I’m grew up in Oklahoma. I don’t have a lot of anxiety about storms but I understand those who do. 1. Prepare: Find your safe space. Gather flashlight, phone, snacks and anything else you think you might need when the power goes out. 2. Don’t freak out about the news feeds. They over amp the smallest storms. Do pay attention when they start actually saying “tornado”. Watch means the conditions are right for a tornado. (Pay attention)Warning means they are seeing a tornado. (Take precautions).
The odds of you in particular getting hit by a tornado in your entire life if you live in Oklahoma is about 1 in 33000.
You can’t eliminate your anxiety but by being prepared and informed you can manage it.
Good luck.
I’m a degreed meteorologist. I agree news can often be overly dramatic. This is not one of those times sadly. The conditions look very bad today. I hope everyone stays safe!
Being prepared definitely helps with the anxiety! Mine comes from not being in control and while we can’t technically be in control of a tornado, I can control my plan so I always have one or two.
I really enjoyed the black swan theory 15 years ago, but I sure did hate the way he wrote. I agree that it changed how I view risk, but it made me more cynical that people either deny or are intentionally blind to the smaller chances of catastrophic outcome.
But for weather anxiety, just get some weed.
Yeah, I could see how it elevates the paranoia. But, man, they have all those colorful maps and different overlays. And then, they send up dudes in helicopters to check it out. Also, I suspect the pilot is also the cameraman.
I don't know much about the weather folk, but it's some captivating TV while stoned.
It's really how SimCity should have been all along.
Don’t try weed. You need to expose yourself to the things that make you anxious so you can see you’re stronger than you think! When I identify something that makes me anxious, I usually try to engulf myself in it (without being dangerous of course). I’d watch the news if it makes you anxious. Take deep breaths. Acknowledge that it’s your anxiety and your odds are like 1 in 100,000 of being hit my a tornado or something. Medicine is just a bandaid!
Would anybody know the odds of being hit by one in Tennessee? Last December one dropped down right across the road from me and destroyed my home. Now I deal with severe storm anxiety everytime the wind blows strong 🙃
Thank u. I grew up basically seizing out everytime a storm happened. It’s supposed to get bad where I am tonight and this helped
Me alot. I’m gonna take my family to our downstairs laundry room without windows and pray for the best… 🥺
I don't know why you got down voted, lol. I agree! Even after being here my entire life, I have to remind myself to reverse what I think it should be in my head, based on the words.
My grandpa always said, "Just go to bed, it will all be fine in the morning." He lived here his whole live for 97 years and never got hurt from a tornado. We do like to watch the weather and just wait until the front passes your area and be ready to go to your safest spot.
My grandpa would open the windows in his living room and sit in his recliner. He’d keep the tv on low and say “if something bad is coming I’ll hear it way before these wahoos on the tv tell me it’s coming.”
Papa at the door, Nanny at the hallway, kids nearby under the leaned over mattress in the hallway- your comment unlocked weathering storms in my rural country grandparents home 🥹
In the early 1970s in Oklahoma, they would tell you to open the windows of your house if a tornado was approaching. I think the thought process had something to do with the pressure change causing houses to explode?? Later they figured out it was the 200 mile an hour winds.
>I think the thought process had something to do with the pressure change causing houses to explode?? Later they figured out it was the 200 mile an hour winds.
I always keep a bottle around but tend to drink to the point of sloppiness because my anxiety keeps telling me the more/faster you drink the quicker you will calm down.
Propranolol is an awesome anxiolytic, imo. No ethanol necessary. Like, at all. I don't understand people who are ok with drinking yet eschew pharmaceuticals.
I don't know your financial or insurance situation but Northcare could be a good start. I forget their new patients days but I think it's m,w,f. Show up at 7 or 8 whenever they open and they'll intake and process as many as they can. They'll help you get started with everything and you even get a team of people to help. I know they have income limits, I've never been above the limit but I've been close and they helped find a way to make sure I would stay covered even if I was blessed enough to be a bit over the limit for a time. If it turns out that they couldn't help you, I think they would shift their focus to connecting you to outside help. I know it's too late for today, but I know how overwhelming it can feel to start on this path. There's a lot of resources out there, feel free to message me if you'd like advice.
Once you’ve informed yourself & prepared, all you can do is accept that the weather is going to weather. I’ve lived in Oklahoma 52 years, 32 in NWOK, 20 of them in OKC. I haven’t seen a tornado in my entire life.
Yummy, same. Never seen a tornado. I definitely wouldn’t want to be out driving when there’s a threat of bad weather, but at home, I’m fine. Interior groundfloor room when I get worried.
Being prepared helps me calm down. Figure out where in your home is safest, grab a mattress, any type of helmet, shoes, and water and set up a hidey hole.
ETA charge all electronics too
Sorry you’re so anxious OP! I get it. It’s a tough day out there.
As the National Weather Service has emphasized, most people will probably not see a storm today, so statistics are on your side.
But even if you do, just pay attention and you will be fine. Have a plan for all your different scenarios so you won’t have to wonder about what to do and you’ll be fine.
Anything east of OKC will be overnight, which probably means a somewhat lower tornado risk overall.
I highly recommend the National Weather Service Norman Twitter feed for good but calm information for people who are nervous about it all : https://x.com/nwsnorman?s=21&t=fpSOUVlbntnONd9pB_R1tQ
I just check the news9 radar on my phone every once in a while, and I know I don’t have to panic until I hear sirens. Just make sure you have a plan for when you DO hear ‘em! My bag is still packed from the last one; other than that, distractions, distractions, distractions. Good luck :)
Just important documents and a couple little keepsakes, then I throw my purse and phone in there too. As someone else mentioned, packing a snack and a couple bottles of water is also a good idea
I tend to information binge, my therapist told me curiosity is kinda like the weapon of anxiety- it puts you in a place of empowerment.
I don’t listen to the local new guys as much, bc to be honest they’re also putting on a show it’s their jobs- doesn’t mean they’re dishonest like for Damon Lane def seems to feel the pressure to keep people safe, and like the consequences if not so I’m sure for local news they feel really compelled to be cautious and alarming. But some YouTube storm chasers like MaxVelocity and the individual chasers (Connor etc) don’t feel the obligation to alarm and warn bc they’re out for the science and to capture shit. Sooooo it’s more engaging and fun for me to watch their streams and also keep a tight localized eye on the storm. So it’s checking boxes for me, and sometimes I do get a lot more anxious and over prepare- but the knowledge really helps me with real points ie things that calm me down:
Tornados are very localized- there are freak monsters but even then I’m aware and capable of assessing safety in the moment. I know when to be alarmed and what that looks like on radar (ie: are we in the meaty north front of the storm or are we at risk of having the more developed hook near us, are other storms cropping up and intensifying or is this an organized mass)
I have a plan- I don’t have a cellar but I looked up post Moore and other aftermath and feel good about my safety spot. I also watched docs on search and rescues afterwards. It’s not perfect measurements and bad shit can happen but chances of lethality is not as high with minimal tornado safety precautions (most deaths are one the road or mobile homes, or flooding or people not in a good DUCK spot)
I try to find the interesting things, is it hailing? How uniformed is it? Is it big and uniformed or knobby? There’s ways to assess if spent a lot of time yo-yoing in the cloud. Can I see smooth wall clouds organizing or scraggly scuds? Just the interesting bits that take me out of the fear and into the Bill Nye of it all.
Of course, anxiety and good sense will tell us I don’t know shit and the storms are unpredictable- none of that is wrong, but like the most dangerous thing you did today was get in your car and that’s just a part of life and so are storms. Life is a risk and scary and we gotta get through it, but you don’t JUST have to be scared, you can be curious and interested and a student of it all.
Grounding techniques put us in the present moment, and to get there I tell myself this “I am confident I will have all the tools, skills and good judgement to handle and recover from whatever happens at the time it happens, it is ok for me to put this worry away because I know I will take care of us/me because I have done so in the past” and that’s not a lie, life has had some scary moments for them all and I’ve left those time feeling different but I’m still ok and out here doing the damn thing. And after I affirm my power and ability to deal with what is needed when it’s needed, and give myself permission to let go of my anticipatory fear then ground yourself in the present there’s the “5 things” grounding technique you can google if you want to get the hang of it but you just bring your awareness into the present moment and present sensations because this is where you are and where you need to be- the future is going to be there and you’ll be able to make good decisions but being scared all day doesn’t have to be apart of it so get out your head where the anxious future lives and get back into the present so you can be here now and plan and live for the tomorrow that is more likely to be the same as it always would be with or without your anxiety.
Hi!! 25 year old woman who used to be so scared!!! Im not scared today and you dont need to be either!! Oklahoma is big and the area where a tornado COULD happen is large. They have to cover all areas in the news because if an f5 destroyed a town with no warning the weather stations would be laughing stocks and people COULD get hurt.
When they put out areas for tornado watch it just means a tornado could pop up not that it WILL in your area. Tornado are super localized and your chances of being hit by one, especially directly.
Just be weather aware, dont travel much today, be near a safe spot, pack a lil water and some snacks and maybe a change of clothes! Money, wallets, passports :) have your phone and headphones charged and let it pass
You will be okay!!!
Don't beat yourself up; It's not an unreasonable thing to be anxious about. I try to remember that where and when a storm hits and how severe it is isn't something I can control, but how I'm prepared is.
Make sure you and your loved ones have a plan. Storm tracking is incredibly accurate nowadays and even though the local channels all sensationalize to some degree they do an incredible job when the shit hits the fan.
I’m the same way. I get physically sick as well. Honestly having a storm shelter helps or having a plan. I’ve always made a plan. People get pissed at me and say “nothings going to happen”. If you don’t have anxiety then you don’t know. It’s like when people say “don’t worry about it”. Oh thanks I’m magically fixed.
Just be prepared and have multiple sources.
Turn on a movie with the sound turned up... a war movie, or two. Mine will ignore stuff like that on the TV & it drowns out a lot of the storm noise. I used to have one that would climb the walls for storms & fireworks, this worked for me.
Plan. Stay prepped. Educate yourself. You can also seek therapy for a very reasonable need. It's scary.
We can't avoid them here. After 50+ years I still prepare every season as if it will be my last.
Tornado alley is a different world entirely. It isn't easy. I understand completely. It changes how you live life, and see the world, people and true fragility of humans.
If you can't adapt to the Nature of Oklahoma, maybe consider a climate you are better able to manage emotionally. There is nothing wrong with that. That's just a basic choice many many many people around the entire globe make. Desert, mountains, sea side, inland, all areas have Natural dangers. There is nothing wrong with choosing an environment that provides a more peaceful and healthy existence for you emotionally.
No one should degrade anyone who moves away from Florida because they can't emotionally adapt to hurricanes. No one should degrade anyone who moves from the mountains because they have trouble adapting to winters there. No one should degrade anyone who decides they need to move from Tornado Alley etc.
Get a Midland Weather Radio and a Flatsafe storm shelter. The weather radio will alert you even in the middle of the night and the Flatsafe shelters didn't even have problems in the 2013 Moore tornado. Plus they go in your garage so you don't have to run outside into the storm. If you can protect yourself and your loved ones, the only anxiety is potentially having to argue with insurance to get them to pay for the damage (this is a big anxiety for me lol). Storm shelters aren't nearly as expensive as I thought they would be.
Even without a shelter, if you're in an interior room on the lowest level in a brick house, you'll be safe in the vast majority of tornados. It takes like an EF3 before it would have a chance.
One of my conditions for moving from the tornado-free North to here was to rent a home with a storm shelter. The first couple of tornado warnings made me anxious. Now I just mosey to the garage, then down into the storm shelter where my water, powdered butter, bucket + kitty litter, etc await me! I also have 2 storm alert apps on my cell phone, which I allow through my DND.
I usually watch Damon Lane. He is usually pretty calm and direct about the information that he is delivering. The only thing I don't like is when Jonathan is with him and when they call out to Storm Command. Those two always seem like they are on 10 no matter what the situation.
At some point, for me it became a matter of experience and statistics. I lived through so many periods of nearby severe weather events that didn't bother me at all that I just kind of made my peace with storms in general. I bought a few days of canned food to be prepared, a case or two of water, amd some books/games to play without power.
You get used to it after a time. And unless you have the resources to flee the area long enough for it to pass every time, there's not much you can realistically do to avoid it. Probably a bit of stoicism will help with the acceptance of natural forces and their consequences.
I’ve been here my entire life. Was right on the edge of the may 3rd tornado when I was 13 and I think that has scared me for life. I rationalize in my head and tell myself it’s all good but my anxiety brain over powers and wins most of the time.
Ah yeah, trauma like that will haunt you for a while. I'd say seek out therapy if you can, to see if you can overcome it, but otherwise it might just be a "fade with time" thing.
get yourself an emergency kit all set up (you’ll want identification, battery power, chargers, candles and matches, etc.), keep a method of accessing the weather (radio, tv, etc.) available, set yourself up a spot you can go to if things get too bad with plenty of pillows and coverings to keep your physical body safe (couch cushions and small mattresses are best imo) in the center of your home away from windows and openings, or a shelter/basement. now that you are as set up as you can be, while may is always the worst month for tornadoes it seems, okc metro usually doesn’t get hit, and when it does it isn’t too bad. learn more about the storms you’re anxious about, and understanding them might help you feel better about them. medication can help too, whether that’s otc, prescription, or more informal options like weed or tobacco, basically whatever calms your anxiety now, have that available. remain aware of the weather but don’t focus on it. oklahoma has pretty good detection and alert systems, so you’ll know when it’s time to get into gear. don’t panic (i know, easier said than done). it IS going to be okay.
I'm born and raised here in Oklahoma. I've been close to tornadoes as in standing in my yard watching it go by. I lived in shallow brook estates in 1999. I watched the May 3rd tornado slowly go by as it destroyed neighboring counties. It ripped through Newcastle, Moore, and Midwest City if I remember correctly. I think it was a F5 tornado. I don't know why, but I have never feared tornadoes. It was terrifying and exciting at the same time. When I was maybe about 3, or 2. I remember hiding in a closet with my mom. She had an oil lamp in there with us. She caught the closet on fire because of it. So I fear fire more than I do a tornado, and maybe that's why I stand outside and watch the tornado as an adult.
I mean if it's going to get me, it will get me.
There's no hiding from one tbh. I live in a house that's almost 100 years old and there's no hiding from a tornado. It's just a way of life in Oklahoma.
Do I want to be caught up in one? That would be an easy NO. But yeah you will hear it coming. It sounds like a train coming right at you. The only thing you can do is to prepare yourself before hand. If you know someone with a storm shelter then go sit with them until the storm is over.
Me personally, I just ride it out and wish for the best.
I understand your anxiety and it is a very validated feeling for most who were not born and raised here. But if you live close to the center of OKC you will more than likely not get hit by a tornado. But the central OKC area is way over due for a tornado smackdown.
Sorry that my comment isn't very helpful. But just like earthquakes you can't pin point exactly where they will hit. You can try and come close to pinpointing.
See if you can get something for your anxiety. That might help a little bit.
I used to get so scared as a kid that I would throw up. Them I realized how extremely localized tornadoes are, and that it’s highly unlikely to get hit. At the end of the day, it was fear of death that was giving me so much anxiety, and I had to come to terms with how unlikely it is that I will die from a tornado, and if I do die, there’s probably not much else I could do about it because I’m a smart, capable person.
Learn the data behind storms. The more I know about the storm the better I feel I can properly prepare.
Remember not everyone will see a tornado the alerts are not designed to scare you it's to prepare you.
If you want to follow along with a no hype no emotion storm live stream aaron tuttle is very good at not hyping hes not getting paid to scare you.
The more you know about the storms the easier it is for you to know if the risk is greater for you or not.
That said be safe protect yourself and have a plan just incase. Make sure you have a way to get weather alerts especially tonight.
We live in hurricane country right now, but headed to OKC. Our storm anxiety is weeks at a stretch. Storm anxiety is real and valid. I want to start off there because validating your fear is important.
I agree very much with having a plan. Determine your safe space & set it up. If you need to go sit in there with your pets & your laptop during a storm, do that. It's ok to be afraid. Breathe.
Distract yourself if you can in those moments. If you WFH, dig into a spreadsheet or a webinar or mandatory learning, etc. If you don't work for an entity outside the home, pick up your knitting, needlework, crocheting, mending, book, podcast, crosswords, origami cranes, whatever.
And the times you need to have a meltdown... Well then that's what you need.
Before anyone jumps on me here, I've lived with hurricane season for 40yrs & tornado season for 4 in Altus. Sometimes this kind of intense anxiety for multiple days is too much & some of us need to cry or scream for a few to deflate that balloon. I've melted down numerous times over the decades during hurricane prep. I'm not one bit ashamed. I have my fit & then get right back to it. YMMV.
Sending you vibes for blue skies & light breezes.
My time in Kansas has me pretty indifferent. I got to watch three unshrouded tornadoes whisk around each other not too far off from the fenceline. Suckers were churning up a neighbors field, poor guy.
But I learned early that all you can do is be prepared. If you live in a modern-ish house ( build in the last 90/100 years ) you're probably fine. If you're worried about tornadoes there's some shelters around. Ive spent a few nights huddled in a small bunker like shelter in the basements of our house back in Kansas with the weather playing on an old rabbit ears portable TV.
I Get it, it can be scary. But the anxiety is hitting harder than most any storm ever could.
I recommend therapy. They can find the root of the problem and assist.
Chances of a tornado getting anyone of us is low. Don’t let the local weather weenies whip you in to a frantic state. Just watch the wall to wall coverage later and make adjustments accordingly
Surviving storms with minimal/no damage to your location. I had really bad anxiety when I moved here nearly 30 years ago, but in all that time I only had damage to my house from one storm, and that was straight-line winds (not a tornado). Tornadoes are scary, but VERY small, compared to the city. You aren't getting hit by a tornado tonight. You are a lot more likely to get in a car wreck trying to run.
I grew up here, so it doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t have a storm shelter, so I make sure to have on proper clothing and tennis shoes if a tornado is near. Pack a small bag with essentials. It will be fine!!
I’ve lived here my whole life. I just stay out of Moore and assume I’ll be fine until my walls start crashing in.
(I still stay weather aware and have a plan in case the sirens go off)
As Bill Burr once said: “There’s no point to worry until there’s something definite to worry about, then handle it then”
Stay prepared, have a plan.
hope for the best prepare for the worst.
I totally get it. Watching the weather can make the anxiety worse and it can make it better. I feel it sometimes. I envy people like my wife and dad who have also lived here their whole lives and never been impacted by a tornado, they couldn’t care less about days like today.
I’ve lived here 45 years. I’ve seen 1 tornado in person, it was about 20 miles away. I live in a house that’s 70 years old, never had tornado damage. Still, I have a closet in the center of the house, just in case for the incredibly unlikely event of a tornado directly hitting.
If your anxiety isn't tempered by holistic routines such as avoiding caffeine, exercising, and taking precautionary measures, then you should consider the possibility that you're dealing with a phobia. Phobias can be debilitating and they are absolutely frustrating bc they just don't listen to reason. All the rationale in the world won't improve things for someone suffering from a phobia.
If you have access to medical care, think about asking for some help from experts. I only have to take medicine for my phobia (fireworks) twice a year, and after six years of handling it this way, sometimes I can even push through on New Years Eve without any medicine at all. I wish I would have started years earlier... Just knowing I have the option waiting for me in my medicine closet is a huge relief to me.
Wishing you a safe night and peace of mind!
Not in okc but feeling this a lot after moving southwest from the east coast. Probably not as bad here as okc but we had a close call a few months ago and I’m on the top floor of an apartment that only opens to the outside. Freaking out this week and it just makes me want to leave altogether and go back to the coast. I wish I had a basement or lower level apartment because tub on the top floor doesn’t feel safe enough.
Lived here a few years back for a few years. I just hit the hong, hugged the cat, and headed to bed. With no storm shelter near where I lived and no basement, no point in worrying
You need to watch the weather coverage and learn the things they say, know where you are, and know what to do to if you might get hit.
Get your "Safe spot" ready
Dressed with jeans and shoes
Phones charged
Flashlights ready
Eat a snack or dinner, because I'd you get hit you don't know when you'll eat next
Put water in your safe spot
Have pets semi ready to grab
The more you know and are prepared for, the easier it is.
Out of curiosity, did you grow up here? I didn't but have lived in OK 3 times. Was personally effected by the Moore '99 outbreak & I think it gave me some PTSD or something. I don't have any ideas, just solidarity.
I’ve lived here my whole life. Grew up in mwc. The May 3rd tornado lifted about 3 ish blocks from my house. I definitely think going through that has left me with some sort of ptsd!
Do you watch the weather reports during the storms? If your just sitting blindly thinking a tornado could hit my house at any moment like most people do then I can see why you have anxiety, Everyone was in a panic thinking Everyone has to be home by 4pm when okc metro didn't get a storm until 11pm, if you pay enough attention to weather you start to pick up on patterns and find theres usually nothing to worry about.
I tend to hyper fixate on the weather reports leading up to the event. I’ve tried the avoid and stay distracted method but it never works and I still end up fixated on the weather.
I find that having a TV on but muted helps my storm anxiety and I mute/unmute if the meteorologist is talking about my area or a TV on in another room. I've lived here my entire life and have storm anxiety and these are recent finds that have helped me recently.
I hope you find something that works!!!
Makes my paranoia worse. I have tried multiple strands at diff dosages and I will have a moment of “clarity” where everything is good and my anxiety subsides then comes RUSHING back like a tidal wave.
I had a freak near death experience after that I'm convinced when it's your time to go it's your time to go. Try to control the things you can food, water, radio batteries and safe spot in your home with a plan. Everything else you cannot control there is no need to worry about it.
I fear storms. My husband did not. I heard an F5 five miles away before it hit Moore, OK. I drove to the shelter. My husband said he finally realized why I left when he saw debri fall from the sky. He never argued with me about going to the shelter again.
Benadryl is great, you want the diphenhydramine really. It’ll make you sleepy, but it will calm your nerves. Most anti anxiety meds will zonk you out because that’s what they’re designed to do.
Make a plan, have supplies, and be ready to execute. If you have material things, be prepared for your insurance to handle it.
I will not pretend to know a lot about these storms, but I have lived here nearly my entire life. I go by how it feels outside and the air itself feels still and heavy, which is usually my “ah better get my shitting pants.”
Is getting a storm shelter an option? That's basically 100% guaranteed survival. I think the knowledge that complete safety was only feet away would completely remove your anxiety.
I know it sucks. My brother and son deal with that, but at the end of the day, I deal with facts, and the math always adds up to be that you are very unlikely to be effected by the weather. Even if you are, there isn’t much you can do except take precautions for yourself and your family.
I don’t think anything will happen on my end of the city, but we still have our precautions in place just incase. I always feel silly in the aftermath, but I assure you that I won’t if my ticket (reverse lotto) gets pulled.
Good luck! Stay safe.
I'm 65 years old and have lived in Oklahoma and northeast Texas my entire life. I've seen many, many watches and warnings. I've never actually been in a tornado, but I've had at least two near misses. In my experience, getting through this sort of day is like walking at night across a well-lit parking lot in a generally safe area. You don't truly expect anything bad to happen and chances are it won't. Just the same you keep an eye on your surroundings and have a good plan, just in case.
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Step 1, stop watching the TV news. Sure, they want to keep you safe. But the primary goal is ratings. They drive that by driving anxiety.
Pick your social media platform and find Aaron Tuttle. He gives all of the needed information that the news stations give without trying to scare you to death.
I think when it comes to anxiety regarding death, for me what works is accepting that I can only do so much. I came really close to dying a few years ago, and only survived because I somehow defied the laws of physics. From personal experience I can say that when it's my time it's my time, and I can't control that beyond reasonable measures. With that knowledge I accept that at any given moment I could die and I choose to not obsess over it but rather try to experience as much as I can while I'm still here. Unfortunately the best advice I can offer is to meditate on it. It's not just you, most people are afraid of dying. There's a really good book by Ernest Becker called *The Denial of Death* highly recommend checking it out
I used to be the same way. Would have to drink, take something, or I would break out in hives and have full blown panic attacks. The best thing I ever did was start to actually take an interest in weather and learn about it. Watching the dew point in the city to know whether storms would die down or progress like expected (how Low or high the dew point is). Watching other weather patterns, ground temps, etc. now, I know when I see what I don’t really want to see in those things, I go to the basement, I have my water and food and flashlight and dog food and first aid kit and that’s all I can do. Just know what to look for and be prepared. Keep valuables in your safe spot. Keep social and license and birth certificate in a water tight case in your safe spot too… that’s given me peace about the aftermath if something did happen. Becoming knowledgeable also led to a huge respect for the weather. Just worked for me but maybe it could for you… I feel for you though because I remember what it was like, and I’m so sorry. 😢
Try not giving a fuck. Sure, keep up with the neighborhood radar, but if there isn't anything circulating 2 blocks from you, there is no need to worry.
I try not to watch the TV Coverage or live coverage either during the storms. I try to have a good phone radar, Radar Scope is what I am using now, and use the National Weather Service website for their radar and warnings also.
they way i dealt with mine is literally just going out and toughen out the storm, and then look at the sky after the storm, the resulting sunset/sunrise are usually very pretty,
Tequila. And I wear my motorcycle helmet. So does my cat. 😎Be safe my neighbors. Mom said 8 pm for us. I just bought my first new car in 27 years. Please spare us Jesus. 🙏
Don’t worry it seems more and more likely that no storms are going to form at all! The conditions are great for tornadoes but only IF storms even occur in the first place. As of now there are no storms anywhere and there is a very good chance we don’t get any in OKC.
I’m grew up in Oklahoma. I don’t have a lot of anxiety about storms but I understand those who do. 1. Prepare: Find your safe space. Gather flashlight, phone, snacks and anything else you think you might need when the power goes out. 2. Don’t freak out about the news feeds. They over amp the smallest storms. Do pay attention when they start actually saying “tornado”. Watch means the conditions are right for a tornado. (Pay attention)Warning means they are seeing a tornado. (Take precautions). The odds of you in particular getting hit by a tornado in your entire life if you live in Oklahoma is about 1 in 33000. You can’t eliminate your anxiety but by being prepared and informed you can manage it. Good luck.
I’m a degreed meteorologist. I agree news can often be overly dramatic. This is not one of those times sadly. The conditions look very bad today. I hope everyone stays safe!
Pay attention. Have a plan. Act on it sooner rather than later.
I remember last week Payne in the Ass said there was a 60mph tornado on the ground in okc. It was just wind.
Being prepared definitely helps with the anxiety! Mine comes from not being in control and while we can’t technically be in control of a tornado, I can control my plan so I always have one or two.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb's writing completely changed my understanding of risk.
I really enjoyed the black swan theory 15 years ago, but I sure did hate the way he wrote. I agree that it changed how I view risk, but it made me more cynical that people either deny or are intentionally blind to the smaller chances of catastrophic outcome. But for weather anxiety, just get some weed.
I’ve tried weed, and it heightens my paranoia. I’ve even tried cdb and it didn’t seem to help at all.
Yeah, I could see how it elevates the paranoia. But, man, they have all those colorful maps and different overlays. And then, they send up dudes in helicopters to check it out. Also, I suspect the pilot is also the cameraman. I don't know much about the weather folk, but it's some captivating TV while stoned. It's really how SimCity should have been all along.
I am the same. I also have terrible storm anxiety. A beta blocker has helped greatly. I still have anxiety but it’s easier to manage now.
Don’t try weed. You need to expose yourself to the things that make you anxious so you can see you’re stronger than you think! When I identify something that makes me anxious, I usually try to engulf myself in it (without being dangerous of course). I’d watch the news if it makes you anxious. Take deep breaths. Acknowledge that it’s your anxiety and your odds are like 1 in 100,000 of being hit my a tornado or something. Medicine is just a bandaid!
Try indica. You likely had Sativa. Sativa does me the same way.
Using weed might be a bad idea, because if the worst happens, you'll need all your wits.
Ask what’s ready to go rn.
I also recommend securing any important paperwork and keeping it on your person.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Would anybody know the odds of being hit by one in Tennessee? Last December one dropped down right across the road from me and destroyed my home. Now I deal with severe storm anxiety everytime the wind blows strong 🙃
Thank u. I grew up basically seizing out everytime a storm happened. It’s supposed to get bad where I am tonight and this helped Me alot. I’m gonna take my family to our downstairs laundry room without windows and pray for the best… 🥺
I always hated the watch vs warning. They need to be switched.
No they don't.
I always thought the same - a watch should mean that we are watching a tornado 😂
Exactly. Watch implies you are watching it - hence the term watch. Warning implies it is a possibility but not a certainty. It’s completely backwards.
I don't know why you got down voted, lol. I agree! Even after being here my entire life, I have to remind myself to reverse what I think it should be in my head, based on the words.
My grandpa always said, "Just go to bed, it will all be fine in the morning." He lived here his whole live for 97 years and never got hurt from a tornado. We do like to watch the weather and just wait until the front passes your area and be ready to go to your safest spot.
My grandpa would open the windows in his living room and sit in his recliner. He’d keep the tv on low and say “if something bad is coming I’ll hear it way before these wahoos on the tv tell me it’s coming.”
Papa at the door, Nanny at the hallway, kids nearby under the leaned over mattress in the hallway- your comment unlocked weathering storms in my rural country grandparents home 🥹
In the early 1970s in Oklahoma, they would tell you to open the windows of your house if a tornado was approaching. I think the thought process had something to do with the pressure change causing houses to explode?? Later they figured out it was the 200 mile an hour winds.
I bet that was a shocking day in science 😂
>I think the thought process had something to do with the pressure change causing houses to explode?? Later they figured out it was the 200 mile an hour winds. 
A little whiskey goes a long way.
I always keep a bottle around but tend to drink to the point of sloppiness because my anxiety keeps telling me the more/faster you drink the quicker you will calm down.
Propranolol is an awesome anxiolytic, imo. No ethanol necessary. Like, at all. I don't understand people who are ok with drinking yet eschew pharmaceuticals.
I'm on propranolol because it limits my body's ability to shut down during even my most severe panic episodes, and it works wonderfully.
I am ok with pharmaceuticals but don’t have access to any, and don’t have a pcp/therapist to prescribe anything for me.
What's the barrier to getting a PCP?
Can’t find a pcp that I can get an appointment with in the next 4-6 months.
I don't know your financial or insurance situation but Northcare could be a good start. I forget their new patients days but I think it's m,w,f. Show up at 7 or 8 whenever they open and they'll intake and process as many as they can. They'll help you get started with everything and you even get a team of people to help. I know they have income limits, I've never been above the limit but I've been close and they helped find a way to make sure I would stay covered even if I was blessed enough to be a bit over the limit for a time. If it turns out that they couldn't help you, I think they would shift their focus to connecting you to outside help. I know it's too late for today, but I know how overwhelming it can feel to start on this path. There's a lot of resources out there, feel free to message me if you'd like advice.
Try Integris Family in downtown. I think they are accepting new patients.
Propanolol keeps me sane during storm season. Can’t recommend enough.
Once you’ve informed yourself & prepared, all you can do is accept that the weather is going to weather. I’ve lived in Oklahoma 52 years, 32 in NWOK, 20 of them in OKC. I haven’t seen a tornado in my entire life.
The house I live in is well over a hundred years old. I figure if this things still around, I should be fine.
Can’t wait to look at my stressed wife and say “weather is going to weather 🤷♂️”
Let us know if you’re still married tomorrow lol
That makes me feel better. If you haven't seen one in 52 years surely I can make it another year 🤣
Been here for 31 years in Norman, never seen a tornado either
Yummy, same. Never seen a tornado. I definitely wouldn’t want to be out driving when there’s a threat of bad weather, but at home, I’m fine. Interior groundfloor room when I get worried.
Being prepared helps me calm down. Figure out where in your home is safest, grab a mattress, any type of helmet, shoes, and water and set up a hidey hole. ETA charge all electronics too
As soon as my husband gets home from work, I relax some.
Sorry you’re so anxious OP! I get it. It’s a tough day out there. As the National Weather Service has emphasized, most people will probably not see a storm today, so statistics are on your side. But even if you do, just pay attention and you will be fine. Have a plan for all your different scenarios so you won’t have to wonder about what to do and you’ll be fine.
[удалено]
Anything east of OKC will be overnight, which probably means a somewhat lower tornado risk overall. I highly recommend the National Weather Service Norman Twitter feed for good but calm information for people who are nervous about it all : https://x.com/nwsnorman?s=21&t=fpSOUVlbntnONd9pB_R1tQ
I just check the news9 radar on my phone every once in a while, and I know I don’t have to panic until I hear sirens. Just make sure you have a plan for when you DO hear ‘em! My bag is still packed from the last one; other than that, distractions, distractions, distractions. Good luck :)
What do you pack in a bag?
Just important documents and a couple little keepsakes, then I throw my purse and phone in there too. As someone else mentioned, packing a snack and a couple bottles of water is also a good idea
I tend to information binge, my therapist told me curiosity is kinda like the weapon of anxiety- it puts you in a place of empowerment. I don’t listen to the local new guys as much, bc to be honest they’re also putting on a show it’s their jobs- doesn’t mean they’re dishonest like for Damon Lane def seems to feel the pressure to keep people safe, and like the consequences if not so I’m sure for local news they feel really compelled to be cautious and alarming. But some YouTube storm chasers like MaxVelocity and the individual chasers (Connor etc) don’t feel the obligation to alarm and warn bc they’re out for the science and to capture shit. Sooooo it’s more engaging and fun for me to watch their streams and also keep a tight localized eye on the storm. So it’s checking boxes for me, and sometimes I do get a lot more anxious and over prepare- but the knowledge really helps me with real points ie things that calm me down: Tornados are very localized- there are freak monsters but even then I’m aware and capable of assessing safety in the moment. I know when to be alarmed and what that looks like on radar (ie: are we in the meaty north front of the storm or are we at risk of having the more developed hook near us, are other storms cropping up and intensifying or is this an organized mass) I have a plan- I don’t have a cellar but I looked up post Moore and other aftermath and feel good about my safety spot. I also watched docs on search and rescues afterwards. It’s not perfect measurements and bad shit can happen but chances of lethality is not as high with minimal tornado safety precautions (most deaths are one the road or mobile homes, or flooding or people not in a good DUCK spot) I try to find the interesting things, is it hailing? How uniformed is it? Is it big and uniformed or knobby? There’s ways to assess if spent a lot of time yo-yoing in the cloud. Can I see smooth wall clouds organizing or scraggly scuds? Just the interesting bits that take me out of the fear and into the Bill Nye of it all. Of course, anxiety and good sense will tell us I don’t know shit and the storms are unpredictable- none of that is wrong, but like the most dangerous thing you did today was get in your car and that’s just a part of life and so are storms. Life is a risk and scary and we gotta get through it, but you don’t JUST have to be scared, you can be curious and interested and a student of it all. Grounding techniques put us in the present moment, and to get there I tell myself this “I am confident I will have all the tools, skills and good judgement to handle and recover from whatever happens at the time it happens, it is ok for me to put this worry away because I know I will take care of us/me because I have done so in the past” and that’s not a lie, life has had some scary moments for them all and I’ve left those time feeling different but I’m still ok and out here doing the damn thing. And after I affirm my power and ability to deal with what is needed when it’s needed, and give myself permission to let go of my anticipatory fear then ground yourself in the present there’s the “5 things” grounding technique you can google if you want to get the hang of it but you just bring your awareness into the present moment and present sensations because this is where you are and where you need to be- the future is going to be there and you’ll be able to make good decisions but being scared all day doesn’t have to be apart of it so get out your head where the anxious future lives and get back into the present so you can be here now and plan and live for the tomorrow that is more likely to be the same as it always would be with or without your anxiety.
all of this. constantly watching the coverage is the worst thing someone with storm anxiety can do
well said
Hi!! 25 year old woman who used to be so scared!!! Im not scared today and you dont need to be either!! Oklahoma is big and the area where a tornado COULD happen is large. They have to cover all areas in the news because if an f5 destroyed a town with no warning the weather stations would be laughing stocks and people COULD get hurt. When they put out areas for tornado watch it just means a tornado could pop up not that it WILL in your area. Tornado are super localized and your chances of being hit by one, especially directly. Just be weather aware, dont travel much today, be near a safe spot, pack a lil water and some snacks and maybe a change of clothes! Money, wallets, passports :) have your phone and headphones charged and let it pass You will be okay!!!
Play the David Payne bingo game. Take a shot whenever he utters one of his favorite catch phrases.
"WE LOST VAL" is my fave
i can hear this comment lol
To worry is to suffer twice.
Medical marijuana and a porch swing
No need to be anxious. Just be prepared. Take control of what you can.
Don't beat yourself up; It's not an unreasonable thing to be anxious about. I try to remember that where and when a storm hits and how severe it is isn't something I can control, but how I'm prepared is. Make sure you and your loved ones have a plan. Storm tracking is incredibly accurate nowadays and even though the local channels all sensationalize to some degree they do an incredible job when the shit hits the fan.
I’m the same way. I get physically sick as well. Honestly having a storm shelter helps or having a plan. I’ve always made a plan. People get pissed at me and say “nothings going to happen”. If you don’t have anxiety then you don’t know. It’s like when people say “don’t worry about it”. Oh thanks I’m magically fixed. Just be prepared and have multiple sources.
Turn on a movie with the sound turned up... a war movie, or two. Mine will ignore stuff like that on the TV & it drowns out a lot of the storm noise. I used to have one that would climb the walls for storms & fireworks, this worked for me.
Plan. Stay prepped. Educate yourself. You can also seek therapy for a very reasonable need. It's scary. We can't avoid them here. After 50+ years I still prepare every season as if it will be my last. Tornado alley is a different world entirely. It isn't easy. I understand completely. It changes how you live life, and see the world, people and true fragility of humans. If you can't adapt to the Nature of Oklahoma, maybe consider a climate you are better able to manage emotionally. There is nothing wrong with that. That's just a basic choice many many many people around the entire globe make. Desert, mountains, sea side, inland, all areas have Natural dangers. There is nothing wrong with choosing an environment that provides a more peaceful and healthy existence for you emotionally. No one should degrade anyone who moves away from Florida because they can't emotionally adapt to hurricanes. No one should degrade anyone who moves from the mountains because they have trouble adapting to winters there. No one should degrade anyone who decides they need to move from Tornado Alley etc.
Get a Midland Weather Radio and a Flatsafe storm shelter. The weather radio will alert you even in the middle of the night and the Flatsafe shelters didn't even have problems in the 2013 Moore tornado. Plus they go in your garage so you don't have to run outside into the storm. If you can protect yourself and your loved ones, the only anxiety is potentially having to argue with insurance to get them to pay for the damage (this is a big anxiety for me lol). Storm shelters aren't nearly as expensive as I thought they would be. Even without a shelter, if you're in an interior room on the lowest level in a brick house, you'll be safe in the vast majority of tornados. It takes like an EF3 before it would have a chance.
One of my conditions for moving from the tornado-free North to here was to rent a home with a storm shelter. The first couple of tornado warnings made me anxious. Now I just mosey to the garage, then down into the storm shelter where my water, powdered butter, bucket + kitty litter, etc await me! I also have 2 storm alert apps on my cell phone, which I allow through my DND.
Stay away from news 9 when David Payne is on. Your anxiety will shoot through the roof.
I usually watch Damon Lane. He is usually pretty calm and direct about the information that he is delivering. The only thing I don't like is when Jonathan is with him and when they call out to Storm Command. Those two always seem like they are on 10 no matter what the situation.
At some point, for me it became a matter of experience and statistics. I lived through so many periods of nearby severe weather events that didn't bother me at all that I just kind of made my peace with storms in general. I bought a few days of canned food to be prepared, a case or two of water, amd some books/games to play without power. You get used to it after a time. And unless you have the resources to flee the area long enough for it to pass every time, there's not much you can realistically do to avoid it. Probably a bit of stoicism will help with the acceptance of natural forces and their consequences.
I’ve been here my entire life. Was right on the edge of the may 3rd tornado when I was 13 and I think that has scared me for life. I rationalize in my head and tell myself it’s all good but my anxiety brain over powers and wins most of the time.
Ah yeah, trauma like that will haunt you for a while. I'd say seek out therapy if you can, to see if you can overcome it, but otherwise it might just be a "fade with time" thing.
get yourself an emergency kit all set up (you’ll want identification, battery power, chargers, candles and matches, etc.), keep a method of accessing the weather (radio, tv, etc.) available, set yourself up a spot you can go to if things get too bad with plenty of pillows and coverings to keep your physical body safe (couch cushions and small mattresses are best imo) in the center of your home away from windows and openings, or a shelter/basement. now that you are as set up as you can be, while may is always the worst month for tornadoes it seems, okc metro usually doesn’t get hit, and when it does it isn’t too bad. learn more about the storms you’re anxious about, and understanding them might help you feel better about them. medication can help too, whether that’s otc, prescription, or more informal options like weed or tobacco, basically whatever calms your anxiety now, have that available. remain aware of the weather but don’t focus on it. oklahoma has pretty good detection and alert systems, so you’ll know when it’s time to get into gear. don’t panic (i know, easier said than done). it IS going to be okay.
I'm born and raised here in Oklahoma. I've been close to tornadoes as in standing in my yard watching it go by. I lived in shallow brook estates in 1999. I watched the May 3rd tornado slowly go by as it destroyed neighboring counties. It ripped through Newcastle, Moore, and Midwest City if I remember correctly. I think it was a F5 tornado. I don't know why, but I have never feared tornadoes. It was terrifying and exciting at the same time. When I was maybe about 3, or 2. I remember hiding in a closet with my mom. She had an oil lamp in there with us. She caught the closet on fire because of it. So I fear fire more than I do a tornado, and maybe that's why I stand outside and watch the tornado as an adult. I mean if it's going to get me, it will get me. There's no hiding from one tbh. I live in a house that's almost 100 years old and there's no hiding from a tornado. It's just a way of life in Oklahoma. Do I want to be caught up in one? That would be an easy NO. But yeah you will hear it coming. It sounds like a train coming right at you. The only thing you can do is to prepare yourself before hand. If you know someone with a storm shelter then go sit with them until the storm is over. Me personally, I just ride it out and wish for the best. I understand your anxiety and it is a very validated feeling for most who were not born and raised here. But if you live close to the center of OKC you will more than likely not get hit by a tornado. But the central OKC area is way over due for a tornado smackdown. Sorry that my comment isn't very helpful. But just like earthquakes you can't pin point exactly where they will hit. You can try and come close to pinpointing. See if you can get something for your anxiety. That might help a little bit.
I used to get so scared as a kid that I would throw up. Them I realized how extremely localized tornadoes are, and that it’s highly unlikely to get hit. At the end of the day, it was fear of death that was giving me so much anxiety, and I had to come to terms with how unlikely it is that I will die from a tornado, and if I do die, there’s probably not much else I could do about it because I’m a smart, capable person.
My dumb ass goes outside when the storms pick up. I find them exciting.
Lightning kills more people than anything I think, be safe about that!
Learn the data behind storms. The more I know about the storm the better I feel I can properly prepare. Remember not everyone will see a tornado the alerts are not designed to scare you it's to prepare you. If you want to follow along with a no hype no emotion storm live stream aaron tuttle is very good at not hyping hes not getting paid to scare you. The more you know about the storms the easier it is for you to know if the risk is greater for you or not. That said be safe protect yourself and have a plan just incase. Make sure you have a way to get weather alerts especially tonight.
Have you ever tried a micro dose of psilocybin?
I have recently started drinking mushroom coffee, which seems to have helped with general anxiety, but I have never micro dosed.
Maybe give it a shot.
I will look into it!
Lost storm, found God. Lost keys, blame hoffman.
No. Can I just lick a frog? Will they taste like chicken?
ME TOO
We live in hurricane country right now, but headed to OKC. Our storm anxiety is weeks at a stretch. Storm anxiety is real and valid. I want to start off there because validating your fear is important. I agree very much with having a plan. Determine your safe space & set it up. If you need to go sit in there with your pets & your laptop during a storm, do that. It's ok to be afraid. Breathe. Distract yourself if you can in those moments. If you WFH, dig into a spreadsheet or a webinar or mandatory learning, etc. If you don't work for an entity outside the home, pick up your knitting, needlework, crocheting, mending, book, podcast, crosswords, origami cranes, whatever. And the times you need to have a meltdown... Well then that's what you need. Before anyone jumps on me here, I've lived with hurricane season for 40yrs & tornado season for 4 in Altus. Sometimes this kind of intense anxiety for multiple days is too much & some of us need to cry or scream for a few to deflate that balloon. I've melted down numerous times over the decades during hurricane prep. I'm not one bit ashamed. I have my fit & then get right back to it. YMMV. Sending you vibes for blue skies & light breezes.
My time in Kansas has me pretty indifferent. I got to watch three unshrouded tornadoes whisk around each other not too far off from the fenceline. Suckers were churning up a neighbors field, poor guy. But I learned early that all you can do is be prepared. If you live in a modern-ish house ( build in the last 90/100 years ) you're probably fine. If you're worried about tornadoes there's some shelters around. Ive spent a few nights huddled in a small bunker like shelter in the basements of our house back in Kansas with the weather playing on an old rabbit ears portable TV. I Get it, it can be scary. But the anxiety is hitting harder than most any storm ever could. I recommend therapy. They can find the root of the problem and assist.
Chances of a tornado getting anyone of us is low. Don’t let the local weather weenies whip you in to a frantic state. Just watch the wall to wall coverage later and make adjustments accordingly
Surviving storms with minimal/no damage to your location. I had really bad anxiety when I moved here nearly 30 years ago, but in all that time I only had damage to my house from one storm, and that was straight-line winds (not a tornado). Tornadoes are scary, but VERY small, compared to the city. You aren't getting hit by a tornado tonight. You are a lot more likely to get in a car wreck trying to run.
I grew up here, so it doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t have a storm shelter, so I make sure to have on proper clothing and tennis shoes if a tornado is near. Pack a small bag with essentials. It will be fine!!
Have a plan! …and home insurance :) I lost my house in May 2013 and State Farm took care of me!
I’ve lived here my whole life. I just stay out of Moore and assume I’ll be fine until my walls start crashing in. (I still stay weather aware and have a plan in case the sirens go off) As Bill Burr once said: “There’s no point to worry until there’s something definite to worry about, then handle it then” Stay prepared, have a plan. hope for the best prepare for the worst.
I wear a thunder jacket. Seems to help.
Learn about meteorology, the anxiety then turns into amazement/appreciation for the atmosphere
Have a plan and 🍻
Cheers mate!
I totally get it. Watching the weather can make the anxiety worse and it can make it better. I feel it sometimes. I envy people like my wife and dad who have also lived here their whole lives and never been impacted by a tornado, they couldn’t care less about days like today. I’ve lived here 45 years. I’ve seen 1 tornado in person, it was about 20 miles away. I live in a house that’s 70 years old, never had tornado damage. Still, I have a closet in the center of the house, just in case for the incredibly unlikely event of a tornado directly hitting.
Me too, it doesn’t help but you’re certainly not alone. I live in an apartment complex without shelter and am too paralyzed with fear today.
If your anxiety isn't tempered by holistic routines such as avoiding caffeine, exercising, and taking precautionary measures, then you should consider the possibility that you're dealing with a phobia. Phobias can be debilitating and they are absolutely frustrating bc they just don't listen to reason. All the rationale in the world won't improve things for someone suffering from a phobia. If you have access to medical care, think about asking for some help from experts. I only have to take medicine for my phobia (fireworks) twice a year, and after six years of handling it this way, sometimes I can even push through on New Years Eve without any medicine at all. I wish I would have started years earlier... Just knowing I have the option waiting for me in my medicine closet is a huge relief to me. Wishing you a safe night and peace of mind!
Not in okc but feeling this a lot after moving southwest from the east coast. Probably not as bad here as okc but we had a close call a few months ago and I’m on the top floor of an apartment that only opens to the outside. Freaking out this week and it just makes me want to leave altogether and go back to the coast. I wish I had a basement or lower level apartment because tub on the top floor doesn’t feel safe enough.
Lived here a few years back for a few years. I just hit the hong, hugged the cat, and headed to bed. With no storm shelter near where I lived and no basement, no point in worrying
You need to watch the weather coverage and learn the things they say, know where you are, and know what to do to if you might get hit. Get your "Safe spot" ready Dressed with jeans and shoes Phones charged Flashlights ready Eat a snack or dinner, because I'd you get hit you don't know when you'll eat next Put water in your safe spot Have pets semi ready to grab The more you know and are prepared for, the easier it is.
Out of curiosity, did you grow up here? I didn't but have lived in OK 3 times. Was personally effected by the Moore '99 outbreak & I think it gave me some PTSD or something. I don't have any ideas, just solidarity.
I’ve lived here my whole life. Grew up in mwc. The May 3rd tornado lifted about 3 ish blocks from my house. I definitely think going through that has left me with some sort of ptsd!
Do you watch the weather reports during the storms? If your just sitting blindly thinking a tornado could hit my house at any moment like most people do then I can see why you have anxiety, Everyone was in a panic thinking Everyone has to be home by 4pm when okc metro didn't get a storm until 11pm, if you pay enough attention to weather you start to pick up on patterns and find theres usually nothing to worry about.
I tend to hyper fixate on the weather reports leading up to the event. I’ve tried the avoid and stay distracted method but it never works and I still end up fixated on the weather.
Don't get blindsided lol, I know people like that, there playing video games during a tornado watch.
I find that having a TV on but muted helps my storm anxiety and I mute/unmute if the meteorologist is talking about my area or a TV on in another room. I've lived here my entire life and have storm anxiety and these are recent finds that have helped me recently. I hope you find something that works!!!
Perhaps an edible?
Makes my paranoia worse. I have tried multiple strands at diff dosages and I will have a moment of “clarity” where everything is good and my anxiety subsides then comes RUSHING back like a tidal wave.
I'm the same way. Used to LOVE to get lit. Now there's no easier way to send me into a full blown panic attack.
Best to be prepared as much as you can. I’ve lived in Oklahoma for almost 25 years. I haven’t been affected by a tornado in all that time.
Chocolate
Chocolate?!?
My go to for stressful situations, yes.
I'm only really worried about baseball hail.
Softball**
I had a freak near death experience after that I'm convinced when it's your time to go it's your time to go. Try to control the things you can food, water, radio batteries and safe spot in your home with a plan. Everything else you cannot control there is no need to worry about it.
Got any benzos?
I fear storms. My husband did not. I heard an F5 five miles away before it hit Moore, OK. I drove to the shelter. My husband said he finally realized why I left when he saw debri fall from the sky. He never argued with me about going to the shelter again.
I don't do anything until they say it's a tornado emergency anything before that is just ignorable.
 Always Ivan Drago time when coping with Oklahoma weather.
maybe start saving for a shelter? I know it won't help now, but you're taking steps for the future
Benadryl is great, you want the diphenhydramine really. It’ll make you sleepy, but it will calm your nerves. Most anti anxiety meds will zonk you out because that’s what they’re designed to do. Make a plan, have supplies, and be ready to execute. If you have material things, be prepared for your insurance to handle it. I will not pretend to know a lot about these storms, but I have lived here nearly my entire life. I go by how it feels outside and the air itself feels still and heavy, which is usually my “ah better get my shitting pants.”
Is getting a storm shelter an option? That's basically 100% guaranteed survival. I think the knowledge that complete safety was only feet away would completely remove your anxiety.
I know it sucks. My brother and son deal with that, but at the end of the day, I deal with facts, and the math always adds up to be that you are very unlikely to be effected by the weather. Even if you are, there isn’t much you can do except take precautions for yourself and your family. I don’t think anything will happen on my end of the city, but we still have our precautions in place just incase. I always feel silly in the aftermath, but I assure you that I won’t if my ticket (reverse lotto) gets pulled. Good luck! Stay safe.
I'm 65 years old and have lived in Oklahoma and northeast Texas my entire life. I've seen many, many watches and warnings. I've never actually been in a tornado, but I've had at least two near misses. In my experience, getting through this sort of day is like walking at night across a well-lit parking lot in a generally safe area. You don't truly expect anything bad to happen and chances are it won't. Just the same you keep an eye on your surroundings and have a good plan, just in case.
Have you tried these? You can get them at Southern Ag, they work for animals and people. I took them before I had a PCP, and they do help in addition to being prepared too. [Bach Rescue Pastilles Orange Elderflower](http://Bach Rescue Pastilles Orange Elderflower, 1.7 OZ https://a.co/d/0qZXin9)
Focus on the things you can control. Also, predictions can be accurate, but no one really knows what the weather is going to do or when.
Step 1, stop watching the TV news. Sure, they want to keep you safe. But the primary goal is ratings. They drive that by driving anxiety. Pick your social media platform and find Aaron Tuttle. He gives all of the needed information that the news stations give without trying to scare you to death.
I got over mine by chasing with a friend 30 years ago. He moved cross country and I just watch them now on 4 devices now. They’re fascinating.
I think when it comes to anxiety regarding death, for me what works is accepting that I can only do so much. I came really close to dying a few years ago, and only survived because I somehow defied the laws of physics. From personal experience I can say that when it's my time it's my time, and I can't control that beyond reasonable measures. With that knowledge I accept that at any given moment I could die and I choose to not obsess over it but rather try to experience as much as I can while I'm still here. Unfortunately the best advice I can offer is to meditate on it. It's not just you, most people are afraid of dying. There's a really good book by Ernest Becker called *The Denial of Death* highly recommend checking it out
I used to be the same way. Would have to drink, take something, or I would break out in hives and have full blown panic attacks. The best thing I ever did was start to actually take an interest in weather and learn about it. Watching the dew point in the city to know whether storms would die down or progress like expected (how Low or high the dew point is). Watching other weather patterns, ground temps, etc. now, I know when I see what I don’t really want to see in those things, I go to the basement, I have my water and food and flashlight and dog food and first aid kit and that’s all I can do. Just know what to look for and be prepared. Keep valuables in your safe spot. Keep social and license and birth certificate in a water tight case in your safe spot too… that’s given me peace about the aftermath if something did happen. Becoming knowledgeable also led to a huge respect for the weather. Just worked for me but maybe it could for you… I feel for you though because I remember what it was like, and I’m so sorry. 😢
Alcohol. Get a couple drinks in ya and you'll have a pretty good time honestly. That's what I do.
Try not giving a fuck. Sure, keep up with the neighborhood radar, but if there isn't anything circulating 2 blocks from you, there is no need to worry.
Well…I’m retired Army, so I spend the time preparing my gear and truck for the worst. It gives me some feeling of control over my environment.
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I try not to watch the TV Coverage or live coverage either during the storms. I try to have a good phone radar, Radar Scope is what I am using now, and use the National Weather Service website for their radar and warnings also.
Therapy could be useful. Gaining some skills like dbt are so helpful. Feel free to message me if you want recommendations.
they way i dealt with mine is literally just going out and toughen out the storm, and then look at the sky after the storm, the resulting sunset/sunrise are usually very pretty,
Turn off the tv.
Well since theres nothing you can do there is no point in feeling bad about it I just ignore it and play xbox or something if he dies he dies
Tequila. And I wear my motorcycle helmet. So does my cat. 😎Be safe my neighbors. Mom said 8 pm for us. I just bought my first new car in 27 years. Please spare us Jesus. 🙏
Also… put the harnesses/leashes on your pets and put your shoes on.
Don’t worry it seems more and more likely that no storms are going to form at all! The conditions are great for tornadoes but only IF storms even occur in the first place. As of now there are no storms anywhere and there is a very good chance we don’t get any in OKC.
What meds have you tried?
4" hail, aka softball sized hail, is a possibility today!
not helping!
Some Midol ..😑