I had lilapsophobia (fear of tornadoes) that developed following the Joplin tornado, 5/22/2011. It has been so reduced after treatment that I cannot feel any fear anymore. I am going to test that assumption this weekend by watching the IMAX movie Tornado Alley in Kansas. If that doesn't bother me, then maybe I will only be as afraid of tornadoes as most of my neighbors in the Midwest.

I estimate that desensitization treatment has reduced my fear of tornadoes (lilapsophobia) about 50% in 4 months of self-help treatment and about 2 months of professional help. I had a very severe phobia. I hope this information is helpful to someone else.

I am currently undergoing professional treatment and support for the phobia described in my article. Systematic desensitization, a type of exposure therapy, works over 90% of the time. If I do not respond well enough to this treatment I can be hypnotized. Thanks for sharing my article everyone.