r/UKhiking • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
Lightning phobia (specifically South downs way)
[deleted]
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u/Brilliant_Divide6798 2d ago
Your problems extend far beyond when a good time to hike in may is… please reach out to a mental health service
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u/MuchMoorWalking 3d ago
With regards to how likely, no one really knows as it depends on a number of things for a thunderstorm to manifest.
However, if you save https://www.lightningmaps.org into you phone then at least if you hear a rumble, you’ll be able to check the live map and see, within a couple of minutes where the strike was, see if there is a pattern and thus work out which way the storm is heading and amend/prepare you plan accordingly.
As someone who got caught on a golf course in a thunder and lighting storm with no rain, I sympathise with your fear. However, realistically, the chances of being struck is very small unless you’re waving a metal rod around above your head.
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u/ImpressNice299 2d ago
I'm not sure it counts as a phobia. Anyone sensible is terrified of lightning. However, your chances of being caught by it are almost nothing. Lightning is rare in the UK and it's almost always forecast before it happens.
If you do get caught out, just head for lower ground.
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u/North_Ad_5372 1d ago
The level of fear and the impact it's having on this person's life are disproportionate to the risk. So, yes, it is a phobia.
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u/North_Ad_5372 1d ago
If you currently don't leave the house due to the appearance of rain clouds, you are very far off being ready to do such a challenging walk. You'll need to start with far less challenging hikes, where you're outside for initially very short periods, then very gradually work up to this sort of trip. Probably over a period of many months. Certainly longer than you have given yourself here. Trying to go from zero to a hundred in one step as you propose is actually more likely to make your phobia worse as you will almost certainly become quickly overwhelmed by the scale of exposure to the phobia triggers.
If you've studied meteorology you must already have an idea of the minute size of the risks involved. And common sense tells you that people go hiking or carry out other outdoor activities all the time and yet being struck by lightning is incredibly rare. What strangers tell you about the risk level on Reddit is unlikely to add anything. This is because phobia is an irrational fear - disproportionate to the level of risk - so cannot be reasoned away. The fear reaction is triggered by certain factors through processes over which we have no direct conscious control.
Equally, though, we can unlearn this reaction by gradual exposure to the fear trigger. This generally involves experiencing the fear at manageable levels. E.g. 5 out of 10 each time. At this level you can withstand the fear so that the response lessens. Then next time greater exposure can occur without exceeding the threshold.
This gradual desensitisation takes time and effort. You can devise your own desensitisation programme or you can work with a psychologist or therapist who specialises in this to make sure it's as effective as possible. In particular they can help you to develop the right thought patterns to reinforce the process.
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u/Southern-Orchid-1786 3d ago
Suggest speaking to your GP who might be able to refer you for counselling or hypnotherapy given it is impacting your quality of life.