A man has overcome his phobia of balloons bursting to launch his own balloon modelling venture.
James Massey has had ligyrophobia, an irrational fear of loud noises that can cause anxiety and panic, all his life.
He was around a year old when a party popper went off in his great-grandfather’s face, causing him to yell out in shock. Although his great-grandfather was uninjured, the incident scared James so much it triggered a fear of balloons, party poppers and fireworks.
James, 25, who lives in Killinghall, said:
“My anxiety had a big impact on my childhood. I remember hiding under the table at my sister’s birthday party and eventually I started avoiding parties altogether. On Bonfire Night I always stayed inside because I was afraid to go out. And when I was a teenager, I used to be on edge when I was out with my friends. It was the anticipation of what might happen.”
Globophobia is a fear of balloons bursting, although people can also be triggered by the texture and smell. Having unsuccessfully tried cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), James went for hypnotherapy sessions which went some way to helping him manage his phobia.
He also decided to try to view balloons in a less threatening way, and became drawn to YouTube tutorials on balloon modelling. Soon he found he was more focused on the design and construction of the models than he was on the fear the balloons might burst.
“I started to think they look nice, rather than seeing them as a threat and worrying all the time that they were going to pop. Then a few months ago I made a balloon column that I was really proud of and I thought I could give it away for free to someone who would enjoy it. So I posted it on Facebook Marketplace and it got snapped up straight away. I put another three on and they’d gone within a few minutes. And then I had people messaging me asking if I would make them one and they would pay me for it. It felt amazing.”
Since then, James has set up a Facebook page under the name The Balloon Stop and has made columns and arches for parties and other celebrations, charging a modest amount mainly to cover the cost of materials. He’s constantly learning new designs and is hoping to grow the venture further next year.
“It’s been a massive turnaround from not even being able to blow up a balloon. The fear is still there but I can control it now. Balloon modelling is fun and I love the creativity. I find it relaxing now, I’m thinking about the design and the colours. I see beauty in it.”
Read more:
