Severe Storm

[Drakanav]

There is a severe storm coming to Alabama tomorrow. I still don't know about it developing tornadoes, they said the west side in where the severe part will be, and I live in central. Of course, I've tried talking to my mom and dad about the matter but their words don't really help. "There's nothing to worry about" "Everything will be fine", is what they'll say. But it doesn't help me.

If you lived with me, you'll see me running around the house, trying to update the weather app, looking outside for funnel clouds, In the bathroom tub and unable to keep my mind away from it.
I haven't been through a tornado, but I know the destruction of it. It started getting worse after Hurricane Harvey came through and threw in some isolated tornadoes. There was a tornado warning right next to us. My dad was like, "You know what, I'll go to the gas station and fill up my trucks gas tank.". He literally left me there. I looked outside and I thought I saw debris, and of course I got scared, ran to the bathroom, crying, hyperventilating, and felt like the ground was shifting.

Sorry for the rant, but I need help with this, as it's affecting me. I asked my mom if I can take medication, such as Valium or Trazodone (I don't know if we have anymore Trazodone, though, but I used to take it.) but she said there's no reason to.

 

[SusanLR]

It's a phobia and you can't help it.
Not unfounded either.
I've seen what tornados can do and have had them
pass over the house and beside the road in the car.
I lived many years in SW Missouri tornado alley.
Keeping up with the weather when there are tornado
watches and warnings is a common sense safety effort.

Sorry you don't have anything to take the edge off the anxiety this is causing. I wouldn't want to be left alone in that situation either.
Thankfully, we don't have many or the large types here
in Florida that we had in Missouri.
Actually, here, lightening is the most dangerous weather element and it strikes close most every day in the summer storms. I am more afraid of it than anything else here.

 

[Streetwise]

don't worry so much

 

[Chance]

There is a severe storm coming to Alabama tomorrow. I still don't know about it developing tornadoes, they said the west side in where the severe part will be, and I live in central. Of course, I've tried talking to my mom and dad about the matter but their words don't really help. "There's nothing to worry about" "Everything will be fine", is what they'll say. But it doesn't help me.

If you lived with me, you'll see me running around the house, trying to update the weather app, looking outside for funnel clouds, In the bathroom tub and unable to keep my mind away from it.
I haven't been through a tornado, but I know the destruction of it. It started getting worse after Hurricane Harvey came through and threw in some isolated tornadoes. There was a tornado warning right next to us. My dad was like, "You know what, I'll go to the gas station and fill up my trucks gas tank.". He literally left me there. I looked outside and I thought I saw debris, and of course I got scared, ran to the bathroom, crying, hyperventilating, and felt like the ground was shifting.

Sorry for the rant, but I need help with this, as it's affecting me. I asked my mom if I can take medication, such as Valium or Trazodone (I don't know if we have anymore Trazodone, though, but I used to take it.) but she said there's no reason to.

I totally understand how you feel... I am mesmerized, and at the same time sometimes terrified of weather (and wildfires which have been very close to me this weekend). I grew up around hurricanes on the Texas Coast. Hurricane Harvey impacted a lot of my family and friends really bad. Some of them are still dealing with rebuilding their lives...

I moved back to upper central Texas called "Lower rolling plains" or "Gateway to the big country." I moved back here when my Grandparents passed away to continue on their (farm/ranching) business. So, now I live in one of the most wicked areas of the world also as known as part of "tornado alley"...

Every Spring I am just tensed up mess when those super cell storms explode into awesome yet terrifying situations. These days I don't think its ever going to rain again? Its some weird weather. When it does rain its usually hard and fast and flooding rains, but lately noting but a frozen hell with 50 mile per hour winds. I am wanting out of here so bad - maybe that will happen this year.

Good luck to you and I hope you are safe... : )

 

[Drakanav]

Thank you for the replies! I thought about going to my Memas house. And of course, I talked to my dad about it, and he said, “There’s no reason to go, you’re overreacting.”. And talked about all the reasons why. There is a reason to go. I feel safe around her, and she is somewhat understanding about my ASD and anxiety. She’s still learning though.

 

[kay]

We had the storms that are just now now heading into Alabama last night. Two nearby tornado warnings but we barely had lightening where I am sitting. As far as I can tell though the storm did very little anywhere, just up rooted some trees west of here.

I've lived in SW Missouri my entire life and up until about age 27 was terrified of tornadoes. When I was young we would have tornado warnings by county with no real idea where anything was headed. Every time it was off to the basement. I used to go to the basement with just sight of a dark cloud.

Somehow I lost a lot of my fear. I seem to sense tornadoes to a point. No idea how or if it still works for me. Radar is also so greatly improved and more accessible that I can always just keep an eye on that and no where things are headed in detail.

Still a good idea to be prepared. Have a little emergency bag packed, be ready, but try not to worry till you have to. The storms do appear to be going into northern Alabama right now. They are just heading into the Florence area. Hope the storms are not too bad today and that you have a pretty good day.

 

[Judge]

Yeah. It's just a matter of where you live and what the anticipated perils may be, especially when they come and go seasonally without fail.

One can learn to live with the exposure, but they can still be scary and worthy of careful scrutiny in terms of evacuation if necessary. Indeed- be prepared as others have stated.

For me it's the possibility of fire and wind....much more than earthquakes or flash flooding. I've only seen a funnel cloud once here...and it didn't last. Still, it's something you can see unlike an earthquake. Higher "fear factor" I suppose.

 

[OkRad]

I get afraid, too. I would go away if I felt I had to. No shame in that.

 

[Drakanav]

I went to Memas, expecting the worse, but nothing happened except rain. I’m pooped, as I had to socialize. I’m going to go take a nap. Thank you guys for the stories, advice and support!

 

[Chance]

I seem to sense tornadoes to a point. No idea how or if it still works for me.

Maybe your like me, and a lot of ASD type people. It seems I can sense any change in barometric pressure... If that change is fast and drastic it will nearly cripple me... Its like acid in my joints. It has been this way all my life.

Big cold fronts, fast developing storms, or a coming drastic changes make my body hurt really bas as the pressure goes down, but I will feel instantly better as the pressure goes back toward steady.

 

[LucyPurrs]

Used to live in South Florida (Broward County area). In 2006 we had 5 hurricanes one of which came directly over our house. We were sitting in our garage(no windows) with a battery powered TV and watched it go over. Once it was past we discovered that mini tornadoes had snapped off every palm tree on our street (each house had 2 of them and they were all about 20' tall). Ours missed our neighbors car by about 2 inches. Our screened and roofed patio was completely intact but all the others in the neighborhood were scattered all over the place. Only one ceramic roof time was missing from our house but many houses lost most of their roofs. There's no rhyme or reason to these storms, especially the tornadoes they spawn. I was such a nervous wreak that we picked up and moved to North Carolina the following fall before the next tornado season. So yes , I think it's not unrealistic to be fearful and realistic to be prepared. I miss South Florida food but not the storms!!!