6 Tips and Tricks to Conquer Your Roller Coaster Anxiety
The start of summer also means roller coaster season has commenced. Get ready to go to your favorite amusement park with your best friends and scream your head off. That said, those screams might be out of pure terror (rather than enjoyment). Coasters look fun on paper but can be intimidating in practice.
This year, would you like to finally conquer your anxiety and become an ultimate thrill-seeker? Continue reading to discover our tips to riding roller coasters with ease.
Know the Ride
Nothing makes a ride more intense than going into it blind. If it's an outdoor coaster, you have the luxury of seeing it from afar. However, it still does not prepare for you for the precise turns and dips. Before you go to the parks, watch a few POV videos to learn what will happen and when. You'll have a much easier time conquering it without the uncertainty.
(via Shutterstock)
Understand the Mechanics
By nature (and by law) roller coasters must be extremely safe. Engineers put in multiple safety locks to ensure you are good to go. Some rides will immediately break if someone's lap bar or seatbelt comes undone, or the coaster will halt if it doesn't send a cue. Disneyland, for example, requires you to board the ride in a certain number of seconds to operate smoothly—or it will pause to avoid pileups and delays.
Also read about: Used to the Disney Parks? Check out These 5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Across the United States
Don't Opt for the Single Rider Line
Life is scarier alone, and roller coasters are no exception. While it may be tempting to get through the line faster in the single rider lane, it will be worse for your anxiety. Having a trusted individual next to you is always comforting. You have someone to hold onto if you get too scared. Plus, it'll be even more fun to share the memory.
Take Motion Sickness-Reducing Medication
Maybe your fear doesn't come from the high elevation. You might, instead, dislike the physical sensation you get from the bumps. In other words, you likely experience motion sickness. Thankfully, there is medication you can take and wristbands you can wear to decrease the sensitivity. They'll help you ride like a pro.
Transform Your Mindset
When you think about it, there is something wild about the fact that we haul ourselves into the air at fast speeds for "excitement." But then you look deeper, you realize all the protocol put into place to make it fun for ourselves. No company wants to see people in danger, and there's plenty of testing to make you have a good experience. Internalize these things, and riding a roller coaster will become much more enjoyable.
(via Shutterstock)
Try It again
Everything is the scariest during the first go. We can guarantee that the initial ride will be the most intense. If you're feeling courageous, try the ride again. Your body will be used to and expect the different movements. It won't take you by surprise, causing the physical and mental spike in anxiety.
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