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Article 5 tips to overcome a fear of scary rides

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For the most part, all human phobias spring from our shared fear of the unknown.

People dread having to face something they haven’t faced before, especially when they don’t know what feelings they’ll experience as a result. That explains why something as simple as riding a roller coaster or jumping from a high altitude can cause anxiety and trepidation in many people. Even with fully secure safety measures in place, the human mind will still cling to the possibility that something bad might happen. Luckily, the following tips can be used by anyone to mitigate and eventually overcome such fears, something that can definitely prove down the line:

1. Understand your fears

The first step towards eliminating fear lays in understanding it.

Some people have a fear of heights and get dizzy whenever they look down, but don’t actually have a problem with other aspects of a ride. Others might dislike the sensation of falling and the so-called stomach drop, but might otherwise have a strong passion for speed. Start by identifying what it is exactly that bothers you and try to see where it might’ve come from. Often people’s current actions are dictated by a bad experience in the past, when in fact such an experience is no longer relevant in any way shape or form. Acknowledging the irrationality of your fears is an essential part of the process of overcoming them.

2. Practice exposure therapy

Once you’ve identified your particular fears, spend some time exposing yourself to a ride you find scary.

Watch pictures and videos of it online, especially point-of-view videos where you can see exactly how the action unfolds from a rider’s perspective. Then take the next step and visit the location of the ride itself. Here you can witness it in action and see how people react in real time, in a good example of what’s known as exposure therapy. Chances are the vast majority of them are having the time of their lives, so consider the fact that you might also find it enjoyable.

3. Talk to other people about their experiences

Even after you’ve taken the time to familiarize yourself with the ride, there might still be plenty of nagging doubts about it in your head.

So go ahead and ask some people who have already undergone the experience to tell you about it. You’ll likely hear diverging stories, since people are always going to perceive things differently, but that’s fine. At this stage simply talking about how the ride feels like from the inside can be immensely therapeutic.

4. Start small

Conquering your fears is no easy feat, so make sure you give yourself every opportunity to succeed by starting out small whenever possible. If fear of heights is your culprit, don’t even think about bungee jumping right from the start. Instead, try experiencing a more manageable plunge where you have the option of jumping feet first. For instance, the Skyfall Jump at TreeTop Challenge lets you jump from an altitude of 12 metres while attached to a secure free fall device. What’s more, you can even try out different methods of attachment and see how comfortable you feel in them. At the end of the day, you’ll experience a boost in confidence that will prove invaluable when it comes to trying out other similar rides in the future.

5. Have your friends and family nearby

When you’re finally ready to take the plunge, make sure you’re surrounded by the people you care about and who believe in you the most.

On some rides they can actually join and sit by your side, but even on the solo ones their support can be a real difference-maker. Try to avoid bringing in people who make fun or belittle you in this regard, as their presence is likely to do more harm than good.

 All in all, we hope the aforementioned tips will come in handy whether you’re getting ready to try out a new ride or pursuing your goal of overcoming a long-standing aversion to amusement parks in general. Defeating your fears can be an immensely beneficial activity from a mental standpoint , and there are few better ways to do so than by willfully engaging in activities that present no actual physical harm.

Do you have problems with carnival rides? Share with us below.

Image source Shutterstock.

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Comments

  • We took my 3 kids and a friends child to Movieworld. The friends child was too scared to go on the rides so I told her to stand with me and watch all the people that were getting off the ride. I asked her how the people were acting when they got off and asked if they were laughing and happy or if they were crying and saying how scared they were? She saw that they were all laughing and some ran around to go on the ride again. She decided to give it a go. We had trouble getting her away from the ride because she loved it so much and wanted to keep going and joining the end of the line so she could go again…LOL

    Reply

  • Scary ones I do and I am more concerned now after the problems faced at Dreamworld and Movie World in Queensland.

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  • I’ve found the older I get, the more scared I am. I think that comes from understanding more all the risks and what could go wrong. As a child you’re more carefree and prepared to take risks. It’s thrilling.

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  • Always loved scary rides, but too old now to enjoy the whole spectacle of where the rides are.

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  • This isn’t just for scary rides. But if you’re so scared of them WHY do you need to overcome it?

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  • I would never push a child to overcome a fear of theme park rides. It’s meant to be fun. There are more important fears to overcome.

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  • i think having a fear of rides is logical, your body is not supposed to do the things it does when on a ride, and look what happend just the other day at dreamworld, a terrible trajedy on a ride. i went to luna park in melbourne and i went on about 5 of the rides probably aimed at yopung kids, but i still had fun, i had to push my fear boundaries just to go on them i think that was enough.

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  • After the tragic event today in the Gold Coast, I think if you are scared of scary rides, stay away! There are better things to conquer, like a fear of public speaking!

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  • Some of my family prefer dodgem cars to other types of rides. One adult and child againt the other two makes it really exciting. They gang up on each other.

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  • oh dear it looks like I am never destined to go to a theme park again with my husband – he teases me about being afraid of the rides!

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  • When you have a fear for scary rides I don’t see the need to overcome this fear. When you would have a fear that hinders you in your normal functioning in everyday life, then yes then it might be good to see if you can do something to reduce / overcome that fear.

    • I agree – it is not an every day occurrence.

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  • Thankfully this is a fear which people only have to deal with occasionally. These tips may work with some people, but if someone does not like rides and is fearful, I would not disrespect their right to choose not to participate on a ride. I was scared of rides as a child and this changed as I got older. If I had been ‘pushed’ into going on a ride, it would have deterred me forever. People have a fear of rides for so many reasons and bodies and minds react to rides quite differently. There are so many other wonderful things to do and enjoy at theme parks and shows where there are rides and people that are fearful of rides can still enjoy these places.

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  • You either like or don’t like scary rides. I don’t think you should force yourself if you are fearful!

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  • When I was young I didn’t have any problem. I went on every possible ride.
    Now not really… 🙂

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  • One way to get past your fear is just don’t ride them!!

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  • Love scary rides,so much fun!

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  • Fortunately I don’t have a problem with carnival rides, but sometimes I wonder why we put ourselves through such experiences.

    Reply
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