Anyone else horrified of rollercoasters? How do you cure it?

[NickB79]

I'm so bummed right now. For as long as I can remember I've been terrified of rollercoasters and other high-speed, winding, dropping rides. My girlfriend, however, loves them. Today we were at the Mall of America, in Camp Snoopy, and she tried so hard to get me to try one of the rollercoasters there. In retrospect, it was a pretty tame one compared to ones I've seen elsewhere. Still, as we walked closer and closer to it, I began to have a panic attack. My heart was pounding in my chest, I began to sweat, and my legs went weak every time I saw the coaster drop or spiral. We cut our night short and went home early.

I'm ashamed that I can't find the courage to go on a ride at Camp Snoopy of all places, and that I let my girlfriend down. She looked so excited and happy when we got there, but I ruined it for her. I really want to overcome this fear but I don't know how to go about it. I don't know if I can suck it up, face my fear and get on a ride without someone literally carrying me on.

[Left Is Write]

1. I'll bet she understands.

It's not your fault you have a phobia, and I don't know that it's a good idea to force yourself to go on an amusement park ride that gives you panic attacks.

Does your girlfriend have a friend who likes roller coasters and has a significant other? Maybe the four of you could go out together, and that way your girlfriend could at least ride the coaster with her friend while you can watch and wave to her, and then you two can go together on a ride that YOU like.

[Lugnut]

2. I don't think there's a cure

I love roller coasters and all sorts of wild rides. My husband doesn't because he's terrified of heights. Luckily our kids loved them as much as I do so I always had a buddy once they were old enough to ride.

[trackfan]

3. I've never been on one, nor do I plan to.

I don't like speed thrills.

[Emops]

4. I went on The Beast when I was 9,

and I have been horrified of roller coasters ever since.

[rexcat]

11. I have 9 year old twins and they went on the Beast

and Son of Beast last year. They love roller coasters but living 5 minutes away from Kings Island has helped. They also went on all of the roller coasters at Busch Gardens - Tampa last summer. It helps that I like roller coasters but mom absolutely hates them.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. She should be understanding YOU!

Anything that scares you that much, stay the hell away from! If she really wants to go on it, then let her go...Do NOT do anything that upsets you that much...She needs to grow up and have some empathy for you...I don't know how old you two are, but...someone who truly loves you will not force you to do something like this, when you are so afraid. Being afraid does not make you less a man...There are ways to overcome this, but it would involve therapy of some sort...

I really mean this...mature people do NOT force unpleasant things on the people they love. That applies to everything, not just roller coasters...

[SW FL Dem]

6. I understand you. I don't do roller coasters

and I married someone who is equally petrified of them. I have NO desire to be scared by plunging to earth or flying upside down. My sister and my best friend love roller coasters, I constantly disappoint them when I won't go on their definition of a tame ride. My son takes after his parents so at least we don't have to deal with his disappointment. When he has been given the chance to go with family or friends on the big rides, he has so far declined.

[alarimer]

13. some of us are not thrill seekers

That's all. Nothing wrong with not wanting to jump out of a perfectly good airplane for example. One the other hand, fear of roller coasters probably means that I would make a lousy F-14 pilot but so what?

It is not that there is anything wrong with being an adrenaline junkie; I think some people are just wired that way- race car drivers, jet pilots.

I do scuba dive which is actually more dangerous statistically than amusement park rides. Most diver deaths are entirely preventable, however, and usually do to some stupid mistake they make.

[Maddy McCall]

7. I am aways terrified as the ride begins.

Here's my advice. Don't think about what's to come as you get on the roller coaster. Just get on, and think of it as lounging on a park bench. When the coaster starts moving, anticipate the adrenaline rush just as you would the buzz when you drink alcohol. Scream, hold your hands up, grip the bar, whatever, but relish the adrenaline.

You are safer riding a roller coaster than driving in your car to the amusement park.

[DerekG]

8. You'd have to pull a gun to get me on one of those things

And that gun better be loaded...

[evlbstrd]

9. Get some help for the panic attacks.

And don't feel guilty about it. It's not a personal flaw. I can't even climb a ladder to paint my house.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. My hubby doesn't like 'em either. To my everlasting shame I gave him grief

ribbing over it. :(

[alarimer]

12. I am afraid of them too

For me the solution is just to avoid them. I know you are supposed to confront fears and all that crap but I prefer avoidance as a coping technique. It really is easier. It isn't like roller coasters are a major part of my life. I don't know anyone who likes amusement parks. Strangely I am not afraid of all rides, just roller coasters. I can handle the Ferris wheel so it isn't really a heights thing.

I don't really know how to get over it since I never even bother to try.

[fleabert]

16. funny, I love coasters and will ride anything...except a ferris wheel.

I hate that the loading system requires stopping the damn thing while I am up top, just sitting there. I don't mind the ride itself, just sitting up high for so long- some jackass always swings the gondolas and it scares the shit out of me. you aren't supposed to swing the gondolas. there is a good reason why that is posted in giant letters before you get on.

If I could get on, go around a few times and get off it immediatly, it would be fine.

[drhilarius]

14. I rode on 8 roller coasters yesterday...

...and loved every minute of it.

The first time I went on one was due to peer pressure. In the 8th grade, I went on a trip to Six Flags. My friends, naturally, made a beeline for the coasters. Not wanting to be the odd man out, I went along, assuming they would hit one of the more tame wood coasters. Nope. Rode on "the ninja": loops, corkscrews, the whole stomach turning deal. I was, naturally, scared shitless in line, but after the ride was over I had to do it again. The rush is addicting.

I would suggest starting with the "kiddie" coasters (don't worry about looking weird, it's an amusement park and your allowed to dick around). From there, ride on the wooden coasters- they're exciting, but don't feel as dangerous as the steel ones (no loops, corkscrews, etc.). After that, if you're up to it, hit the metal coasters-you won't regret it.

Actually, if you ride a lot, you may actually become, somewhat, habituated to the experience. For instance, the first coaster i rode yesterday gave me a tremendous rush (100 ft drop at 70mph), but the last one (144ft drop at 70mph) barely registered.

At any rate, all you have to do (literally) is get over that initial hump: just grit your teeth, squeeze your restraints, and plunge right in.

[fleabert]

15. would it help you to know that i have worked a theme parks and can

attest to the absolute thoroughness of the safety programs in place there? I can only speak for the company I worked for, and the people I know at other companies, but it is not in their best interest to operate unsafe coasters. Very bad publicity to operate a maiming machine!

they are so sophisticated these days with prox switches and such, that your chances of dying on a roller coaster are lower than dying in an accident with a garden hose. and the chance of serious injury is low as well, you are much more likely to get hurt walking to the ride than you are on it!

Part of the allure of roller coasters for those that like/love them (like me) is the illusion of danger. Tricking my mind into thinking I am in danger is the best part, which is why it takes a hell of a coaster to thrill me these days. I have ridden so many and know just how safe they really are, that I really don't get scared any more. I do enjoy G-forces, esp. negative ones, so that keeps them fun, but I'd like nothing more than to find a good scary coaster!

feel free to PM me if you'd like to know what company or parks I recommend, I don't want to advertise here. :-)

ps- I have also worked on the legal side of the industry, so I have seen the dirt and am not just a lackey for my past employer, I really believe they are safe.

[Pithlet]

17. You can try by doing what I did.

I was terrified of roller coasters to the point of phobia for the longest time after I rode my first one, Space Mountain, at Disney World at age 8. I thought it was another one of those ride on a boat through singing characters rides, and since it was in the dark I didn't see the drop coming. Traumatized me. It wasn't until I was well into my twenties that I was able to step foot on another one.

What I did was start with the absolute smallest one I could find (Cedar Creek Mine Ride at Cedar point, which doesn't even have a drop), bit the bullet and got on. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from the fright. I then went on it again, and I was still terrified, although not as much so, because I knew what to expect. After riding that one a few times, I moved up to the next one, did that one a few times and so on. Cedar Point does have a huge coaster selection, so gradually working your way up may be harder at smaller parks. If you can make the trip to Cedar Point, I highly recommend it, because even if you never make it on a roller coaster, there is a lot to do, so trip isn't wasted.

I still get pretty nervous as I'm waiting in line to get on a coaster, but I love them.

[colinmom71]

18. I was *deathly* afraid of coasters until around age 29...

It took a dare at a trip to Disneyworld to get me to just try the kiddie coaster there!

I'd finally reached a point where I decided I needed to conquer a fear when I turned 30 years old. And since my research had shown that roller coasters are statistically safer than just about any mode of transport you can imagine (seriously, most accidents on coasters are due to riders neglecting to follow the written safety instructions before you board the ride!), I was able to talk myself into trying out a coaster, if only once to finally address that life long fear.

When you're ready to try to conquer that fear, you'll know. If you're not yet ready, there's absolutely nothing wrong or disappointing in that. If you truly do want to want to work towards conquering this fear, spend some free time researching about coasters first. Read about the various safety features, how they work, etc., so if anything you'll at least have peace of mind when your friends ride them. Honestly, doing this helped me the most in working towards addressing my fear of coasters. A good starting point is http://www.rcdb.com/ (Roller Coaster DataBase). It details almost every coaster in the world and there are some links to sites that provide more info on coasters as well.

To be fair, Camp Snoopy really only has one mild coaster I'd recommend a neophyte to try - Lil Shaver, which is a powered coaster and doesn't have a high lift hill like the other two have. But even then, a lot of powered style coasters tend to ride rough (don't know why) so you may not get a ride that inspires you to try out other coasters!

And if it's any consolation, I spent the entire trip from the station and up the lift hill on my first "real" wooden roller coaster contemplating how to get the fu*% out of that restraint and out of the train! I was panicked by the time we hit the top, and it didn't help that my husband threw us on the Georgia Cyclone for my very first real coaster ride! Not smart thinkin' on the DH's part! That first drop (always the scariest part of any coaster) looked like it was completely vertical from 90 feet up. I proceeded to curse my husband out for the rest of the ride while holding on for dear life to the bar in front of me, much to the great amusement of the gentleman in the seat in front of us. ;)

But after it was over and I'd caught my breath, I realized it was amazing, scary, intense, and somehow still fun! Now, I was only able to ride two other coasters that day (adrenaline was pumping too high!) but I became hooked! To this day, roller coasters are like therapy for me... I get a lot of stress out while laughing and shouting on them.

I've been where you are and there nothing wrong with not enjoying or being able to handle coasters! My mom can't handle anything worse than a carousel (she also gets car sick easily) and a long time friend of mine can't stand the intense sensations coasters can produce either. Every person is different and if coasters aren't your cup of tea, then c'est la vie... Just tell your friends you enjoy watching them have fun on the coasters and take pics or videos of them as they ride! It'll be something you can all enjoy after the park trip too!