through several different baby-sitters.
-Two ways I coped with the anxiety at home: "Caving in" (staying still, hiding in tight places, underneath blankets, and so on) or "Negotiation" (I would talk to the storm itself).

How I Got Over It...

I actually got over it in one day and the sequence of the events are pretty strange. During the afternoon just before the storm hit, as a class we were reading about a story of a young boy's fear of lightning and thunder. I didn't take the short story seriously. I thought it was long, boring and most of all utter B.S. as a matter of fact. 

The storm reached its peak during school dismissal, I'm suppose to take the school bus home and my bus number happened to be one of the very last to arrive. Throughout the entire time of waiting and waiting, I finally broke down and cried around two other classmates that rode the same bus as me and my third grade teacher. I admitted in tears that I didn't want to spend another day all alone at home after school with the thunderstorm for who knows how many hours, and I was very embarrassed. Surprisingly the two kids didn't give me hard time for it, one of them was sympathetic which didn't give me much comfort and the kid who would usually tease me left me alone. My teacher consoled me with a guarantee that by the time I got home the thunder would cease, and she was right. I was so happy and relieved by the time I got home, and was hardly phased by the rumbling of thunder since then. I actually started looking forward to them.

I don't get it, how did I just get over it in just one day?

Jana · Accepted Answer

A lot of possibilities you might think..with the story, friends and teacher. I think it goes to the basic psychological technique of facing your fears. 

You might have been afraid previously, been angry at the storm, yelled at it, but never said what you felt out loud. As with anything one desires to get rid of, illnesses, addictions, fears. The first thing one must face, is that which is affecting them.. Hearing yourself state your fears and why, was also a way of releasing the fear. 

You did this for yourself, not what anyone did for you. By stating the obvious, (that you didn't want to be alone) you must have realized that the situation was what it was, and there was no changing your situation, or offers of company either.

During a mediation, psychic Course I took years ago, there was a treatment/healing process we learned. This did NOT begin with visualizing what we wanted, but FIRST had to image what "was," there and real..what existed, in front of a black screen. Then the black screen and image moved to the side. Next, a white screen came down, and the image of what we wanted to replace the previous image was visualized, never to look at the black screen again. 

(my opinion)

aspicco · Answer

I am guessing the "fear of thunder" may have just been a symptom of "feeling all alone & no one was there to help" (ie: abandonment) and I suspect the teacher paying attention, taking your fears seriously and taking the time to talk to you showed you that you weren't necessarily abandoned. I suspect you were not as scared of the thunder as you were feeling very helpless (normal for a 3rd grade kid left alone).
 
I am not a therapist, but, I just felt this might be the answer

MrSharK · Answer

Probably from watching that horrible movie "Ted".  I recommend you find yourself a thunder buddy.

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How Exactly Did I Get Over My Childhood Fear of Thunder?

3 Answers