Evening star., 1918-05-30
IF YOU FEAR STORMS.
BY H. ADDINGTON BRUCE,
Copyright, 1881
BY H. A
Copyright. 1851

| Abnormal fear Of thunderstorms Il
perhaps the commonest Of all phobias
or morbid breads. And like every
other phobia 1t is rooted in forgotten
memories" Of unpleasant happenings
in earlier life.
Which means that 1t IL essentially
durable fear; though, to be sure
most of those AFFLICTED with It do NOT
appreciate this. They are inclined to
regard it as quite incurable.
IT have made every effort to over.
come my absurd fear Of storms" 10 q
typical statement. II do not think ]
am weak willed, but 1t is too much
for me. The first flash Of lightning
or peal Of thunder throws mo into q
panic"
But the cure Of this morbid dread
| ing ones will power. It depends
rather, on learning prpdsely why one
Is SO afraid OF storms!
\ This can be done through modern
methods of psychological analysis
| Once the cause has been ascertained
the abnormal fear IL likely to cease
| Of its own accord.
| Consider the case Of a certain New
York woman. as reported by DR.. Lor-
ing W. Batten, clergyman. who has
personally used psychological medi-
| cine in the treatment OF functional
nervous and mental troubles.
This poor woman, when she con-
suited DR.. Batten, confessed that she
was In such dread Of storms that
every summer was q prolonged night
mare to her. The mere sight OF an
approaching storm filled her with
agonizing dismay.
Close questioning brought out some
It appeared that she was not at all
afraid Of the lightning. the really
dangerous element in storms. Nor
was she afraid of the darkness Gre
ated by storms.
What she feared was the loud noise
made by the thunder.
But the noise cannot hurt you"
DR.. Batten pointed out You are
well aware Of that. Why. then. are
you afraid?''
It was at this point that the anady-
sis began. It ended in the discovery
Of a forgotten childhood fright, and
was actually substitute for another
fear-fear Of the noise Of cannon.
To quote DR.. Batten's report Of the
case:
"The patient was the daughter of
an ATTIly " ucU BIC was q
small child. sensitive. timid and nerv-
Gus. she was fairly dragged to the
front for q noisy demonstration at an
Army post on the Fourth Of July.
The roar Of the cannon terrified
her. but, like the brave child OF a
fearless father, she must stand her
ground.
"As she grew older familiarity with
big guns bred the usual contempt
but 1t was far otherwise with tho un-
consciously substituted roar Of the
thunder"
That Is to say. without knowing it,
DIR. Batten's patient was tormented
by q subconscious memory OF her ex-
perience that noisy Fourth Of July.
But now, insight having been gained
into the origin Of her morbid dread.
thunder ceased to have terror for her.
In cases reported by other investi-
gators the fear has been found asso-
ciated with forgotten episodes Of a
distressing character occurring dur
ing a thunderstorm, and mostly in
childhood.
The episode responsible seems to be
quite forgotten with the passage Of
time. But the fear Of thunder re-
mains to testify that q memory of it
fingers painfully in the depths of the
mind.
BY psychological analysis It can
usually be recalled. And usually. as
already stated. Its successful recall 10
all that 10 needed to put an end to the
extreme and naortifying fear.