Panic Attacks

[maxiesmom]

The problem is that oftentimes you aren't sure of what you are in for UNTIL you are on the ride.

From what I understand, the chicken exit has to be used before you get on the ride vehicle. In Mission Space for example, what if they close the pod and you freak out after not realizing how claustrophobic it actually is. How would you know this until after the ride starts, esp if you have never been on the ride before?

Then you are stuck on it. So you need to decide if you want to risk having a panic attack, and having to deal with it, or if you will be happier waiting for your friend to go on the ride alone.

You can see a lot of rides on YouTube. If you think a ride will cause you a panic attack, then you should probably skip it. I will never ride Mission Space because I know I am clausterphobic, and to me, it is just not worth the risk. As an adult you should know yourself well enough to be able to make that decision.

 

[KellyNY]

The problem is that oftentimes you aren't sure of what you are in for UNTIL you are on the ride.

From what I understand, the chicken exit has to be used before you get on the ride vehicle. In Mission Space for example, what if they close the pod and you freak out after not realizing how claustrophobic it actually is. How would you know this until after the ride starts, esp if you have never been on the ride before?

With TOT you will mot know what you are getting into until first drop, trust me you need to feel that to know and after it starts you will hold for your life having no time for panics. With MS you have time to see how small is the area while everyone gets ready, they do not close till you are ready, no problems with MS. Soarin is a pain, you really have no idea how uncomfortable seats and how high you are esp in 1st abd 2nd row till you are in air. I had my attack on Soarin. It is long, so I had plenty of time to worry, get nervous, get into panic, calm down. TT is fast, too fast. While you are inside, you feel pretty safe, then outside it is so fast, you do not get scared. I never tried SM and will never do. The anticipation before drop can definitely triger my panics.

 

[Jillisa]

The problem is that oftentimes you aren't sure of what you are in for UNTIL you are on the ride.

From what I understand, the chicken exit has to be used before you get on the ride vehicle. In Mission Space for example, what if they close the pod and you freak out after not realizing how claustrophobic it actually is. How would you know this until after the ride starts, esp if you have never been on the ride before?

I do not like MS for this reason, it isnt the spinning, its the small space. But you have a minute or two before they close the door, so if you don't like the looks of it get out. But if you get in there and decide you'll be ok (which I did), then you are in for the duration. In my case, I was anxious but not petrified or anything. I took a few deep breaths and tried to enjoy the ride. Which I did, more or less. Will I ride it again, no, and not even the green "easy" version because I don't like being confined. Once that door is shut, you are essentially stuck for the duration (a few minutes, I think, I remember it being over really quickly).

 

[ticklemepink]

Didn't someone on SM freak out, jump out of the ride vehicle, and get killed? I am sure he didn't go into the ride thinking that this would happen. Panic attacks can hit suddenly and without reason to even those who have never experienced them before. Breathing and hitting your wrist with a rubber band WILL NOT help.

 

[KellyNY]

Basically, I do not think it is possible do get out of most restrains on rides, I mean maybe technically if you really try you will but probably by that time ride will be over anyway. If your attacks are strong, skip what trigger then. People who are afraid heights can often ride TOT, since you do not see how high you are, but will have the whole range attack on Soarin. People who are afraid of roller coasters have no problem woth TT. You are the only one to know what you can and cannot do. Watch youtube and decide for yourself.

 

[pwmitch237]

Mission Space, itself isn't that long, but one of the best ways to prevent anything (from "space sickness" to total disorientation) is to do exactly what they tell you, keep your head back, and your eyes completely located on the screen in front of you, with your eyes open. Looking to the sides or closing your eyes could disorient you further (all of that is repeated in the safety spiel 5 to 7 times.) And, there are "space sickness" bags located in front and to the side of you in the cabin.

But in most rides, once you are in your seat and your safety restraint is fastened, just hold on for the ride.

-pwmitch237

 

[KellyNY]

Didn't someone on SM freak out, jump out of the ride vehicle, and get killed? I am sure he didn't go into the ride thinking that this would happen. Panic attacks can hit suddenly and without reason to even those who have never experienced them before. Breathing and hitting your wrist with a rubber band WILL NOT help.

Yes, someone did, not all rides have restrains, SM works on gravity force. Nobody can stand while you are on drop but before for sure. That is why people should think twice before go. SM is open to view, so if any fears, people shoud think for themselves.

 

[maxiesmom]

Didn't someone on SM freak out, jump out of the ride vehicle, and get killed? I am sure he didn't go into the ride thinking that this would happen. Panic attacks can hit suddenly and without reason to even those who have never experienced them before. Breathing and hitting your wrist with a rubber band WILL NOT help.

So what are you saying? That Disney should expect people to get off of rides once they are in motion?

You are an adult. You should know, or be able to guess at, your limits. You need to be responsible and not put yourself into a postion where you may endanger yourself or others. If nothing will help with you panic attacks, then maybe you need to talk to your doctor before your trip. Or else resign yourself to riding almost nothing. It is pretty much impossible to leave a ride once it is in motion.

I don't want you to think I am making light of your problem. I have panic attacks too. I do have some mild medication I can take, just to take the edge off of them. But I also know which rides I will absolutely not go on, and I wouldn't be so reckleess as to go on them, and think that I can just hop off if I want to. You can't.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Splash Mountain is the only one I can think off the top of my head that you could stand up and get out of after the ride starts. All others have locked restraints, Splash has none. Some years back, a guest did on Splash and was killed by a log hitting him.

 

[pixie921]

Didn't someone on SM freak out, jump out of the ride vehicle, and get killed? I am sure he didn't go into the ride thinking that this would happen. Panic attacks can hit suddenly and without reason to even those who have never experienced them before. Breathing and hitting your wrist with a rubber band WILL NOT help.

OK, I caved and had to come back seeing that the thread is now up to 4 pages, LOL!

Of COURSE coping techniques, when practiced properly, will help. They're not a *cure*; the point is to help an anxiety sufferer distract themselves enough to get through intense moments of panic. They work for thousands of people who suffer from agoraphobia, claustrophobia, etc. Of course, if you talk yourself out of using them and convince yourself they won't help -- then they won't.

Have you sought any advice from a professional on how to manage your panic attacks? Even if they are infrequent, they're obviously causing you to worry about your upcoming vacation and will impact your enjoyment of it. If you continue to worry about having one, you'll almost certainly have it become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

EDITED TO ADD: I am in no way trying to be mean, but if you are truly concerned that you will, against all reason, "freak out" and try to jump out of whatever ride you are in, then I think perhaps medication needs to be considered. If you can reach a point where you are immune to reason and logic and capable of doing something stupid or dangerous to yourself or others, then I think it's time to think about medical intervention.

 

[princesswendy720]

Never, ever attempt to get out of a ride while it is in motion. That's suicide.

If you are considering doing that, then do not ride. I'm afraid of heights and I have panic attacks. Anything can trigger them, really. I get them while driving a lot, but I have to drive. You don't have to go on these rides, so please don't go on them knowing that you may do something reckless. Many people have warned you against the dangers.

That being said, there are coping mechanisms. I get intense fear on Expedition Everest when you go up the hill. I know that closing my eyes and holding my boyfriend's hand will get me through it until we are at the top. There's no other choice but to bear it at that point...and it's not so bad that I don't go on the ride multiple times per trip.

It's all about knowing your limits and being able to make a decision based on that information.

 

[SueM in MN]

Are you saying that I should avoid all thrill rides? Taking Space, Splash, Big Thunder, EE, RR, TOT, Dinosaur, TT, and Soarin out of the equation will leave me with a very dull experience esp if my friend is very much into thrill rides. There is a 99.9999999% chance that I will be okay, but I would just like the peace of mind to know that there is an out even in the worst case scenario. I understand what you say about being inconvenienced with the delay, but aren't the rides slowed down to accomodate those with physical disabilities? What about those with mental issues?

The RIDES are not slowed down; the ride is exactly the same whether someone is physically disabled or not. Same, not slowed down or 'tamed' in any way.
If there is a moving walkway, it can be slowed down during boarding and unloading so that the person with a physical disability has enough time to get to the ride car and get settled.
But, as a lot of others have posted, once you are actually ON the attraction and it has started to move, you are on until the ride is completed.

All the thrill type rides have seatbelts and/or restraints that lock before the ride starts. The CM makes sure that they are fastened and most of those attractions have a safety interlock that doesn't allow the ride to start until everything is locked.
One poster mentioned getting out of Mission Space after getting into the ride car, but before the ride started. I have seen that happen on MS and also on Soarin'

Keep in mind that you are seat belted in and the belt locks before they close the "elevator" doors and doesn't unlock until the ride is over, so it's not likely you could get out of your seat.

If it were me and I thought there was a chance of a real panic attack, I would not get on the ride. It's not worth the risk to me just for the sake of a ride.

I agree.

Then you are stuck on it. So you need to decide if you want to risk having a panic attack, and having to deal with it, or if you will be happier waiting for your friend to go on the ride alone.

You can see a lot of rides on YouTube. If you think a ride will cause you a panic attack, then you should probably skip it. I will never ride Mission Space because I know I am clausterphobic, and to me, it is just not worth the risk. As an adult you should know yourself well enough to be able to make that decision.

I second the recommendation for YouTube.
Just seeing the rides should help you decide.

Even though you say the panic attacks come out of nowhere, most people who experience panic attacks do have some idea what their triggers and how strong their reaction may be. If you see a video that shows some things you know are triggers for you, that's an attraction to skip.
If you are claustrophobic, seeing pictures of the ride cars may help you. I am claustrophobic and have had panic attacks in the past. Two ride cars that trigger claustrophobia for me are the Doombuggies in Haunted Mansion and the ride cars in Spaceship Earth. The Doombuggies have a roof that comes down around you and the Spaceship Earth cars have a high headrest the contains speakers. Neither of them look like they would cause a problem, but I think my problem is a combination of the high headrest, the speaker right behind my ear and the fact that the ride car turns at one point in the ride and goes down a hill backwards. I personally had little problem with Mission Space, which seems strange considering it's very closed in.

 

[SueM in MN]

Of COURSE coping techniques, when practiced properly, will help. They're not a *cure*; the point is to help an anxiety sufferer distract themselves enough to get through intense moments of panic. They work for thousands of people who suffer from agoraphobia, claustrophobia, etc. Of course, if you talk yourself out of using them and convince yourself they won't help -- then they won't.

Have you sought any advice from a professional on how to manage your panic attacks? Even if they are infrequent, they're obviously causing you to worry about your upcoming vacation and will impact your enjoyment of it. If you continue to worry about having one, you'll almost certainly have it become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

EDITED TO ADD: I am in no way trying to be mean, but if you are truly concerned that you will, against all reason, "freak out" and try to jump out of whatever ride you are in, then I think perhaps medication needs to be considered. If you can reach a point where you are immune to reason and logic and capable of doing something stupid or dangerous to yourself or others, then I think it's time to think about medical intervention.

Never, ever attempt to get out of a ride while it is in motion. That's suicide.

If you are considering doing that, then do not ride. I'm afraid of heights and I have panic attacks. Anything can trigger them, really. I get them while driving a lot, but I have to drive. You don't have to go on these rides, so please don't go on them knowing that you may do something reckless. Many people have warned you against the dangers.

That being said, there are coping mechanisms. I get intense fear on Expedition Everest when you go up the hill. I know that closing my eyes and holding my boyfriend's hand will get me through it until we are at the top. There's no other choice but to bear it at that point...and it's not so bad that I don't go on the ride multiple times per trip.

It's all about knowing your limits and being able to make a decision based on that information.

I agree.
A coping mechanism won't stop a full blown panic attach, but should take the intensity down enough to get to the end of the attraction.

 

[TDC Nala]

Didn't someone on SM freak out, jump out of the ride vehicle, and get killed? I am sure he didn't go into the ride thinking that this would happen. Panic attacks can hit suddenly and without reason to even those who have never experienced them before. Breathing and hitting your wrist with a rubber band WILL NOT help.

On Splash Mountain at WDW a man was killed when he fell into the water and was hit by another log while trying to climb out of the ride. Some years ago two teenage boys were killed in separate incidents at Disneyland while trying to climb out of the People Mover (which was equivalent to WDW's TTA) while it was in motion. The story on the boys was that they were goofing around, not experiencing panic attacks, but most would probably not consider TTA a dangerous ride. Again, if you think you might try to exit ANY ride while it is already in motion, it is probably best that you do not ride.

 

[inspire]

After reading all posts I felt I must reply. After years of suffering GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and panic attacks I am having a hard time with the OP's views. There are coping mechanisms out there that will work for you. You simply have to find them and work them. I have had the great pleasure of riding all of the WDW thrill rides using my personal favorite coping trick. The idea is that when done properly they will HELP you ride through the feelings of fight or flight! It's not magic~you must do the work. Most of my panic is of the anticipatory variety. The what-ifs. If I chose to give in to the panic without a fight I would never get in line. We use fastpass, a good tour plan and a little pixie dust. Do the research to help you have a magical trip!

 

[disfan07]

I agree with the PP about coping techniques.
I have been suffering from GAD for 5 years and I also have severe panic attacks when I fly and before I have to drive on the highways (I-5, 405 and the 101 in california).
There are coping techniques that will work....you just have to be willing to try them and to work with them....and if the panic attacks are that bad that no coping techniques work, than it is time for medical intervention.
I'm on medication for my GAD but I get anxiety before tests, doctors appts, etc and just focusing on breathing helps me.
For flying, no coping technique on earth helps me, so i take xanax before I get on the plane becaus eI KNOW i will have a panic attack if i dont.
For the driving, that fear developed after a near fatal car accident I was in last year and that panic is alleviated by therapy, deep breathign exercises, and making sure I always have a certain CD in teh car when I drive....thats my coping technique.

If you have experienced a previous panic attack, you should know what could set it off. You're an adult....You either need to learn coping techniques for how to deal with it, get medical help or in this case, avoid the rides. They will not let you off once you're on.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you have panic attacks that cause you to not be able to control your actions then I would *highly* recommend that you do not get in line on for the thrill rides. Doing so could endanger your life or the lives of others, in my honest opinion.

Respectfully disagreeing with the 'do not get in line' advice. Disney theming is amazing, and any attraction's standby queue is worth visiting at least once. When Expedition Everest opened, three of us waited in line for an hour - only I was riding, but my friends wanted to experience the queue.

 

[elleherself]

I have suffered from panic attacks since I was very young. For me I assume it is inherited-- my father and grandmother also suffer/suffered from panic attacks. As a child I would not ride anything that was likely to give me a panic attack. Now that I am an adult, and I am better able to control my problem, I ride more things. I don't ever have panic attacks that are "out of control" though-- I am always in control of my actions, if not my feelings.

I do think the OP is a troll, but if anyone else with panic attacks or any other disorder is reading this thread, the tips and hints might be helpful, so my reply is in earnest.

Many of the symptoms of panic attacks such as screaming, flailing, etc. would not be detectable once a ride is in motion and there is no "emergency" button to push on any ride. Certain slow rides like Snow White, etc., may possibly be stopped for you but do not depend upon it. Most of the thrill rides, like Dinosaur, Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Space Mountain could not be stopped and will not be stopped.

Remind yourself that panic attacks are not life threatening and that most rides are under five minutes before you are off again. There are also prescription medications that you can take if you know you might be in a situation liable to give you panic attacks so that you can enjoy your life normally. This is what I do for plane rides. Sometimes my panic attacks are sudden but plane flight is one thing that I know triggers them, so I take precautions in advance.

Panic attacks are so all-consuming and horrible that I can't imagine I would want to do anything that might trigger one unless I had to, which is one reason I don't understand this question.

Yes, some people have ended up dying on rides when they managed to exit them before the end for various reasons (either under the influence of extreme fear or extreme stupidity). The restraints on the rides themselves make this impossible in most cases. If you think this might be you, think whether three minutes of fun on a roller coaster is worth the risk to your sanity and perhaps life, and make your choice accordingly. Disney World will help you with this decision by posting helpful signs along the queue that tells you what to expect, and what conditions may preclude you from riding. Heart disease sufferers and pregnant guests still manage to enjoy the parks without riding these rides, so hopefully the OP can enjoy themselves as well.

 

[BradyBz12]

FWIW I have read recently (can't remember where at the moment) that when Splash Mtn goes down for rehab they will be installing lap bars - not sure how accurate that info is, but it was on one of the pretty reliable WDW news sites.

As for getting in line - I agree that just the theming of some lines is worth seeing (EE & ToT are 2 of my faves). But in all cases, you can still enjoy the queue and use the "chicken exit" before actually loading into the ride.

 

[KellyNY]

FWIW I have read recently (can't remember where at the moment) that when Splash Mtn goes down for rehab they will be installing lap bars - not sure how accurate that info is, but it was on one of the pretty reliable WDW news sites.

Would be nice to have a lap bar, although nobody can fall out. I would also love to see belts on Spaceship Earth, I always feel like I can fall backwards when we move back. I know it is not possible but no restrains so high make me uncomfortable.