5 Ways To Cope With The Constant Fear Of Tornadoes

It's important to remember that at any time a tornado could drop down right on top of your house and kill you... Here are ways to cope with that daily fear.

1. Accept It: Every time there's a flash of lightning or you hear the wind pick up, make peace with the fact that you and everyone you love might be sucked into the sky to your deaths at any moment. It's part of life in the Midwest. Embracing the constant near-paralyzing anxiety can be liberating.

2. Have A Plan: Have your family practice convening in your poorly ventilated, windowless basement when you you're supposed to be hoping the power doesn't go off. It's important for everyone to know what to do when there's a 90% chance of dying horribly.

3. Stay Informed: Stay tuned to local news so you can experience round-the-clock coverage of the slightest storm that might potentially turn into a tornado. It may terrify you, but it's important to see the same doppler radar images and video of dark clouds over and over and over again while experts remind you that millions of people will likely die from the coming storm.

4. Lean on Others: It's okay to seek support from others who live with the same constant, gnawing fear. Have a neighbor over for coffee and spend the entire time talking about tornados: the recent tornados, the tornado forecast for later today, the tornado that happened 20 years ago. Before she leaves, make sure she knows the exact death toll of the Joplin, MO tornado. That's what friends are for.

5. Distract Yourself: Find healthy distractions to keep your mind off the fact that at any moment your house could explode into splinters and rubble. Try a new hobby, read a book, organize your non-perishable food items by expiration date, play a board game - anything to keep from obsessing over the constant, looming threat of tornados just outside your door. Good luck!