as·tra·pho·bi·a
noun
An abnormal and persistent fear of thunderstorms. Sufferers experience anxiety even when they realize the risk of harm is very small. Consequently, when indoors they might seek shelter under a bed, in a closet or in a basement. They generally keep a watchful eye on the sky and remain alert for reports of electrical storms.

Ashton has always, since he was teeny tiny, had issues with loud noises and certain other things like haircuts… oh lord, how I love haircut time with him, you would think I was stabbing him with machetes, over and over.  He was a preemie and finally, about two years ago, we came to understand that he has some mild sensory processing issues, probably as a result of being a preemie.  No biggie, it was mild and something that he could totally out-grow.  The only thing that seemed to bother him was loud noises and really chaotic situations (oh and haircuts).  Vacuums, jets flying overhead, etc have never sat well with Ashton.  Thunderstorms have never seemed to really bother him in the past, until about three weeks ago.  We were leaving my mom’s house and needed to stop by Subway on the way home to grab some grub and the sky was really black, so I was trying to haul butt to beat the storm.  While we were inside Subway - the sky DUMPED.  There was thunder and lightning and the lights inside Subway started flickering and then Ashton had a complete and total meltdown right then and there.  He was hyperventilating to the point of vomiting, crying uncontrollably and breaking out into hives.  I was trying to wait out the real heavy rain, but it became apparent (as the Subway staff were asking if they needed to call someone for me… like a damn paramedic) that we had to just make a run for it and get him home.  When we got home to no power - he just LOST IT.  I kept trying to explain to him that thunderstorms pass quickly and I lit candles and hugged him and told him to breathe deep - take deep breaths.  Once the storm passed, Dena and Ethan walked down with a flashlight and Ethan was able to take Ashton’s mind off the lights being off… which was a godsend.

For the next couple weeks, any time the sky has looked like rain, Ashton has gone into immediate panic mode, asking a million questions and is unable to calm down.  “Mom, is it going to rain?  Is there going to be a thunderstorm?  Mom, do those clouds over there look like maybe there will be a storm tonight?  Mom, do you think lightning is going to hit our house and we will lose power?”

Last night, the sky turned gray and as I was taking down my hanging baskets and placing them where the rain would hit them, I KNEW what I was in store for.  Then the first big crack of thunder hit, and sure enough, I immediately heard his footsteps running upstairs and then down the stairs.  His eyes were already soaked with tears and the hives had started breaking out on his forehead and arms.  “Mom, why does this keep happening?  I know God needs to water the plants, but why is there lightning with it?”  I spent the next 45 minutes talking him down… “Ashton, it’s okay, you need to take a deep breath and calm down… we are safe inside our house and everything is okay.  Take a deep breath honey, the power has not even gone out, everything is fine.”  He hyperventilated again to the point of puking, but was not as bad as the night at Subway.  The storm passed and he thought we were in the clear, until a second wave came through.  He spent the entire night pacing the floor, not able to relax and checking the windows constantly to see the conditions outside.  He did not want to play DS, he did not want to watch some TV, he did not want to leave my side and followed me around the house, checking windows the entire time… until finally, at 9:30 it stopped and he could go to sleep.

I do not know where this new fear of thunderstorms came from and I am hoping with everything that I have that it fades quickly, because I cannot tell you how hard it is as a parent, not to mention exhausting, to have to try and get your child through something like that.  It would be one thing if it was just your child saying they are scared, but when your child shows actual physical signs, such as hives, puking and hyperventilating, that they are scared to their core - it is very hard to deal with.  I am praying we make it through the rest of the school year without a thunderstorm hitting during school hours… and even more, I am praying that he works through this fear and things return to normal.