If you're afraid of balloons it could be because you suffer from Globophobia which is an extreme, overwhelming, and irrational fear of balloons.

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This phobia often includes extreme fear, anxiety or panic at the thought, sight, sound, touch, and smell of balloons. However, in some people, globophobia only includes a fear of balloons popping or, specifically, the sound of a balloon popping.

Pennywise red balloon from IT
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Another reason you might be freaked out by Balloons is that damn clown named Pennywise from Stephen King's It.

Michigan Parents Need To Be Aware Of Deadly Birthday Balloons

I've never really thought of balloons as being deadly but a 7-year-old girl from Tennessee was recently found dead after deflating some balloons from her birthday party.

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The girl's mom told CBS News that one week after the birthday party, on October 1, 2023, she sat with her daughter as she popped each of the latex balloons.

When her daughter asked to pop the larger foil balloon, she told her that was fine and then fell asleep briefly in her bedroom, unaware of any dangers with this type of balloon.

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When the mother returned to the living room after falling asleep, her daughter was lying face-down on the floor, with the foil balloon around her head.

It is still unknown whether the child died from helium poisoning or suffocation. The preliminary results of a cause of death report could be pending for as long as six months.

While this story is tragic, you shouldn't freak out and never buy balloons again. Instead, be aware and careful of the potential dangers of younger kids playing with them.

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