As we had a few rumbles around the UK recently, I thought I'd post a link to the excellent
www.blitzortung.org - a site which tracks and locates lightning around the world.
The small crosses are where lightning has occurred - white is new, red is old. The green rays show which detectors have picked up on the lightning and co-ordinate the positions to give a precise location.
If nothing else, you can watch storms develop elsewhere, and if you are so minded it can act as a tracking device when your locality has storms forecast. Ideally, you will use this knowledge in a positive manner to help you confront your phobia