(pic by C. Dennis of Sunday evenings storm.....look at that menacing cloud)

Severe thunder storms imminent, wind gusts up to 110 Km/h, large hail and torrential downpours. Remember some severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes.

That is what I saw staring back at me last night on the weather network website, oh fuck!

I'm sure some of you remember that I am horribly afraid of thunderstorms, I'll take the wind and hail........even the tornado.......but please please please leave out the thunder and lightning. To make matters worse I was watching a friends dog and went over to her place just before the storm hit. She has two large glass doors with no curtains in her kitchen and sheer curtains in her living room. I lasted all of 5 minutes upstairs before the booming/light show became too much for me to handle. Seriously it sounded like it was right above her house taunting me, rattling the windows and some glasses on the table, it was so strong the house shook. It was unbelievable from what I'm told, flashes every few seconds for over an hour. I wouldn't have a clue, I perched myself on her basement steps with a flashlight in one hand and cellphone in the other. I eventually grabbed a magazine to help pass the time but it was hard to concentrate as my heart was pounding and my hands shaking. It lasted a good hour or more but felt like 10. Apparently the storm did a little damage as trees were knocked down, rooftops were ripped off and many people were still left without power on Monday morning.

I got very little sleep that night as the storm ended close to 1am. I checked the local newspaper on the web this afternoon and what do I see but a "severe thunderstorm" warning AGAIN. UGH!!! I left work an hour early as the sky was getting black and I was lucky enough to only hit the tale end of the storm.

(Pic of the nasty sky from my cell on the way home, it's like sunny to the right and gloomy in front)


I'm happy to report it was less lightning and more rain though the highway was completely flooded, people were driving like 2 km/h and a transport truck totally cut me off on a bridge. I had to slam on my brakes (we were actually moving at a good pace at that point) and try to swerve out of his way while laying on my horn and cursing the son of a bitch.

I've never been embarrassed per se about my fear as I don't think it's completely out of the norm. It's other peoples reaction to my phobia that makes me feel embarrassed......like they think it's completely irrational. Either way I really don't care what they think though I have toyed with the idea of getting some type of help for this issue of mine. I don't think I'd consider CBT as they would most likely make me stand out in a storm to face my fear....maybe some type of hypnotherapy. Suggestions anyone, anyone??