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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.

Signs and symptoms

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

Causes

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

Treatment

Response prevention therapy

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]

In vivo flooding

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

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]

Clinical hypnotherapy

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

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]

Medication

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

Diagnosis

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]

Notable cases

Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Murphy, Nicole (2022-09-16). "What is Globophobia?". CPD Online College. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Brewer, Colin (2013). "Balloon phobia". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 347 (7932): 39. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6652. ISSN 0959-8138. JSTOR 43513144. PMID 24192971. S2CID 31517200.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Houlihan, D; Schwartz, C (September 1993). "The rapid treatment of a young man's balloon (noise) phobia using in vivo flooding". J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 24 (3): 233–40. doi:10.1016/0005-7916(93)90026-s. PMID 8188847.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Fear of Balloons — Globophobia". Practical Psychology. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Fear of Balloons Phobia — Globophobia". FEAROF. 2014-02-18. Retrieved 2023-04-15.