If you get panic attacks, you should stay away from:

[mousetravel]

Going with the theme here, I'd like to know about this. How do you control anxiety at the parks?

 

[cdel73]

I get pretty intense panic attacks at times. I've been fine with rides, but if I get in a big crowd I have a hard time holding it together. Last year we were trying to get out of the parks right before spectro started and we could not move an inch and I was starting to get the dreaded panic feeling, but my husband managed to talk me down. So my advice stay away from large crowds.

 

[Robo]

Going with the theme here, I'd like to know about this. How do you control anxiety at the parks?

No panic-inducing attractions at WDW, IMHO.

BUT, if you are prone to panic attacks, stay away from:

Dinosaur
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D
Its' Tough to be a Bug 3D
ToT
EE
Space Mtn.
Heck- ALL the "thrill rides."

And any and all CROWDS... Uh-Oh!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I think it depends on you. I've had anxiety problems in the past and again recently. Certain things will make people more nervous then others and are more likely cause an attack. If you have a problem with crowds, heights etc, take that into consideration before you enter into a ride.

Good luck! Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[phisigprincess]

I think it depends on what you are uncomfortable with. The only ride I have ever had a problem with is PotC. The part where the boats are shooting at each other and your boat goes through a period of dark water scares the crap out of me. In my head I know the water is only up to my knees at best, but there's something about how dark it looks that freaks me out. I know it's coming so I just close my eyes and control my breathing until we get out of that scene.

 

[MJMcBride]

These books may help you

http://www.diz-abled.com/default.htm

http://www.passporterstore.com/wdw/openmouse/guidebook.asp

 

[Robo]

This question is so purely "subjective" due to the various and unpredictable things some people can "panic" about.


See THIS current thread as an example-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1735442

 

[mousiemom]

the only one i ever had a problem on was when mission space 1st opened up. watching gary siniese talk about the ride and all the motion sickness and closed up spaces, i started getting nervous. i i sat in my seat and saw the barf bag and realized how cold it was and i started sweating... then, right before they closed the doors i told the cm i wanted to get off. we had to wait for them to clean up where someone got sick on the ride before so that wasn't making me feel real good either. so, i got off. after hearing all the hype about it, i decided to ride it later on that night and i was fine. it's just not my favorite ride.
mousiemom

 

[JenH1969]

excellent one- I'll be reading closely- great thinking- jen

 

[CathrynRose]

Going with the theme here, I'd like to know about this. How do you control anxiety at the parks?

XANAX!

I dont miss a thing.

 

[linzbear]

Get your own transportation. I'm not one for panic attacks on a normal basis - heck, MS is one of my favorite rides in all of DW. But I flipped out to the point of almost passing out when our bus ran out of gas, the ACs all turned off, and the driver refused to open any doors (windows are all sealed). It was high 90's that day, so we were cooking, and I was freaking.

The boats I'm fine with, they have open areas - the monorails are electric, so the AC doesn't turn off, but after that ordeal, it takes a heck of a lot to get me on a WDW bus.

 

[maxiesmom]

I tend to have panic attacks when I feel trapped. The different movies at Epcot used to freak me out, until I realized you can leave if you want to. I won't go on Ellen's Energy Adventure, that ride is too long and there is no way to leave, unless you want to stop the whole ride and ruin everyones experience. There is no way I would ride Mission:Space.

Even waiting in line can set me off, but I just tell myself I can leave at any time.

 

[Daydreamer64]

Its' Tough to be a Bug 3D-

I've had 1, ONE, panic attack in my life complete with asthma attack and passing out from hypervent. It was August and very hot- the line for ITTBAB was long and I was hot. We were admitted into the "cave" waiting area and told to move all the way down to allow as many people as possible to enter the pre-show cave. We were in the front of the crowd which ment that we were squeezed into the back of the cave. People just kept squeezing/pushing in and soon we were against the wall - it was uncomfortable.

All of a sudden I realised that I couldn't get out if I needed to - thoughts started to overcome me like- what if there's a fire, how much air do we really have in here- silly I know, but this was a panic attack. I started for the door and couldn't get out of the corner, I used my inhaler because all of a sudden, I couldn't breath.

It wasn't pretty. I started to yell, "Help me, I need to get out- let me out!" and people just looked at me- That was it- I couldn't breath, I didn't seem to have any strength to push through the group, I was very hot, and started to get dizzy. Bless my DH- he had never seen me act like that and we have had some pretty guttsy adventures in our time together.

He started to yell and the people moved and he drug me out of the entrance doors. After sitting outside, drinking water, and working on calming down - I felt better pretty fast. It took a ton of guts for me to go back in to see the show on our next trip- I'll tell you one thing- I made sure that we let people pass until we were the last into the building.

 

[Ktharee]

I can sympathize with all of you fellow panic people. I had one panic attack in my life. Two years ago on a suspension bridge. I don't know what came over me, I've been driving for over 20 years and over many bridges. I just completely freaked out and kept asking myself about 150 "what if" questions. It took me two years to drive (physically being the driver) over a bridge. I just did it yesterday. I feel very liberated. Panic attacks are unpredictable and what causes one once, won't necessary cause it again. But the dread of the possibility of one can be almost as bad. I've found that by reducing caffeine, I've lost event the dread of one. Not that that is going to be the answer for everyone, but just a tip that might work. It's all psychological. Proving yet again we can be our own worst enemy. My advice for your trip is just to avoid what you feel you are going to dread. Go to You Tube and check out some ride through videos if you aren't sure. Sometimes the preview can relax you about the whole situation. Then there is also Xanax as a PP mentioned. Not a fan, but I have taken it on long flights when I was traveling alone. Talk to your doctor about it. No need to miss out on anything, life is too short!!!!

 

[mousetravel]

That's a good idea about the YouTube videos. I have gone on there & checked out most of the rides to get an idea of everything so I'll know what to expect and what I think I need to stay away from.

 

[Princess_Belle]

The worst place for panic attacks is the WDW busses! I have had 2 panic attacks on them. Its horrible!

I think Tower of Terror is bad too. Because you know whats coming and once you get on there is no way to get off.

 

[SnowWtch]

The only attractions issues I've had were with Alien Encounter and It's Tough to Be a Bug. I haven't done Stitch b/c of this. I have problems w/ large crowds but for some reason Alien Encounter always set off a bad panic attack and going into the crowd when you came out made it even worse. I actually had to leave the park one night b/c of it. It's Tough to Be a Bug caused a problem b/c they're bugs and it was dark so I felt trapped.

 

[nolacindy]

This one might sound silly but after the last trip I stay away from the barral bridge on Tom Sawyer Island. I thought I would never get across the bridge. After that i couldn't get off the island fast enough.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Although I'm doing better, I used to have very bad and very often panic attacks. I've been pretty lucky to learn how to control them and I've never had a full blown panic attack at WDW, but I have gotten nervous in:

the stretch room at the haunted mansion
the holding room at the laugh floor comedy club
waiting in line for characters at the toontown hall of fame

My attacks usually come on when I'm waiting for something, when I'm very stressed, or when I'm in a crowd of people so I try to avoid these situations.

Of course, different things can trigger attacks at for different people so try to find out what triggers your attacks or what you were doing when they come on so you can try to avoid those situations.

 

[RhodyJim]

I too have struggled with very bad and often panic attacks, although I have gotten them almost completely under control over the last five or so years.

That being said, I really struggles with Mission: Space. I watched the pre-show warnings and everything, but figured I could deal with it, but it is VERY tight in there. The screen probably comes within ten inches of you face and there is no moving once you are in. It was also kind of disappointing once I calmed down. I don't think I will be doing that one again.

FYI, Panic attacks are an autonomic nervous sytem problem that sets in motion your "Fight-or-Flight" reaction for no good reason. Basically, any place that you can't get out of (and therefore cannot burn off your fight-or-flight energy) can be bad during a panic attack. No one knows better than you how you will handle a ride. Basically if you have any doubts, just don't do it.