Need help with a ridiculous phobia

libra10

Balloon phobias are quite common, but can be cured.

http://www.pureconfidence.co.uk/Fear_of_balloons.html

Reading the above link, using techniques such as cognitive behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy, apparently the phobia can be cured within an hour or two.

It might be worth seeing your GP and asking for a referral. I have a phobia of frogs, and feel your pain ...!

Good luck

barbiedoll

You can desensitize yourself to this, and it is a very common phobia, both my mum and my best friend absolutely hate balloons! (Helium ones are ok because they don't pop!)

If you're ok with touching them, get a bag from a party/pound shop, and spend a day blowing them up and popping them.

Start by blowing them up a tiny amount then popping them with a sharp knife or skewer. Do several small ones, then gradually blow them up bigger and bigger. They don't have a loud bang if they are only partly inflated so you can "control" the bang as you go. If you can't bear to blow them up yourself, get a pump instead.

Take as long as you need, your little one won't be actively seeking out balloons for another year so you have plenty of time yet!

When you have conquered your phobia, you can blow up loads of balloons, fill your living-room floor with them and surprise your son on the morning of his 3rd birthday. He will have a whale of a time kicking them around the place and you will no longer be a nervous wreck! :T:T

Good luck!

Northern78

Thanks for all the replies! I felt really daft posting earlier but I feel a bit better about it all now.

Swingaloo and gigervamp that is exactly how I feel!! You've hit the nail on the head there. I love seeing balloons decorate a room or watching fireworks but like you I'm always stood there with my fingers in my ears.

Libra10 thanks for that, I'll have a read through that tonight.

Barbiedoll I was thinking earlier if it is a control thing as like you say if I pop the balloon I can control it but if someone else has the balloon I'm just waiting for it to happen. Would be great if I could get this under control and have a load of balloons for my DS birthday! We've also got another one due around bonfire night so planning ahead I'm thinking this one will want a party on bonfire night which of course will involve fireworks.I'd love to be able to throw a party and enjoy the fireworks without making excuses to be indoors.

Thanks again everyone. x

cef66

You're not alone OP, I know a (normal/ well adjusted) child who has a balloon phobia and also a different family who stopped having balloons at their children's parties after a balloon burst just as the father was tying the knot in the balloon and it damaged his eye and he ended up in A and E with long term damage !

Your son will be fine not having balloons around you, just like my friends and family know I don't like dogs so those with dogs keep them away from me when I see them.

Peter333

Agree with everyone that there's nothing to be ashamed of.

I think many people feel tense around balloons in case they POP! But it's not a phobia as such, for most.

NO phobia is silly.

My daughter's old teacher had a fear of bananas of all things. And my niece, even in her 20s, has a fear of clowns! (To be fair, they are pretty sinister. )

I don't think I have any phobias, but I dislike wasps. But then who actually likes wasps? LOL.

All I can suggest Northern78, is to see the doctor. He may have some answers or suggestions.

mrsmortenharket

I've got the same phobia.
Makes birthday parties hard.
I almost shouted at the guy in mcdonalds when he tried to give my son a balloon!
I hate them. They should be banned!

mrsmortenharket

By the way, just reading this thread has made my hands go funny and made me feel sick!

olibrofiz

It doesn't necessarily rub off on your kids - I've got a phobia about other people vomiting, so birthday trips to a theme park or whatever were out as I couldn't cope with a car load of kids just in case one was sick. I was twitchy at birthday do's and anything where there was a load of small kids, just in case....


DD, now 19, is always the one that looks after anyone who's sick at parties etc She is however terrified of spiders, and I never have been

marisco_2

Northern78 wrote: »

I know there's people with real phobias and this seems very petty

Your phobia is just as valid as anyone else's. You cant help how you feel towards things. I dislike sudden noise or the potential for it and so I am also not overly keen on balloons. I wish I had the answers for you but I will be honest and say I don't. Luckily some wise people on here have already given you lots of good advice. Just wanted to show some empathy so you know that you are not the only one who feels this way

meritaten

Northern - NO phobia is a stupid phobia! or every phobia is! its a 'phobia' a state which is common to humans!
you can try hypnotherapy - or as others have said, desensitise yourself. hold a 'balloon popping party' for a bunch of kids and fill the rooms with 'hundreds' of balloons! provide some food and drink and encourage the kids to randomly 'pop' balloons! after an hour I should think a 'bomb' going off near you, never mind a balloon, would leave you unfazed. be very sure you would want to do this and plan an escape route if you cant cope - you don't want to traumatise people if you have a 'melt down'! good luck!
(my own personal phobia is clowns - luckily you don't come across them much!)