spike Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 I have a friend that wants to try a coaster But holds back due to her fear of hights, Shes afraid shes going to throw up. I've told her to try some gravol, as well as closing her eyes going up the lift. I'm going to be as patient as I can. Is there any advice to help her out?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Start small and work your way up! Also try a coaster with a fast lift hill. It never feels like you're up 300 feet on Millennium Force, but Desperado and the other hypers take forever and you feel very high up! Elissa "when all else fails, bribery works" Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterEricHP Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 I had a girlfriend who was afraid to death to get on anything... I finally (after begging, bribing, being angry and almost making her take a cab home) got her on the Comet at Hersheypark and she was fine.. didn't mind it. I think she was more angry that I made her RERIDE it in the 40 degree rain.. Got her on the Phoenix, Wildcat, Lightning Racer... was fine. She even got on the Tower of Terror after a year! Then we broke up. But the thought of going upside down terrified her and of course people never believe you when you say.. its worse looking at it then riding it... which is completly the case of the Great Bear and SDL. Eric Just kidding about the cab.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kandistar223 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I think that this is the first time that I have commented on a thread and I know that this is an old thread but I am going through all previous times here on this awesome site and came across this. Here's my personal advice for all future inquiries....Don't shut your eyes it makes things worse because if you do and then you open them you will be extremely disoriented. I love rides and roller coasters and being an hour away from Canada's Wonderland allows me to enjoy amusement rides however I am living with a severe anxiety disorder. My best way for dealing with rides is to take a deep breath in through your nose and throughout your mouth it will distract you and help through the lift hill which I find is the worst part. Also chewing gum is another way to relax your nerves because your mind is subconsciously focusing on chewing the gum. I hope that you guys don't mind me commenting on an old post or a post in general. I don't know how tightly knit you guys are and how you relieve outsiders (I am a paranoid person yes) you never know when entering into an new thing right? Hope I helped someone anyways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STR8FXXXINEDGE Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 ^ Welcome! Just wanted to say that I wouldn't recommend chewing gum on a roller coaster or any ride for that matter. Especially if you're that nervous. It would be a terrible thing to end up choking on the gum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppelinfreak Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 ^Didn't some girl die on the Dragon Coaster because she choked on gum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STR8FXXXINEDGE Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 ^ Yeah, and if I remember correctly, I think a girl choked and died on gum or taffy at SFGAmerica on Raging Bull too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkStitch626 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Anxiety can be a huge factor to deal with. As Elissa Says starting small can be good. Even just sitting in a Test seat can aid and show just how secure it will be. My gf who was afraid of coasters got on Intimidator because I helped her through her own amxoety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kafka Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I can relate. I used to be absolutely terrified of rollercoasters when i was younger. I skipped my middle school trip due to this fact. I didn't really get passed it until my friends forced me onto Batman at Six Flags STL. I was terrified until the first drop then it was completely amazing. I suggest finding a coaster at your home park that looks intimidating, but really isnt that bad. Batman is really nice for that reason. I would honestly suggest a steel coaster or a GCI woodie if you have the option since they are generally smoother then other wooden coasters. I hope it works out. Its fun to help people expand ,their horizons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 One thing I did to conquer my fear was to hit the biggest, most intimidating, most intense rides first and then work my way down from there. After conquering the big stuff, the smaller coasters didn't seem as terrifying and it was a lot easier for me to do the rest of the rides. Of course this isn't for everyone, but coming from someone who has a fear of heights and drops, it definitely worked for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlover420 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 One word. Persevere! I've converted so many people to coaster junkies just because I kept bugging them about it hahaha but be nice about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightypotato Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I guess I'm the outlier when it comes to how to start/get over fear. I jumped in to the deep end with my first "big" coaster, Alpengeist. I remember thinking on the lift hill, "what have I gotten myself into"...but as soon as I got off, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Looking at the other smaller coasters, I thought "well, if I could do Alpengeist, this isn't so bad". The same thing also happened with a friend of mine, except on Behemoth. He didn't work his way up, he just started with the biggest one he could find. That approach won't work for everyone, but it is a good way to get over some fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorkscrewFoley Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I have a fear of heights too, nothing crippling mind you, and I tend to hit the biggest thing when I go to a park new to me. I'm relaxed for the rest of the day. Again, this isn't for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixflagsguy5 Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I get sick on most spinning rides (not flipping just spinning) and I usually will take Bonine or an equivalent travel sickness medicine at the beginning of the theme park season, because my tolerance to rides is not up yet. Also, I would suggest eating. I think there are some misconceptions about eating before riding rides, but in my opinion, you are way worse off if you don't eat anything and then ride. As far as height is concerned, I would start small and work her way up to the bigger rides like everyone else has been saying. Try to get a feel for what she likes and doesn't like in a ride and work around that. Try to stick with roller coasters that are fun so that as you work her way up to the bigger rides, she is enjoying herself. Everyone is different, so the method of sticking her on the biggest ride first might not work out that well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Just so you know, the OP posted this in February 2005 and was for some reason bumped up. I think we can let this thread die now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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