Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Learn to trust
• Part 2 of 3: Your first rollercoaster ride
• Part 3 of 3: During the ride
• Tips
• Warnings

Fear of roller coasters usually boils down to three things: a fear of heights, the fear of getting into an accident, and the fear of being trapped. However, with the right approach, you can learn to control these fears and enjoy rollercoaster rides for the thrilling and safe thrills they provide. In the late 1990s, a Harvard Medical School professor was hired by an amusement park to develop a cure for “roller coaster phobia”. He discovered several techniques that were useful in controlling stress levels and that made people handle roller coasters better. You can learn to trust, get on a roller coaster for the first time, and control your emotions while doing so. You may even like it. See Step 1 for more information.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Learn to trust

1. Find out what to expect. It's a good idea to learn about roller coasters before you ride them for the first time. Many amusement parks often rate the intensity of roller coasters so you can learn about those specific roller coasters that you will be visiting when you get there and get your hands on the park map. You can also check out those specific roller coasters online.
   • Wooden roller coasters are the oldest and most classic roller coasters. Usually they work with a chain lift. They are very fast, but generally never go upside down or in complicated loops. Roller coasters with steel rails are much more complex and involve many twists and turns, often upside down. However, some steel roller coasters are suitable because they have more turns and fewer descents. They are also less creaky and the ride is smoother than with the wooden variants.
   • If you are afraid of steep descents, look for a roller coaster with a curved descent instead of a straight one, so that you descend gradually and don't feel like you are diving down. You can also choose a launch track, which lets you accelerate to high speeds instead of blasting you down from a height, although these can sometimes be just as intense. It may seem silly, but most kids' roller coasters are suitable for all ages and can therefore be a good starting point.
   • Don't try to look for specific information such as how high the roller coaster is, how fast it is going or other “terrifying” numbers. It's a good idea to study the twists and turns so you can brace yourself and know what to expect from the ride. Avoid roller coasters that contain elements that intimidate you. After you've been on a roller coaster, you can look up these numbers to tell others about it with pride.
2. Talk to other people about their experiences. Millions of people go on roller coasters every year and have a lot of fun doing it. There is little to be afraid of on roller coasters and a lot of fun to experience. Talking about it with enthusiasts can get you interested in and even excited about roller coasters yourself. Also talk to people who were afraid of it, but now love it. This will help you choose a suitable roller coaster.
   • Talk to family and friends and to park employees at the entrance who love roller coasters. Ask them which rides in the park are the smoothest or quietest and which ones you should skip. Another good idea is to ask people what their first experience on a roller coaster was like. You can then get a good idea of ​​what to avoid on your first ride.
   • Read online about the good roller coasters in the park that you are going to visit. Try watching YouTube videos of anything you think you might enter to see if this is calm enough for you.
3. Keep in mind that roller coasters are supposed to be scary. If the idea of ​​a 50-meter descent at a speed of 60 miles per hour scares you, that's perfectly normal. That means that the amusement park is doing its job well! Roller coasters are designed to be terrifying and give the occupants thrills and jitters, but they are not really dangerous as long as you follow the safety rules and listen to the instructions. A roller coaster is rigorously tested before opening to visitors and all rides are regularly maintained to keep them in excellent condition. You do not have to worry about defects in professional parks.
   • Accidents occurring on roller coaster rides are reported every year, but the vast majority of those injuries occur as a result of occupant error or disregard of rules. If you listen to the instructions and stay put, nothing is wrong. Statistically, you run a greater risk of being injured during the car ride to the amusement park than during the roller coaster ride itself. The chance of a fatal accident on a roller coaster is 1 in 1.5 billion.
4. Go with your friends. Going on a roller coaster should be fun and it will always be easier if your friends cheer you on, you can scream together and you can support each other. Some people find it more comfortable to go with someone who is also scared so that you can scream your lungs out together and not feel left out. Others like to go with someone who has already been on the roller coaster and can assure them that everything will be fine.
   • Don't hang out with people who force you to do things you don't want to do. When you reach your limit, don't go on a scary roller coaster if you're not ready to push that limit just yet. It doesn't matter what everyone thinks of you, if you are clear about how far you want to go and know that you have arrived at that point. Don't let anyone walk all over you or pressure you into going on rides you don't feel confident about yet.
5. Check your watch. The average roller coaster ride is shorter than a commercial. In some cases you stand in line 2000% longer than you are on the roller coaster. The descents, although they can be deep at times, are over in the same time span it takes to inhale once. Remember that the whole ride will be over very quickly. The waiting is the source of fear and tension and the ride is the fun part.
6. Read the rules and restrictions before entering the queue. Before you queue, make sure you meet the height requirements posted at the entrance to the attraction and are physically fit to take the ride.In general, people with heart disease, pregnant women and people with other physical limitations are not allowed to ride roller coasters.

Part 2 of 3: Your first rollercoaster ride

1. Start small. It's probably not a good idea to go straight into the Goliath or the Baron 1898. Older wooden roller coasters with small to medium runs and no loops are usually a good choice for newbies and those who want to try roller coasters without fear. Take time to look around the park and study some roller coasters to find the least scary ones.
   • First, take on some other thrilling rides to boost your adrenaline levels and get used to the feeling. While roller coasters can be very impressive, they are usually not much scarier than other types of rides. If you can handle the Calypso, a roller coaster is a breeze.
2. Do not look. As you walk through the park or queue up and prepare to get on the roller coaster, it makes sense to look up at that huge descent or conquer the scariest part of the ride. Focus on conversations with your friends and find a distraction from what is about to happen. There's no point in getting excited looking at the steep descents while you're still down. Think about other things and forget this.
   • When you're in the queue, you can focus on the people who get off after the ride, instead of those scary descents and loops. They probably all look like they had a really good time and they are all fine. So you will be too.
3. Sit somewhere in the middle. If you are getting on a pretty scary roller coaster for the first time, it is best to sit in the middle so that you can focus on the back of the chair in front of you and not worry too much about what to expect, although you can still look ahead if you wish. A spot in the middle guarantees the quietest ride.
   • You can also choose to sit in the front if this makes you feel better. Some people find it more scary when they don't know what's coming.
   • Do not sit in the rear seats as they are exposed to stronger g-forces on tight turns and on descents. The ride is more intense when you sit in one of the rear seats.
4. Follow the instructions of the park employees and the guidelines of the attraction. As you walk to your chair and sit down, listen carefully to spoken instructions and follow the directions of the employees. There are different safety bars on the different roller coasters, so listen carefully to make sure you fasten them correctly.
   • When sitting in your chair, make sure you are comfortable and that the safety bar fits snugly in your lap. If you cannot reach it or if the operation of the bracket is complicated, wait for instructions from the park staff. If you fasten it yourself, they will always come by to check that everything is securely fastened.
   • When your braces are closed, sit back and relax. Put any glasses or loose jewelry you may be wearing in your pockets and take a deep breath. Everything will be fine!

Part 3 of 3: During the ride

1. Watch out for you. Keep your head still and lean back against the back of your chair. Try to focus on the track in front of you or the back of the chair in front of you. Don't look down or at what's next to you, as this can emphasize the speed at which you move and increase feelings of disorientation and nausea. So never look down.
   • This is especially useful for loops. Look straight ahead and focus on the track and you will only experience a slight feeling of weightlessness, which can actually be quite nice and will be over in seconds.
   • Resist the urge to close your eyes. Inexperienced occupants often think that closing their eyes makes it less scary and makes them feel better, but closing your eyes actually creates a feeling of disorientation and can make you nauseous. Focus on a fixed point and keep your eyes open.
2. Take a deep breath. Don't hold your breath while on the roller coaster as that can cause dizziness and that will only make things worse. As you approach the great descent, take a deep breath and try to focus on your breath instead of on other things. Focusing on something small can keep you alert and calm. Breath in breath out.
   • To help you focus, you can count your breaths. Take a deep breath and count to four. Contract your muscles for a count of three and then exhale for a count of four. Repeat this cycle to control your nerves.
3. Tighten your abs and arm muscles. At some point during the ride you will feel butterflies in your stomach. This will probably happen quite quickly. That's one of the fun parts of a roller coaster ride, but can be a bit overwhelming for some people. To relieve this slightly, you can slightly tighten your abs and arm muscles by holding the handles on the bracket or chair firmly and staying calm.
   • When you are on a rollercoaster, large amounts of adrenaline are released, which evoke your fight-or-flight impulses. Your blood pressure will rise, you will sweat and your breathing will speed up. Your vision can also become sharper and you feel ready to act. You can relieve this somewhat by tightening your muscles and letting your body know that it can relax slightly.
4. Ignore terrifying decorations. Many rides will try to scare you even more by all kinds of scary paint colors, dark lights and small animated animals or monsters that line the track. If you are particularly afraid of the physical feeling, then these can completely upset you and make the experience much worse. So you better ignore them as much as possible. As soon as you start moving, you can better look ahead and not worry about it. Keep breathing.
   • However, some rides with a storyline can help distract you. As you get into it, keep your focus on the interesting story and don't bother with the scary ride.
5. Shout out loud! You are probably not alone and there is often a lot of noise around you from people joking and shouting at each other. Rather than being very scared in silence, yelling can make the ride that much more enjoyable. You can also alternate the screaming with a few "woohoes". Yelling reduces your anxiety and makes you laugh.
6. Use your imagination to your advantage. If you still go crazy with fear, try moving your mind elsewhere. Imagine that you are on a ship somewhere or that you are taken away to the Batcave or that you are the one at the wheel. Anything that can temporarily take your thoughts away from the descents and bumps can help you get distracted from what is happening. The ride will then pass faster.
   • Get excited and be an animal. Pretend to be a wild sea monster or some sort of dragon on high rides. When you feel powerful, you will be less tense and your thoughts will be on other things.
   • Some occupants like to use a mantra or part of a song to recite during the ride. Think of the melody of “Father Jacob” or “Poker Face” and simply focus on the words instead of how you feel. Or repeat something simple, such as "Everything will be fine, everything will be fine."
7. Always rely on your own judgment. If an attraction doesn't seem safe to you, if the employees don't seem to care about safety, or if you've heard about previous incidents or safety concerns, don't go on that roller coaster, especially if it makes you feel overwhelmed by fear. Most attractions in large parks are expensive machine structures, which are well maintained and regularly tested.
   • A roller coaster track is usually inspected every day prior to the first ride and closed if a problem is identified. If an attraction has closed frequently in the past few weeks, you should avoid it. The chances of an unnoticed problem are slim, but you may feel better if you skip that attraction.

Tips

• If you are choosing a seat on the roller coaster for the first time, go for a seat in the middle. The front seats have a view you might not be ready for, while the rear seats get a “push” up as the train crosses the top of a hill.
• Relax when you hear the ticking of the roller coaster. Your muscles will tighten and you will start to feel anxious. What your body isn't telling you, however, is that it only takes a few seconds or maybe a minute. You live 24 hours a day and a roller coaster ride is short and you probably enjoy the ride. Another tip is to sing a song in your head that calms you down.
• Shout. It will really help you. Scream just as loud as the person sitting next to you. Think of it as a game. That way you can change your mind for a while.
• Speaking of being happy, try to laugh during the ride after each descent, especially if you found it difficult to handle. You probably never see the people next to you again. Laughing releases tension! It's like replacing the fear in your body with joy. Smiling is good too.
• When all the people in front of you have taken the ride and get out all the way, then you will too.
• Sometimes you just have to take the plunge. Roller coasters are just controlled fear!
• When you are in line, have your friends and family talk to you about something or engage you in some way so that you worry less about the ride, even though it may seem like you will be in your pants urinate and squeeze out.
• If your biggest problem is a fear of heights, choose a launch roller coaster. These are just as intense and fun as the high variants, but they use a launch mechanism to set the train in motion. The terrifying, slow ride up is not there, but the fun speed, hills and corners are still there! Or opt for an indoor roller coaster. These also have twists, descents and loops and will make you curious about other attractions as well.
• If you want to bring something that will help you overcome your anxiety, like a hug or a photo that fits in your pocket, do it. You can also bring a stress ball to relieve tension in the queue.
• Choose a roller coaster that isn't too intimidating, but not too meaningless either. You want to feel like you have achieved something. Choose a nice middle ground.
• As you descend, take a deep breath, hold that breath, and tighten your stomach slightly - this will make you feel less butterflies.
• Anticipate! Try to imagine how much fun it will be to fly through the air on that roller coaster! And remind yourself that you really are not going to die. Think about how happy you will be at the end of the ride and when you can tell your friends and family about it.

Warnings

• If you are accompanied by a younger and smaller person, make sure they are large enough to enter the attraction, even if it is checked at the entrance.
• If you are with children, pay extra attention to the safety precautions.
• Make sure to read all warnings before boarding.