Astraphobia is extreme fear of thunder and lightning. It can affect people of all ages, though it may be more common in children than adults. It’s also seen in animals.

Individuals who have astraphobia may have feelings of panic before and during a storm. The phobia can cause such symptoms as: chest pain, numbness, nausea, heart palpitations and a racing pulse, difficulty breathing, sweaty palms, an obsessive desire to monitor the storm, and feeling a need to hide away in a closet or under the bed.

People with fear of thunder and lightning may avoid situations where a storm might be present, such as camping. Astraphobia may cause them to go irrationally out of their way to avoid bad weather, such as canceling plans at even a slight possibility of a storm. The condition is treatable.

When people have had a traumatic experience linked to thunderstorms and lightning, they may be more prone to develop astraphobia. If a person has witnessed someone getting hurt by thunder and lightning, this can contribute to astraphobia. Those who are generally inclined toward anxiety and fear also may be more prone to develop this phobia.

Additionally, children with autism and those with sensory processing issues tend to develop astraphobia more frequently than other people because they are more sensitive to sound.

Astraphobia is also sometimes called astrapophobia, brontophobia, keraunophobia, or tonitrophobia.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org