Roller coasters are designed to be scary.
If you’re remotely afraid of them, you are part of the majority.
Theme park rides have been designed to induce fear, which raises our heart rates, leads
to faster breathing, and ultimately releases adrenaline.
It’s the adrenaline, a hormone linked to the fight-or-flight response, that gives us
a natural high.
People ride roller coasters for the same reasons they go rock climbing or skydiving - the thrill.
For some, thrill seeking is a second nature where fear only adds to the experience.
For others, perhaps yourself, the fear of riding roller coasters stops you from enjoying
the ride, or perhaps even experiencing it altogether.
There’s no one size fits all solution to overcoming, or reducing someone's fear of
roller coasters.
Each fear may stem from a different aspect of rides.
So, before we begin to walk through methods to help overcome a fear of roller coasters
it's worth exploring why someone might be afraid in the first place.
If one, or several of these apply to you hopefully we can help to put your mind at rest.
Afterwards, we’ll discuss two approaches to overcoming the fear, along with a whole
host of tips to consider if you do want to.
And that’s it, it's a choice.
You shouldn’t feel forced to overcome a fear of roller coasters, nor should you feel
guilty for having that fear - roller coasters are designed to be scary!
Why are people scared of roller coasters?
People can be scared of roller coasters for a large number of reasons.
In many of these cases some reassurance, or even knowledge, can help to reduce how anxious
someone might feel.
Other times, simply riding roller coasters will ease the fear over time.
Safety One of the most common and broad fears can
be encompassed by a simple question: ‘are roller coasters safe’?
Roller coasters are designed to be scary, but they’re also designed to be extremely
safe.
In fact, going to a theme park is one of the safest forms of recreational activities out
there.
Why?
Because roller coasters employ a huge collection of features to keep riders safe.
Firstly, they use an extensive amount of sensors to track aspects of the ride in real time.
Most importantly, these sensors can tell ride operators the locations and speeds of the
train at various points around the track.
If even one sensor detects something that doesn’t seem right, the ride will safely
shut down - allowing operators to check the fault.
When a ride breaks down most of the time it's because of an overly active sensor and it’s
designed that way on purpose.
On top of this, roller coasters undergo regular and extensive checks.
Theme parks inspect the track and trains, test the systems, and send several cars around
the circuit.
Only after the entire inspection has been completed can guests begin to board the ride.
We’ve already created a whole video explaining the safety systems employed by roller coasters.
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, click the video pop-up, or check the description.
Intensity Some people find themselves disorientated
and overwhelmed by the intense forces you feel on a roller coaster.
It’s not surprising that this is the case for some people.
Roller coasters provide sensations that can’t normally be experienced.
In our everyday lives there is no common or regular reason why someone might experience
multiple Gs of force like you do on a ride.
So, getting on a roller coaster can be a lot to take in at first.
However, roller coasters are not all made equal.
Some rides are more intense and intimidating, while others are smaller and more family friendly.
Look for roller coasters with lower height restrictions as these are designed for younger
riders; or ask friends, or even park staff, about the rides that aren’t as fast or thrilling.
Riding smaller roller coasters multiple times can help to acclimatise someone to the sensations
of a roller coaster.
It’s also worth trying to keep your eyes open.
When you’re on a ride you naturally prepare yourself for what’s to come.
If you can’t see where you’re going the roller coaster experience is likely to be
more uncomfortable and less enjoyable.
Going upside down For some people, it’s the fear of going
upside down.
Many thrilling roller coasters around the world feature inversions, elements of track
that place riders upside down for a brief period of time.
If you’ve never experienced an inversion before, they can seem scary - you might think
you’ll feel the sensation of falling out.
In reality, they don’t feel very different from the rest of the ride.
Nine times out of ten, you won’t feel like you're upside down, and you might not even
notice it.
Many inversions, like the classic loop, push you down into your seat, so you never feel
like you're about to fall out.
On top of this, most inversions place you upside down for less than a second - blink
and you’ll miss it.
Falling Out/Restraints Another common fear surrounding roller coasters
involves their restraints, the part of the train that holds you in during the ride.
Some people get worried that they’ll fall out, or that the restraint will open during
the ride.
If the members of staff operating the roller coaster are happy for someone to ride, that
person will not fall out.
Restraints have been designed and tested to securely hold everyone in who meets the ride’s
requirements.
All modern roller coaster restraints also feature sensors.
This tells the ride operators whether that restraint has been closed correctly.
After the restraints have been checked by staff, the roller coaster's computer system
confirms all of the restraints are locked before that train can be sent around the ride’s
circuit.
If a sensor shows a restraint isn’t correctly locked the ride won’t be able to start.
Restraints can also only be opened while the train is in the station.
The mechanisms in place do not allow the restraints to be undone during the ride.
Each modern restraint features multiple redundant mechanisms too, often in the form of duplicate
restraint systems.
Meaning in the extremely unlikely event one mechanism breaks, the restraint would still
be held in place by another.
We go into even more detail about how roller coaster restraints work in another video - click
the video pop up, or head to the description, to learn more.
Not being in control / fear of the unknown Many of us fear not being in control, or even
simply the unknown.
Normally, we have control of our lives - we drive our own cars and decide where we want
to go.
On roller coasters however, we have no control over what happens, and we are unable to guess
what it might feel like.
Although, a roller coaster is always the same - it can only move along the track.
This means that any given ride will be virtually identical to the last.
So, we may not be able to control the ride, but we can know what it’s going to do.
To gain control, and begin to remove the unknown, learn what the roller coaster does during
the ride.
Stand off to the side watching and following the trains as they go around the track.
Or, go on YouTube and watch a POV, a virtual front row seat on the train, to learn all
of the times it goes up, down, left or right.
By doing this you’ll have a better idea what to expect.
You can mentally follow or anticipate what the ride is going to do, therefore seemingly
having more control over the situation.
A bad experience All, or even just one of the fears we’ve
discussed so far can lead to you having a bad experience on a roller coaster.
For many people, a previous bad experience of a ride or roller coaster could cause us
to build a fear, or hatred of them.
A particularly uncomfortable ride, one which is simply too much, can lead to us thinking
that every roller coaster must be just as bad.
However, as mentioned previously, not all roller coasters are built the same.
Some are more comfortable than others, slower than others, less intimidating than others.
If you have had a previously bad experience with a roller coaster, now’s the time to
give them a second chance.
Ask your friends, family, or a member of staff at your local theme park to suggest a comfortable
roller coaster, one that’s good for new riders in particular.
You might quickly discover that some rides are more enjoyable than others!
Always had a fear Some people have been scared of roller coasters
for as long as they can remember, but where did that come from?
One explanation might be because fear itself is contagious.
If you’ve been to theme parks with people who are afraid of roller coasters, such as
your friends or parents, fearing rides might be all you know.
Having a fear of roller coasters also makes you less likely to visit theme parks, which
reinforces the fear as you often don’t have the chance to overcome it.
The opposite is also true.
Going to theme parks with people who enjoy roller coasters can help give you the motivation
and support to overcome your fear and enjoy them too.
These are just a few of the many reasons you might be afraid of roller coasters.
Hopefully by applying some of the tips and techniques discussed you can start to feel
more comfortable about the idea of riding them.
The big question still remains, how can you actually overcome the fear?
Overcoming a fear of roller coasters There are perhaps a multitude of ways to overcome
a fear of roller coasters.
Through conversations with people who have done just that, we’ve produced two methods
or approaches to beat the fear.
One approach might suit you more than the other, or perhaps a combination of the two
might work best.
We’ve named them:
Desensitisation and flooding
Desensitisation Desensitisation is perhaps the best method
for people who are a bit more hesitant about riding roller coasters.
It builds upon many of the tips and techniques already discussed, including acclimatisation.
The goal is to gradually become comfortable with riding roller coasters, by firstly riding
smaller ones, eventually gaining the confidence to try larger and more intense rides over
time.
This approach could take time for some people, perhaps even multiple theme park trips.
However, once you become confident with riding roller coasters, the fear is less likely to
come back.
To begin, you’ll need to find a roller coaster that doesn’t seem too scary to you personally.
You’re looking for one that is family friendly, comfortable and generally made for people
of all ages.
These usually don’t have steep drops or any sudden surprises.
Ask friends or family about their experiences of the different rides at the park you’re
visiting - or perhaps talk to a member of staff to figure out which ride might be the
most appropriate.
If you’re nervous about riding this first roller coaster learn as much about it online
as you can, via YouTube or the park’s website.
That way, when you face it in person, you’ll know all the ins-and-outs.
When it comes to controlling your nerves, long queues are your enemy.
To make the experience easier, try to visit your chosen theme park on a quieter day.
This means you aren’t standing around watching the roller coaster fly above you, which might
make you feel more nervous.
The longer you wait for the ride, the more you begin to think about your fear, which
may make you less likely to ride it.
Quiet days should allow you to board the ride before being given the chance to overthink
things.
The real key to overcoming your fear lies in your mental state.
You fear roller coasters because you associate them with a negative outcome - you expect
something to go wrong, to feel uncomfortable, to feel out of control.
Have an open mind, try to relax, and simply be present during the experience.
By removing your expectations, you help to disassociate the negativity of your fear with
ride and roller coasters.
At this point, let’s say you’ve now boarded - you're strapped in and it's time to go.
For many it almost feels natural to close your eyes during the experience, but this
often makes the ride more uncomfortable and less enjoyable.
If you can see the track ahead you can anticipate the turns, hills and drops, which gives your
body time to process what’s happening.
Screaming or shouting whilst on the ride can even help to release your nerves - it obviously
works for some people.
If that doesn’t work, it’s worth remembering roller coasters last only for a few minutes
- after a short amount of time, the entire experience will be finished.
Now breath, the ride is over and you’ve just taken a massive step towards overcoming
your fear.
At this point you might be filled with adrenaline - thinking you're invincible and wanting more.
If that’s you, it could be worth considering the ‘flooding’ approach.
Most probably won't be feeling that way, so, what’s next?
Well, you’ll need to ride the same roller coaster again - which is definitely the last
thing you’ll want to hear at that point.
Each time you ride a roller coaster you become more familiar with the sensations, and hopefully,
a tiny bit less scared.
After several rides you should get to the point where you are able to ride that specific
roller coaster comfortably.
If not, consider finding a smaller roller coaster to ride - perhaps you started with
one which was just a bit too much.
If you are comfortable, you’ll want to move on to a roller coaster which is a little bit
bigger.
Again, it’s worth talking to friends, family, or even staff members at the park to figure
out which ride most be most suitable.
Desensitisation is entirely built around the process of becoming comfortable with one roller
coaster, before moving up the chain to one which is slightly larger.
Because of this, you’ll become familiar with a wide range of roller coasters over
time.
The ultimate goal here is to, either, ride the scariest roller coaster in the park, or
ride the roller coaster that you’ve always wanted to ride but haven’t been able to.
It may be unreasonable to assume you’ll be able to go from the bottom to the top of
the chain of rides in a single theme park visit.
It could take multiple trips to become familiar - but in the end your fear will have naturally
faded away.
Flooding Flooding is, well, faster than desensitisation.
If you have a fear of roller coasters, but haven’t actually ridden many, this may be
the one for you.
With flooding, the aim is to overcome your fear quickly by riding what you consider to
be the scariest roller coaster you can find.
If you’ve ridden the worst, all of the other rides won’t seem as bad anymore!
To begin, find the roller coaster you think looks the most scary and intimidating at your
theme park of choice.
Naturally, this might make you quite nervous.
The best way to overcome this is not to give yourself too much time to think about it.
Similar to the other method, long queues are your enemy.
A quiet day, and short line, minimise the chance of overthinking things.
Once you’ve boarded, remind yourself that normally, roller coaster rides aren’t as
bad as they look - otherwise millions of people around the world wouldn’t ride them.
As the ride begins, remember to consider your mental state.
Aim to remove expectations of what the ride might be like, and instead try to absorb the
experience.
Have an open mind, and more importantly, keep your eyes open.
A minute or two later and the ride will be over.
If that was too much for you - perhaps it’s worth trying the desensitisation approach.
If you loved the experience - that’s fantastic news!
Now you’ve mastered the biggest roller coaster, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able
to master others too.
Hopefully you feel energised and ready to try out all of the other roller coasters at
your local theme park.
I think it’s important to note that not everyone likes roller coasters.
It’s impossible for us to like everything.
At least by trying a roller coaster, or even attempting one of the two approaches, you’ll
learn once and for all that roller coasters simply aren’t for you - and that’s okay.
If you don’t like roller coasters hopefully this video will give you the inspiration and
confidence you need to try to overcome your fear.
If you’ve already overcome your fear, leave a comment describing the things that helped
you conquer roller coasters.
That way you can help others to conquer their fears too.
Thank you for watching, and we'll see you all next time.