Fears

[Minxie]

Know this sounds a trivial question. But I do have a fair of ballons. Is this common?

[keithlbw]

Not unusual at all my wife is terrified of balloons,she cant even be in the same room as one, I know a few people who are scared of them.

[Minxie]

Thank you Keith. Thought I was alone on that one. I recently brought an exercise ball (der, stupid) but dare not use that as its like an giant (thick skinned) balloon! I have children of different ages, but when it comes to birthdays, etc, for the little ones, balloons are only allowed half blown (by my older kids) at my request. Just thinking about them makes me shiver!

[Buenchico]

It's common enough to be given a name: Globophobia.

If you do a web search for "fear of balloons" (remembering to include the speech marks) you'll find loads of people's experiences of this, together with several reports of cures.

Chris

[ACB312]

Me too - ever since going to a kid's party in a hall where the little darlings spent the first minutes stamping on the entire lot of balloons. The noise and the wanton waste was terrible. I just feel uncomfortable with balloons around. Helium filled ones don't bother me.

[malaise]

Not at all, Minxie! I too am terrified of them.

I wasat a club about a month ago, on its birthday event night. All of a sudden they released thousands of balloons from the ceiling. I was nearly crying!

Don't you just hate it when someone 'funny' chases you with one? Grr...

[Bohne]

Wow, I always wanted to meet somebody with a fear like that, simply because I am so very curious.
I have read a book recently, which mentioned several cases of people being afraid of balloons.

Would you mind telling me more about it?
Can you remember a time you were not afraid of them?
Does it start, when you see them, or do you have to touch them?
What are the effects this fear has on your life?
When you tell people, how do they react?

You can also write to me on
[email protected]

[CLOWN TICKLE]

I dont know what happened to my earlier post but my wife had a fear of balloons and overcame it by becoming a balloon decorator, people also have an allergy to latex

[bellasasha]

i have the same fear, i also have a fear of clowns!! wow i must have been a hit at parties as a child!!!

[CLOWN TICKLE]

sorry to hear of your clown fear

[mycatis]

Me too Minxie!!! They REALLY terrify me. My son is now 9 and has never had a balloon lol. He is actually really good about and never even asks for them at parties or anything because he has seen me have a meltdown if one comes near me. They are just WRONG!!!

[Minxie]

Thanks for your replies. Didnt know there was a name for it, thanks Chris, will Google and look.

Bohne, I think my fear started when I was very small, at a childrens party, playing a game of passing the balloon between your knees to each other, and it burst on me!

I guess on a normal day to day basis, it doesnt affect my life, as I dont come into contact with them. But I hate the sound of them, and like I said, if the kids ever had them, then and they had been managed to be blown to full size, then it makes me clammy, I cant relax. No doubt I will never get to use the exercise ball either! What a baby ;(

[sharpy36]

Can`t blow em up for the fear of them popping in my face.Allways give it the,no let your mother do them i `m out of puff.Right hard me ?