6 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Thrill Rides!
Since I have a good friend that I like to visit the Theme Parks in Orlando with, her fear can sometime be a bit of a challenge so I have put together the list of 6 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Thrill Rides! We always have the best time and love to enjoy everything that living in Central Florida has to offer!!
There is only one drawback; I absolutely love to experience the fastest, most insane attractions that any place has to offer. I love the sensation of being taken as high as I can and then tossed back down at a speed that defies logic! My friend on the other hand is quite satisfied with keeping her feet on the ground and taking in the shows. So every time we go, I challenge her to come out of her comfort zone and try at least one death defying ride! She is such a good sport that she usually does but not without a lot of cajoling and psychological discussion. The greatest thing is she usually enjoys it.I realized that it is really a matter of understanding what it is the person is afraid of. My friend has a fear of being lock in a seat and losing the power to control the situation.
Here is a list of fears and the ways to help a person overcome them if they want to be able to experience the thrills of all the attractions and not stand on the sidelines! Please never force someone to do anything that would cause them more anxiety than necessary. I ask my friend what level her fear is at, and if she is at a 10 then I wait until she is ready. (Sometimes this is hard to do especially if you are already in line and people are behind you!!).
6 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Thrill Rides!
1. FEAR OF HEIGHTS
The number one fear is fear of heights. If you let the person know in advance what kind of ride it is and they should expect it to be high, then they can be prepared for it; however don’t let them look at the ride during the wait, since it will only cause more anxiety. Busch Gardens Falcons Fury is an extremely high ride at 335 feet tall and is America’s tallest free standing ride. I love this thrill ride, especially the way that you face down and can see the ground rushing up at you, but my friend hasn’t worked up the courage to try this one!!
2. FEAR OF CONFINED SPACES
My friend hates not being able to control what is happening, and the inability of once she is locked in the restraints, being unable to change her mind. One of the things that really help her is having me with her, so companions are really the key here. After lots of persuasion, I was finally able to get her to go on Universal Studios Rip Ride Rocket!! You know the same one that Jimmy Fallen and Kevin Hart went on! As we climbed to steps to gain access to the ride, I did a lot of talking about other things to keep her mind off looking at the height. But after we actually got locked in our seat she exclaimed that she wanted to get off. But of course it was too late! As extreme as it was and despite her fear, she rode it like a trooper and even though her eyes were closed most of the time, she would ride it again.
3. FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT
Some injuries are reported each year from riding a roller coaster, but the vast majority of those injuries are the result of rider error and rule-breaking. If you listen to instructions and stay seated, you’ll be fine. Statistically-speaking, you’ve run a greater risk of injury by driving to the theme park than riding the roller coaster. The chance of fatal injury on a roller coaster is 1 in 1.5 billion. After riding several thrill rides and recognizing that nothing bad happened, my friend’s confidence rose considerably. When we got on SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta, the only thing she could think of was that the restrains would break and she would plunge face first into the ground! The coaster itself looks scary enough even though it wasn’t very high. Manta was one of her greatest conquests at SeaWorld Orlando and now she loves to ride this one even if the wait time is long.
4. FEAR OF GETTING STUCK IN THE DARK
For me one of the best things about an indoor ride is the fact that at some point it will be very dark and I won’t know what will happen next. Most of the time it feels like you are in a huge building when in actuality the ride is virtual and you really aren’t moving that much. Informing the person who is afraid is really the best bet. Telling them that they are viewing a screen instead of actually plunging into the darkness can allay some of the fears. When we rode Universal’s Islands of Adventure: Harry Potter’s The Forbidden Journey, we actually got stuck right in front of the dragon spewing smoke. It was pretty amazing to see what the inside looks like when they turned on the lights. My friend was pretty astonished to say the least and now knows what I am talking about when I say it is a virtual ride.
5. FEAR OF THE DARK & SCARY CHARACTERS
Lots of rides will up the scare-factor by including all sorts of scary figures, dark lights and goblins along the side of the ride to scare you. If you’re mostly scared of the physical sensations, these can serve to totally throw you off and make the whole thing a lot worse, so you’re better off ignoring them as much as possible. If things are shooting off or moving, just stare straight ahead and don’t worry about it. Keep breathing. Alternatively, some rides with a story-line can help to distract you. If you get caught up in it, just stay focused on the fun of the story and stop worrying about the ride being scary. One of the best scary rides that never get old is Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I have been on this amazing ride several times but my friend has never experience it! What a great time she had! I think this one’s was a lot easier because there were many one us in the same elevator. However I couldn’t resist a little needling the other passengers when it came to the elevator falling!
6. FEAR OF ACTING LIKE A FOOL
This fear is one that is based on how a person wants other to perceive them. One of the best ways to overcome anxiety is by letting it out vocally, however if you are afraid that others will think you are acting like a fool then you are more than likely to hold it in. SCREAM– & SCREAM LOUD!! Who cares what others think? My friend is very demure and doesn’t like to lose control of her emotions but when you are riding The Hulk, at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and then your screams are necessary to the environment. Besides no one is looking at you because they are all too busy screaming!
This story was really a lot of fun to write, however the real scoop is there are many people out there with severe phobias. It is not up to us to force anyone to face their fear, that’s something that takes time and patience!!
See you on the next Thrill Ride! I’ll be the one sitting next to you screaming her head off with glee!!