> I live in North Carolina. Ear plugs are probably slightly more effective
than plugging them w/ your fingers. Just get the foam kind at the drug
store....but not the ones that stick out of your ears cause that will
just be too obvious (like the traingular shaped ones). They usually
reduce about 30 decibels of noise. Also, at some places you can buy
headphones that pretty much reduce ALL noise around you. Never used them
myself but I've considered buying a pair in case a thunderstorm occurs
while I am trying to sleep. Hope this helps. ~April
>
>
>
> hahaha..... I have never tried earplugs! I will have to get some
> before the weekend. My best friend is getting married.... Honestly I
> have no idea why I never thought of ear plugs... cause I always plug my
> ears(with my fingers).... I look like a fruit cake..... I try and plug
> them so hard it hurts... Do ear plugs really work? Cause even with my
> ears plugged I can always hear what people are saying around me... I
> try humming but then I look even more stupid.
>
> I agree that its incurable.... Imn so glad I am not alone on this
> one....... Is there a particular kind of earplugs that work best? Where
> do you live? Im in Kingston Ontario Canada.
>
>
> --- In unusualphobias@yahoogroups.com, "April Ragsdell"
> <alternaace@n...> wrote:
> > Honestly I've tried getting over this MANY times in my life...I've
> come to
> > the conclusion it's incurable, at least for me. I'm 23 now, and I
> first
> > recall being phobic of balloons when i was 5....I tried getting
> over them
> > back then even! (popping them on purpose, etc)....doesnt work. Now
> my only
> > remedy is I put in earplugs if I'm around "risky"
> balloons. Ever tried
> > that?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > yeah me too!
> > >
> > > I really wish I knew someone who lived around me who had this
> weird
> > > phobia. My bf just doesnt understand but my friends do....
> > >
> > > I know what you mean about getting all hot and panicky around
> > > balloons. I am not so bad around fireworks anymore but I use
> to be
> > > crazy.I dont mind foil balloons either but if someone was to
> sit > > there and TRY to pop it I am sure I would go snaky....
> > >
> > > I was at a bday party for my friends mom last week and there
> were  about
> > > 35 balloons floating around the tables.. she assured me no
> one  would be
> > > bugging them... and they were too high for the kids....
> but  of course..
> > > one stupid man (like in his 40's) grabbed the balloons 
> behind me and
> > > was hitting his kids over the head with them.....
> > >
> > > Have you ever tried to get over this? I'd love to... I need
> help! > >
> > >
> > > --- In unusualphobias@yahoogroups.com, "Anna
> Leete" > > all102@s...  wrote:
> > > > This is exactly the same phobia I have. I don't mind
> the foil
> > > balloons so much but I can't stand the regular ones if they
> are > > touching anything really. I totally freak out, esp. if
> people are > > taouching them. I'm also phobic of fireworks, party
> poppers, guns  etc.
> > > I've had it since I was born and I do think I'm getting worse
> -  I get
> > > all hot and panicky if I'm near one of those things.
> > > >
> > > > Anna x
> > > >   ----- Original Message ----- >
> > >   From: kristaelvidge@c...
> > > >   To:
> unusualphobias@yahoogroups.com > > >  
> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 6:52 PM > >
> >   Subject: [unusualphobias] Re: hello >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >   Hey There,
> > > >
> > > >   I am the exact same as you as far
> as balloons go......
> > > I also  dont
> > > >   like other loud noises that I
> dont know are coming....
> > > I use to  be
> > > >   scared of Fireworks when I was
> little as well but Im ok
> > > with  them
> > > >   now.
> > > >
> > > >   Im 24 years old and I have had
> this problem since I was
> > > about 2  >   years old. Im fine
> if they are just there and
> > > NO ONE is touching  >   them and
> they arent touching > > anything... but once people start 
> >   touching them or
> > > they are rubbing against a wall I go insane. My 
> >   phobia
> > > is getting worse every single year.
> > > >
> > > >   I just wish I could get over this
> phobia.... My bf is
> > > determined  to
> > > >   get me over it.... All he has
> been doing is getting mad
> > > at me if  I
> > > >   am freaking out when balloons are
> around. My future
> > > kids are  going
> > > >   to hate me... if I dont get over
> it then they wont even
> > > know  what
> > > >   balloons are......
> > > >
> > > >   Krista
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >   --- In
> unusualphobias@yahoogroups.com, > >
> "luvslavof3tg"  >  
> alternaace@n... > > wrote:
> > > >   > I'm a new member of this
> group. My biggest phobia
> > > has always  been
> > > >   > balloons. Not the actual
> balloon itself, but the
> > > perpetual  fear of
> > > >   > them popping. If they're
> just sitting there and
> > > it's quite  >   probable
> > > >   > that they won't pop,
> then I'm ok with it. But if
> > > someone's  blowing
> > > >   > them up (whether by
> mouth or machine), playing
> > > with them,  etc....I
> > > >   > panic. I've dealt with
> this phobia most of my
> > > life, so by this  >   point >
> > >   > (i'm 23 now), I've learned to
> be pretty discreet
> > > about it. I  >   usually
> > > >   > saunter off to the
> bathroom or something and stick
> > > in the  earplugs
> > > >   > lol (in case they do
> pop...then it won't be so
> > > loud). My  balloon
> > > >   > popping phobia is pretty
> generalized...meaning,
> > > I'm often  bothered
> > > >   > by most loud abrupt
> noises. (i.e gunshots, car
> > > backfiring,  loud
> > > >   > clapping thunder,
> fireworks that I don't know are
> > > around).  Luckily
> > > >   I
> > > >   > can enjoy fireworks ok
> now..AS LONG AS I CAN
> > > EXPECT IT (for  >   >
> instance, a July 4th fireworks
> > > display is fine if I'm sitting 
> >   right > >
> >   > there). Ive also grown pretty fond
> of > > thunderstorms..as long  as it
> > > >   > doesnt get too noisy.
> > > >   > My 2nd phobia (not as
> severe as the balloons) is
> > > of polo  shirts.
> > > >   Not
> > > >   > sure if it's the button
> issue, since I am pretty
> > > disgusted by  most
> > > >   > buttons, or if it's just
> a fashion hang up. The
> > > collars on  polo
> > > >   > shirts drive me
> absolutely bat-sh*t! Polos w/
> > > zippers aren't  TOO
> > > >   > bad. Large buttons are
> pretty revolting as well,
> > > esp on  cardigans
> > > >   > and duffel coats...YUCK!
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
>
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