So I'm going to fess up. I'm 22 and have never been on a roller coaster. Just watching a show on Travel Channel about them right now gives me sweaty palms. I'm sure most of it has to do with a fear of heights I've had since I was a kid. The closest thing I've ever done is the log ride at Knotts or Jurrasic Park at Unniversal, and both of those freaked me out the first time. Afterward I felt better, but I'm not sure how easy it would be doing them again...

I'm wondering if anyone else is THIS tense about coasters, and if anyone has overcome it after avoiding them for so long? I've thought about just hopping on something mild like Ghost Rider and forcing myself to overcome it, but I'm not sure I wouldn't just freak out. One of my friends said I should take a Xanax and try it once, and it'll be easy without them later since I'd have already tried it once.

PS... I'm not a total wuss. I've driven 80mph around a snowmobile track, 130mph with the top down in the S. I enjoy the speed, which is why I wish coasters weren't such a huge deal.

Thoughts?

 

i just have a fear of roller coasters that have really huge drops and ones that loops, but eh i dont go to theme parks that often so i dont really care.

 

just be logical about it and put it into perspective. millions of people ride roller coasters each year, and probably more than 97% of those people don't get hurt and/or have anything bad happen to them. if anything bad does happen to you, it would most likely be attributed to bad luck, and if bad luck is the case here, then you can easily have bad luck doing any of the other stuff that you currently do, such as getting t-boned by a drunk driver while cruising in your S. your fear of roller coasters is psychological, and with anything psychological, the best way to overcome it is to try to alter your perspective of the matter at hand.

 

[QUOTE=VTEC_Junkie,Jul 21 2007, 07:29 AM] just be logical about it and put it into perspective.

 

I used to hate roller coasters when I was like 16-17, but peer pressure got the best of me, and I'm completely addicted to them now.


The griffon at busch gardens isn't the tallest, the kingda ka at six flags great adventure stands 456ft. tall,has a 90 degree drop and reaches speeds of 128mph.


I went to cedar point just a cpl weeks ago and top thrill dragster was crazy,0-120 in 4 seconds, climbs a 90 degree straight past 400ft. than sends you back down again at 120mph in 17 seconds.


Best way to face your fear and get on them, go wtih your girlfriend or someone you trust,and just scream and curse the whole way if you have to.

 

I actually had a fear of roller coasters until i was about 21. I also only would go on the log ride at the local theme park in my area. Finally my friends got me to go on a real roller coaster. It was pretty scary at first because im also afraid of heights but afterwards i realized that i actually enjoyed it. From that point on i went on all rides and now love them.

You should just try getting on one and seeing how you like it

 

Only part that I hate is the climb up the first big hill,but alot of the newer ,taller coaster have a mechanism that slides down the hill after each car is taken to the top in the middle of track and latches on to bottom of the train and pulls it up quicker.

Just work your way up from the 50-60mph,125ft. drop wooden coasters to the 80+mph,300ft. drop steel coasters, thats what I did at cedar point.

 

I had a fear of heights and I decide to go bungee jumping and then sky-diving. No more fear.

 

for years i was petrified at this one coaster at hershey park, called the sidewinder that would pull you up a hill and drop you down, go through 3 crazy loops and then pull you back up the hill and drop you back down those same loops, backwards when i finally got on it and rode it a couple times i overcame it and now i'm a coaster junkie and will ride any ride you put me in front of

 

I had a huge fear of heights up until the time I was about 13 or 14. I'm 17 now and go on every rollercoaster I can.

I had to force myself to go on the Titan at Six Flags in Arlington, I almost teared up the first time ( I was 12) but after I got off, I got back in line lol. The next time I got on, I forced myself to keep my eyes open the entire time up the track, focus on something far off, its easier. Now I love 'em