Sadly, in my early 30's I came to the conclusion that my body and I did not respond to roller coasters like I used to. After I got myself strapped in I would always tug violently at the body straps and the waist restraints and then say a silent prayer, 'Please God, don't let me die.' I would actually say it over and over again.
My first moment of panic was experienced at Six Flags Over Texas on Batman: The Ride . This is a ride that leaves your feet dangling and you experience constant twists and turns. It is almost impossible to keep your head against the head rest and all you see is sun and all you hear is the loud track. I did not think I was going to lose it until the very end of the ride. After the ride does a not so gentle stop, it takes you to a closed in hotbox. It was at this point that I had that 'Oh my gosh, I am going to pass out or die' moment. I looked at my husband and told him that I thought that I was going to vomit or lose it and he did what I expected him to do. He said, 'Don't! You will be fine!' So I closed my eyes and breathed and threw up all over the place.. Just kidding, but I did close my eyes, breathe and pray that the Six Flags crew would get us off this ride quick.
On our next trip to a theme park I tried to ride Batman again and the same thing happened. I also tried to ride all of the other rides I had ridden in the past, but my body had the same reaction. My first thought was that I was getting old and that my brain could no longer handle it, but after some research I diagnosed myself with having Roller Coaster Phobia. This gave me a great relief. I can now tell my family that it's not my fault that I can't ride roller coasters anymore, that I had a medical disorder.
Below are some rides I rode at Disney World after being diagnosed with Roller Coaster Phobia. Enjoy!
The picture was taken at the very start of the ride. If the picture was taken at the end you would have seen the fear across my face.
This was not even an actual 'ride', but by the look on my face you can tell how scared I am. Everyone else has a sarcastic 'scare' face on but mine is real!
This was the scariest ride I rode at Disney World. It is called Expedition Everest and it is the scariest ride I have ridden since I diagnosed myself with Roller Coaster Phobia. I think what scared me most was the unknown. This ride put me on the verge of tears. SN- Yes, it looks like I am passing gas in this picture, but I promise I am not.
What is your roller coaster ride experience? What is your favorite ride/ theme park?
Written by: Aimee Fauci
My mom would not ride rides and we did not go to the fair. I was a teenager before I had this experience and I LOVED it, the wilder the better. But in 2001 I was in a bad car wreck and suffer from vertigo now, I can't even watch traffic at a stop light without getting sick. :( sadly my roller coaster days are over.
ReplyDeleteBoth my Dad and I disliked roller coasters so when we would go to parks, he and I would watch the others ride and we would eat our weight in greasy fried food. I think I got the better end of the deal.
ReplyDeleteI think I am the opposite...I was terrified of roller coasters and had reeeeally bad claustrophobia ( I wouldn't even take elevators and was scared of parking garages) until my late twenties. Not sure what changed but now I LOVE thrill rides!!! And use elevators and parking garages on the daily!
ReplyDeleteGirl that face on the last picture is too funny! I can only imagine what you were thinking. I love roller coaster-- I'm terrified of them but I love the thrill. I'll make sure to add this to our to do list when I come to visit ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is Chene BTW
Oh Chene.. I literally cried.. not pouring tears.. but cried on this ride.. I was in panic mode! I think I over worked myself up. I am at that age where I need to know what is going to happen.. this ride does not allow that.. Oh sweet Jesus
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on one since i had the baby! I wonder if It would feel different.
ReplyDeletelet me know when you try.. I think the fear of death plays a part in the fear as well
DeleteI have a few of those dino pics, they are the best!!! Those Disney folks know exactly where to set up those cameras!
ReplyDeleteI used to be like.. hey this ride is cool and I thought it was sooooooooooooo funny to watch all those weaklings around me getting scared.. UGH.. now it was my turn.
DeleteOh my gosh, this is SO me! I used to not be afraid and now I am. Same with going into the ocean for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI hate the ocean! Jelly Fish scare me like no other!
DeleteI don't have roller coaster phobia, but I do suffer from motion sickness! I was able to ride a coaster at Dollywood a few years ago after taking Bonine - but I was still queasy afterwards!
ReplyDeleteomg i'm almost hyperventilating you did Everest. I quake in fear of the idea of going!
ReplyDeleteYes! I almost died on that ride & I think the girl behind me almost did also.
DeleteOne of our friends has the best photo from a rollercoaster (daughter and her father were grinning at the camera. All other riders were totally freaking out.) You will not catch me on a rollercoaster. Just not my thing!
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me how people can be so calm during coaster rides and know exactly when to pose. My two sons and friend saluted the camera during one ride... Straight face and all!
DeleteI once LOVED everything about roller coasters and never thought twice about going on them. After I had my first child I became increasingly aware that roller coasters make me nervous now. After being stuck on a few within the past year or so, I am officially giving up to the fact that I now have a phobia of them because I do not want to risk my life and leave my children motherless just for the adrenaline rush I once craved.
ReplyDeleteI am with you! Would I rather risk dying or sit at the EXIT hoping those that went on don't die and wish the best for them.. Hmmmmm.
DeleteI used to be the same exact way. Roller coasters still give me pretty bad anxiety but I always try my best to suck it up and enjoy the ride. I have never been stuck on one thank god!
ReplyDeleteWe got stuck on the Pooh Ride at Disney last year.. Pretty darn scary! J'K.. We actually just got out and got to take a close look at all the props.
DeleteLOL! I love those pictures when getting off of roller coasters - everyone's faces are always so funny! I love coasters though! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty appalled that I actually get some motion sickness now from roller coasters. What happened to me?
ReplyDeleteSince having kids, I can't do them either. Last year I rode Space Mountain and thought to myself "why did I do that?" Ouch!
ReplyDeleteI rode Space Mountain after I allowed my.. then 7 year old on Space Mountain.. She acted like it was not scary but would not ride it again.. When I got on it I thought what a horrible parent I was because that ride was awful!
DeleteThere is so much in fair and the rides are really awesome. I know it seems like torture to others, but I love how rides give me the thrill and absolutely adrenaline-pumping experience. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to could say that.. Wish I still could...
DeleteI won't go on any more roller coasters after I got stuck upside down in one when I was a teenager. I don't like the upside down ones. They aren't regulated so its kind of dangerous too! :?
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my biggest fears and death on a coaster of course.
DeleteThere is no amount of money in the world that would get me to ride a roller coaster - or anything like the Tower of Terror that drops.
ReplyDeleteIs coasterphobia an actual phobia? If not, I love the word. I still like them but not nearly as much as I did when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI googled my symptoms and it came up in WIKI.. I'm going to have to say it is.. SO I am sticking with my diagnosis as my older kids and husband pressure me.
DeleteAs a kid, I used to love roller coasters. As an adult, not so much. It's hard on the body and my mind goes to the things that could happen. Roller coasters aren't for me anymore!
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I used to love roller coasters, but now that I'm older all I think about is "Is this safe? Will it break? This seems loose..." I wish I could go back to those care free kid days!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha me to! When my heads is thrown around as the ride is going.. I'm thinking OH DEAR GOD.. THIS CAN'T BE GOOD FOR MY BONES AND BRAIN!
DeleteI used to love to ride roller coasters when I was younger. Not so much now! I feel like I'm suffocating when I get on them and have all kinds of anxiety! My roller coaster years are over!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I hate those over the shoulders bars that make me feel trapped but them I hate it when I only get a waist bar because I feel like I could fly out.. I decided I will just stay on the side lines and watch the kids that are too short and scared.
DeleteI feel your pain - I've gotten that way in my 'old age' as well, praying to God we didn't fall off a ride or something weird happen. I think maybe that worry comes with 'experience' in seeing so many things happen. My 11 yr old is already like that, (she's too smart for her own good).
ReplyDeleteI've noticed too I don't do so well on rides that go around and around - they make me dizzy! We road a ride at Disney, a space launcher, like we were on a rocket ship going to Mars and I prayed I wouldn't throw up - I had never EVER felt that sick on a ride! My kids laughed at me, (they loved it, even my 11 yr old because it was a simulator) but my parents felt the same. Oh, growing up sucks!
I cannot sympathize with you. I am a roller coaster junkie. I love that feeling of terror just before the roller coaster drops. My sister in law and I recently went to Disney. Oh my goodness I could not get enough of the coaster.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go to Six Flags! I do love roller coasters though.
ReplyDeleteI used to love roller coasters. Now not so much! haha Guess I outgrew it.
ReplyDeleteI used to love roller coasters until I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. All that bumping and twisting does not do the belly good. There are a few rides I can handle, but if I can, I will skip them altogether!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually terribly afraid of heights, I panic in the line at the waterslide lol. When I was a young kid I would go on anything and everything I could, but now I can't.
ReplyDeleteTHat looks like so much fun! My dad and I are total thrill seekers but my husband is scared to death!
ReplyDeleteI am the opposite. I LOVE roller coasters.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE roller coasters! Unfortunately, my husband isn't as big a fan so I don't get to go on as many of them as I want to!
ReplyDeleteI totally have coaster phobia myself! I will not go on any that go upside down!
ReplyDeleteI have not been on a roller coaster in years, but I don't think I've developed a phobia. We have a Batman ride at the Six Flags here in GA and I love it!
ReplyDeleteI dislike roller coasters and will only ride the kiddie ones. And even those freak me out! My husband loves them!
ReplyDeleteEm, Aimee, why do you keep going back? I have coasterphobia too and would never go near those rides. I would probably pass out so no giant rides for me. I admire your gumption.
ReplyDeleteI do it for the kids... They can't see mama being a chicken... And I keep thinking that MAYBE this time will be different.
DeleteI used to LOVE roller coasters. But them i had kids and paranoia set in that something bad was going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI loved roller coasters as a teen. After I had my jaws broken, though, I just couldn't do them anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both! I hate those things. My daughter on the other hand loves them and the faster and scarier they are the more she wants to go on. I'm very happy on the ground thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteIt's really ok NOT to go on :) Everyone has different likes...and certainly roller coasters are not yours. Your kids would understand!
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm fourteen, and I have self-diagnosed myself with coasterphobia. I have been looking for a reasonable explanation as to why I have it, but I just do. It really stinks because I am going on a field trip to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO and my friends really want me to ride rollercoasters with them. But when I ride rollercoasters, I have a hard time keeping my eyes open, and keeping myself calm. I guess I'm not an adrenaline junky like everyone else in my family.
ReplyDelete