Balloon phobia

Look up globophobia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Balloon phobia or globophobia is a fear of balloons.^[2] The most common source of fear is the sound of balloons popping, but individuals can also be triggered by their texture and smell.^[1]

Generally, people with globophobia will refuse to touch, feel, smell, or go near a balloon for fear it will burst.^[3]

Globophobia originates from the Latin word Globus meaning sphere and the Greek word Phobos which translates to fear.^[4]

This is a form of phonophobia.

Indications that someone suffers from Globophobia include:

• Feelings of intense fear and anxiety from balloons
• A fear of balloons that lasts a minimum of six months
• Engaging in avoidance behavior when in the presence of balloons
• A fear of balloons that interferes with day-to-day life

Globophobia has numerous symptoms, and most of them overlap with anxiety.^[5] Some symptoms of globophobia are:

• Rapid or shallow breathing
• Palpitations
• Shaking, trembling, sweating, and chills
• Gastrointestinal distress, including nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Difficulties swallowing or feeling like something is stuck in one's throat
• A prickling sensation, similar to pins and needles
• A dry or sticky mouth
• Feeling confused or disoriented
• Muscle tension
• Unusual or severe headaches
• Unusual flushing or paleness, particularly in one's face
• Feeling extremely hot or cold
• Fatigue or tiredness
• A lack of appetite
• Insomnia

Globophobia can be the result of a negative or traumatic experience with balloons, negative depictions of balloons, or a traumatic event somehow connected to balloons.^[1] For example, a loud noise could sound similar to a balloon popping. These negative experiences usually occur during childhood, and globophobia is most prevalent among young children.^[5]

Other factors that can increase the likelihood of someone developing Globophobia include:

• Having a sensory processing disorder, like autism
• Having another related phobia, such as phonophobia or coulrophobia
• Having a history of anxiety, depression, or panic attacks
• Being a naturally more anxious or fearful person
• Having heightened stress levels

Response prevention is a type of exposure therapy. When dealing with patients with globophobia, a doctor roughly handles a barely inflated balloon in the presence of a patient.^[2] The patient will eventually hold the balloon themself to understand that it is not full enough to pop.^[2] The balloon will then gradually become more inflated, and once it is filled enough to pop, squeaky noises should be intentionally produced by the balloon.^[2] The patients are expected to be frightened by this action, so they should stand a great distance from the balloon and gradually move closer once they feel more comfortable.^[2] The same process of patients moving closer to the balloon should be followed except the balloon will pop this time.^[2] This practice aims to assure people with globophobia that the noises balloons make are not harmful.^[2] Patients are expected to not be as tense and apprehensive around balloons and the sounds they produce following exposure therapy.^[2]

This form of exposure therapy was performed on a college-aged student with globophobia.^[3] Before the experiment, the unnamed male reports that he tries to avoid balloons at all costs due to the great amount of distress they place on him.^[3] He claims that he cannot be any less than four feet away from a balloon without feeling intense fear.^[3] The experiment is conducted over the course of three days and involves the subject being surrounded by hundreds of balloons that are simultaneously popping.^[3] The researchers found no clear signs of emotional distress of the man but noted him attempting to avoid the popping balloons.^[3] Following the experiment's conclusion, the subject states that he does not attempt to avoid situations that may involve balloons anymore.^[3] He has also reported that no additional balloon-related problems have intervened with his daily life.^[3]

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a common practice used to treat phobias.^[1] It works "by deconstructing negative thought patterns surrounding balloons into smaller parts which will be focused on one at a time".^[1]

Hypnotherapy involves relaxation techniques that assist in reducing stress, fear, and anxiety responses.^[1] The objective of hypnotherapy sessions is to alter negative thoughts and memories surrounding balloons to generate a less fearful perception on them.^[1]

Neuro linguistic memory manipulations or NLP manipulations entail "seeing yourself and your fears as if you are a third party" to detach yourself from the fear and to minimize the severity of distress balloons might produce.^[5]

Potential medications to use to treat globophobia include beta blockers, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), sedatives, and anti-anxiety relievers.^[1]

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DMS-5) does not include every single phobia, so globophobia is not mentioned.^[4] Mental health professionals can instead diagnose patients with a "specific phobia", like globophobia which is "an umbrella term that describes any phobia of a specific object or situation".^[4]

• Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host^[5]