Member Since: August 7, 2012
Answers: 1038
Last Update: August 2, 2021
Visitors: 33750
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Since I remember myself I was afraid of balloons. I can't stand the sound they do when they pop. I totally freak out and start sweating and shaking when something like that happens.(The same happens with fireworks, too) I'm not afraid of the balloon as an object but I can't be near them because I think they will pop anytime. This ruins my life. I can't go at parties etc. I need your advice about how to overcome it. I tried doing it myself but after a balloon popped in my face I don't want to blow them up again. I went to a pshygologist,too. It didn't help, cause i didn't like her way. Please help!! (PS I'm from Greece) (link)
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Very specific (and irrational if you think about them, in that most other people seem OK with the same thing) fears like this are quite common. Probably the best way to overcome them is to face them until the fear is disarmed. Like people with fears of spiders can lose them completely by handling a large (but harmless) spider in the company of an owner. Also, you might notice that military horses that take part in ceremonial displays where the crowd are noisy and even old-style canons are fired seem completely untroubled and perfectly behaved? Their natural tendency would be to bolt. They are introduced to it bit by bit in training until a ceremonial salute of gunfire doesn't worry them in the slightest. So. If you can bring yourself to do it, sit down with a close friend (so it's a controlled and safe-feeling environment), and a bag of balloons. And blow them up and pop them deliberately. It'll be hard at first, true. But with any luck you'll soon be blowing one up yourself, poppoing it with a pin and laughing, not freaking out! It IS incredibly hard to talk and reason yourself out of this kind of fear (often termed 'phobia'). That's because of the place in our minds where they 'live'. It's not a part we can have a direct dialogue with (or 'talk to' if you like). You can say to yourself or hear it said "Balloons aren't dangerous. There's nothing to be frightened of." a million times and it doesn't make any difference. The process we've talked about (actually getting 'hands-on' with the dreaded balloons) gets straight to the root of the thing. I picked the horse thing deliberately. A horse hasn't got any idea what a canon is. You can't tell him in words. It's just a sudden scary bang. But familiarity (basically a whole list of actual experiences of the scary loud bang, which did not turn out to harm him at all) disarms and overrides the fear. Good luck.
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Rating: 5
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Thank you very much for your advice! I will try to make it action. It won't be easy but you gave me courage!! Thanks again!
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