Phobias are a common mental health issue that can affect people’s daily lives. Unlike general anxiety disorders, phobias are usually related to something specific, such as a fear of heights or spiders. The immediate reaction to encountering a phobia can manifest in a variety of physiological sensations such as dizziness, rapid breathing, dry mouth, palpitations, and sweating.

One type of phobia is related to the weather. Those who experience these fears describe how it might happen. For example, acrophobia is the fear of wind and can cause damage to houses and blow things away. Nepopophobia is the fear of clouds because of their disturbing presence overhead and automatic link to severe weather that may come.

Phobias related to the weather are often developed due to past experiences where the weather was seen as a particularly negative and destructive factor. Genetics also play a role in some cases, with certain genetic similarities found between relatives who share the same phobia. These fears can be debilitating for those who experience them and may affect their daily lives, leading to social isolation and avoidance behaviors.

In recent years, there have been several examples of individuals with extreme weather-related phobias that have been featured in popular media such as television shows or movies. One notable example is Anna from “The Woman Next Door to the Girl in the Window,” who refuses to go outside during rainfall due to her fear of passing out at the wheel while driving long distances. Another example is Catherine Clements who avoided going outside during snowfall for eight years due to her car losing control on an icy main road in 2008. She was too embarrassed to seek treatment for her condition until recently.