How did I get this way ?
This question has a variety of answers depending on who you talk to, but there is
usually one central theme and that is a childhood INTEREST IN or FEAR OF balloons
or BOTH. Very few people seem to become balloon fetishists after the age of 14 - most
already have the fetish before this time, and it can begin at almost any age, but
starting between the ages of 5 to 13 is common. A very few have had a partner who
was into using balloons as a sex toy and have adopted related practices.
It is very common for a fetish to start as a result of the objects that happen to
be around when a person experiences their very first orgasm, particularly if there
are any objects which are being used as an aid to masturbation. Such objects are
often used on subsequent occasions simply because they worked ok the first time.
The first orgasm is normally a very pleasant surprise, even if some aspects
are disturbing, and it often results in 'imprinting'
where the particular circumstances of the event remain a preference for a lifetime.
Imprinting is thought to be the main process in operation amongst animals who stay
with one partner throughout their lives, and some observers consider the process
to apply to human pairs as well.
Desmond Morris describes the process of imprinting as 'pair bonding' and repeated
mating with the same partner which reinforces the bond between them as 'pair
maintenance'.
Much the same thing happens when an object - in this case a balloon - is
used for sexual satisfaction, a similar thing happens to the user. Usually,
masturbation begins between the ages of 5 and 13, and in uncontrolled
circumstances - this is something that occurs when each individual is alone, so
considering the age at which this happens the presence of a balloon is
understandable.
There are at least three ways in which a balloon is known to be used, and these probably
reflect the first time a balloon was used by the person concerned, and they result
in different forms of the fetish. The first orgasm may have happened with a balloon
that was already inflated and tied, or it may have happened while a balloon was
being inflated, or it may have happened when a balloon popped - either as a result
of being blown up beyond its limit or by excess pressure being applied. This often
provides the fetishist with one of two preferences - some people prefer to pop
the balloons, while others prefer not to - they are referred to as 'poppers' and
'non-poppers' respectively.
On the other pages in this section I will try to describe how fear can be a factor
and some explanation of things that can lead up to the start of the fetish.
- Suggested next page -
- The fear factor
- Other pages -
- Early beginnings
- Genetics or environment
- Fetish FAQs index
- Main Index