Fear of Balloons...

I have this strange fear of balloons. I don't know why, though. I remember playing with them when I was a kid. But now whenever I see someone holding a balloon, my first instinct is to back away the second I see the balloon. The only thought that runs through my head is: oh god, don't pop it!! I'm not sure when the phobia developed. I remember a birthday incident where my baby niece was playing with a balloon and it popped in her face. I wasn't scared at that time though. It was either my eleventh or twelfth birthday and I didn't have a problem with them before. But now I can't be in the same room as them! When I was in school, I had to do this science experiment that involved inflating a balloon. I panicked a little and went up to the teacher and insisted I be excused. I was sent to another room to wait until the period was over... I don't have a problem with the shiny balloons with pictures on them, I only have a problem with the original ones. I don't know why, exactly. All I know is to avoid them before they get popped. That noise is what bothers me the most. I hate it. I just scares me. Watching someone take a balloon in their hands, squeeze it, and POP!! Balloon explodes and startles me. It makes me think of how a cat is silently stalking it's prey, then a loud unexpected noise startles the cat and makes it jump... So, yeah... My strange phobia that I might never figure out why it terrifies me... :/

I don't particularly care for them either!

I think everyone has weird fears that just spout from random experiences. I am personally scared of people in giant animal costumes... I think this resulted from have front row seats to Sesame Street Live when I was really little. I won't even watch Where the Wild Things Are.