Need help with a ridiculous phobia

Roxie

Northern78 wrote: »

Roxie do you think a doctor would be interested? What I mean by that is it's not like it's a life affecting phobia as in something I have to deal with every day. I'd hate to think I was wasting their time. I'd be more than willing to pay for some help privately but I'm just sceptical about finding someone who is reputable and not just going to take advantage.

I don't want to end up doing chicken impressions everytime someone mentions the word balloon!

The GP can't deal with it himself/herself but am sure would be happy to refer you onto someone who can help...... from my experience of GPs they are happy to 'pass the buck'. I got treatment for my phobia before I had children, I didn't want to get the screaming abb dabs when/if my children came home with this particular toy - so it wasn't something that was actually affecting me at the time or on a daily basis. Your phobia must be worse than mine in a way as balloons are at lots of social events, where mine I could really keep secret or use avoidance tactics in shops etc. Do go to the GP, and let us know how you get on. R x

If you went down the private route then hypnotherapy would be a great treatment because a hypnotherapist can 'adjust' your thought processes about a specific event or reaction. It is very like CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) but I guess is done in a 'relaxed state' rather than with CBT being done when you are 'alert'. If your GP can't recommend a hypnotherapist then Google hypnotherapy qualifications/ professional bodies so you can ensure you aren't going to a 'crank'.

gayleygoo

Phobias are common, and they often seem silly, but they're not your fault. I worked in a restaurant for a few years and we would put helium balloons on the chairs if we were asked. At least twice we were specifically asked NOT to use the balloons, because someone couldn't stand being near them. You are not silly

My irrational fear is slugs. Even typing the word is horrible. I often don't go out after dark and if I do I'm anxious in case I see one :eek: . My OH understands that if he ever puts one on me, I will never forgive him. It doesn't help that there is a mass population of them in our back garden...

I think the idea of balloon popping in a controlled way sounds good.
Sometimes finding out more about your phobia can help. Maybe research a little about balloons, why they have a loud bang when they pop etc. If you can think of it as "noisy air" it might make it seem less scary? Sorry if that doesn't help, it wouldn't help me much to consider slugs as nature's Haribo either

I have kids and don't want them to pick up my phobia (unlikely since it's irrational anyway and they know it!), so I have often explained that I simply can't stand them, but genuinely don't know why because they aren't harmful or even capable keeping up with a slow walk. I encourage them to look at them and even gently touch them (not NEAR me of course). As long as your children know that they don't have to fear balloons, they'll be fine.

As for birthday parties, you don't need balloons! Streamers, bunting, paper lanterns or other paper decorations -bought or made - will be pretty on their own. And best of luck if you decide to seek hypnotherapy or other treatment for it

JennyRowling

Just wanted to say, I have a phobia of sleeping on my left side, so fear of balloons isn't all that silly I'll repeat what others said - meet your fears in the face. It's hard, but it's a certain way to get rid of them

bromleymum

I have a fear of rabies and can pinpoint it back to be allowed to watch a documentary featuring a rabid man tied to a bed (young cousin babysitting me at about 7).

I'm in my 40s now and it's never left me.

It's stopped me travelling to anywhere red on a rabies map i.e. Most of the world.
I even get anxious travelling to France and have to know I can access rabies clinics if required.
When sleeping abroad I obsessively check myself for bites from bats that may have happened in the night without me knowing.
I'm always being asked to get a cat but worry that if there's a rabies outbreak in Britain's wildlife it will transfer to cats first.
Anything associated with foaming at the mouth makes me numb with fear.
A girl at university once told me her puppy had rabies when her father was posted to Africa. He just keeled over and died. Even though it happened 15 years before she told me, I tried to minimise physical contact with her for the next couple of years.
I scour the news for European cases and make sure I wasn't in that region within the incubation period (can be a year)
I worry about anything happening to the children that may expose them to this vile disease.

What's really worrying is that the phobia has slowly crept over to bats as well after a case of an associated rabies related death in Scotland years ago.

I don't admit how bad it is to anyone and laugh it off to those that know a little but a lick from a dog abroad would make me go into full panic mode.

Writing this has upset me but phobias are just bad wiring in the brain but they are frightening.

SailorSam

Northern78 wrote: »

Thanks both, it just feels so childish to say I'm scared of balloons, something most people associate with fun! x

Clowns are something that's associated with fun, but they're one of the things that many people find scary.
So balloons are no different.

System

If it makes you feel any better my phobia is mushrooms! :eek: dates back to childhood and i often feel silly about it but it has a name so i can't be the only one.

I was scared of balloons as a kid, i remember going to a birthday party and one of the games involved popping balloons and i just burst into tears , for me it was the sudden popping that freaked me out, over time i think i got used to it.

Might be worth googling as other have suggested to see if theres anyone who specialises in treating phobias

missprice

There are some interesting phobias here and I am sorry to take this thread off topic slightly, but had to share.

My phobia is operations. Never had one but still the thought of having an operation however minor brings me to shaking, vomiting, drip white clammyness.
Oh I shudder at the thought.
Cant watch them on TV even the fake ones on casualty and the like.
And only a wee while ago my doctor said I will need a knee op soon.
Well i will refuse it and just carry on in pain like a fool.

No clue where this phobia started, as never even come close to a operating theater, and no one I know has had a terrible op and told me in detail so am lost as to how this came to be.

woohoo

My daughter who is now 11 had this phobia too. It started when she was about 2 and I took her to a party. Some older boys, about 5 years, jumped on a balloon right next to her. I could not console her and had to take her home. From then on she would not be around balloons. It was the fear of them bursting. When I took her to parties she would reluctantly stay if there were balloon decorations, but if there were loose balloons, then no way. No end of times we got to a party and she would run out in a panic as soon as she saw them. We handed over the present and left! It progressed to fireworks too and we have never been to a proper display as she will not go. Every bonfire night she would cry and hide when she heard fireworks. Anyway, we got balloons at home and let her play with them herself. She would do this as she knew she would not burst one herself. She then began to accept balloons at home even if her little brother had them as long as he promised not to burst one. However, she would not progress to bursting them at home at all. Over time, she has improved. She has been to parties with balloons, and even when they have popped. She always puts her hands over her ears and looks at me. I just tell her 'its gone now'. She does not like them but at least it is not stopping her doing stuff. On our family holiday this year, we were in the town one evening and fireworks started going off without warning. They were loud ones as well! She looked at me in panic, and I encouraged her to look at how pretty they were. And she did!!!! That is major progress. I think working on it yourself is the way to go. Get a pack of balloons and start blowing them up bigger and bigger. Get used to that. Then pop a small one so the bang is quieter, and work your way up. This would have been my plan with my daughter, however time seems to have helped. Good luck x

splishsplash

I can't say I have a phobia but I hate the thought of balloons bursting near me.

We have a family tradition - every year since my three children were born, I decorate all of downstairs on their birthdays with balloons, banners, table confetti etc. The idea is to walk in to a birthday wonderland first thing with goodies, cards and gifts piled on the table.

Pathetically, this means that on three mornings of each of the past 21 years I've been sat on the sofa blowing up 25 - 30 balloons.

Pathetic because while I'm blowing each balloon, I'm sticking the fingers of one hand in one ear, my other ear is stuck into my shoulder, I'm trying to hold on to the balloon with my teeth and my other hand is trying to protect my face from being peeled off my skull if/when the balloon explodes .

How sad is that:o:o