I think I'm going for therapy...

[storybookmum]

I talked to our staff psychologist and asked if he could help me overcome a fear of rides (especially coasters), feeling rather foolish, and he said, "oh yeah, we do it all the time, just like people who are afraid of flying or of dogs."

He said that they have several ways of approaching it once they talk through the specifics of my problem (I cry when I anticipate dropping. Not afraid I'm going to fall, just that I'm going to die while dropping, say, on Splash Mountain). They have some different kinds of hypnosis and some desensitization stuff. He said it's usually three of four sessions.

I've been afraid of rides for years, and it's getting worse. I can do POTB with nothing more than a shudder at that one little drop, and I can do Ferris Wheels fairly easily. I love all the kiddie rides. But I've been on Splash Mountain twice and cried all through the second trip because I was just paralysed with fear over that drop, it was so bad the first time. I've never had the guts to do Space Mountain, though I'm very curious about the interior. I've never been on BTMRR or of course RnRC, nor have I done any of the motion simulators...they all scare me.

I LOVE the interior of Splash Mountain, it's wonderful. If it had a chicken exit right before the drop, I'd be all over it.

I want to enjoy these things with my family, who are all gung-ho to do it all together. So I'm going to try it.

Just one thing....until I'm actually at the top of one of those hills, how am I going to know it worked?????

Kris

 

[Amy&Dan]

Good luck! As someone who faced a fear of flying I know how much fears can limit you in how you live your life. Go for it and do the therapy. I still don't like to fly but the payoff of taking vacations with my family makes it worth it. Who knows you may become one of those roller coaster enthusiasts!