Looking to overcome a fear of roller coasters? Start slow, says expert

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — For as many people in the world who love the multi-G-force exhilaration that a roller coaster offers, there are just as many whose skin crawls at the very thought of riding one.

Those people now have an extra fear in the Lehigh Valley: Dorney Park's Iron Menace, which this weekend offers the public its first rides on the ride — the Northeast’s first-ever dive roller coaster, with its 95-degree, 160-foot drop.

Dorney gave the public the first opportunity to ride Iron Menace on Saturday with the first of its Preview Days, which continue 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today, April 28, and May 4-5.

Dorney officially opens for the season May 10.

At least one of those fearful patrons attended Dorney Park's Media Day on April 17.

As people brushed past her to ride Iron Menace for the umpteenth time, she clung to a nearby park bench, staring up at the orange beast as if it would swallow her whole.

"I can't do it," she said. "I don't know why, but I can't do it."

Lots of folks have things that frighten them: snakes, spiders and small spaces, for example. According to Muhlenberg College psychology professor Mark Sciutto, a little bit of fear is normal.

After all, anxiety is what propelled our caveman ancestors to run from saber-toothed tigers.

"We are evolutionarily primed to be cautious," Sciutto, a licensed psychologist, said. "Anxiety is our body's natural response to a threat."

But sometimes, the amygdala — the brain's "fear center" — gets confused and "fires off" at inopportune times, causing a stimuli that may be tolerable for one person but be terrifying for another.

What is it about roller coasters?

Factors that may contribute to such brain confusion include negative experiences with such stimuli or pre-existing anxiety disorders —about 1 in 5 Americans have one.

"Two people may look at the same ride and look at it very differently in terms of threat," Sciutto said.

"But we have to approach anxiety with a sense of understanding and demystification. Your body is doing what it's supposed to do. It's just doing it at the wrong time."

So what is it about roller coasters that are so horrifying for some?

According to Sciutto, they combine the worst of both worlds.

"Consider the physiological responses that may get someone's anxiety response up," he said. "It's loud. It's crowded. There are people screaming."

Sometimes people are scared of roller coasters because they fear a part of the coaster malfunctioning.

"The things that normally put our minds at ease are not typically available to us," he said. "We don't see the people who built the coaster. We don't observe the safety tests being done.

"Combined with all of those physiological effects, that's the perfect storm for someone with anxiety."

Dorney Park Communications and Public Relations Manager Ryan Eldredge wants to put any fears of coaster breakdowns at ease, especially within the context of the new Iron Menace.

"The coaster goes through [at least] 10 test cycles each day before the park opens, along with a full visual examination one to two times a day from our maintenance team," Eldredge said.

Brittany Sweeney

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Additionally, there are hundreds of miniature sensors located along the Iron Menace's track that send steady signals to both ride operators and a separate park control room.

If something's off, rides will stop until the issue is fixed.

"Safety is our number one priority for all of our riders," Eldredge said.

Not jumping in the deep end

What if your goal is to overcome a fear of roller coasters? Sciutto works with clients all the time who wish to do just that.

Although Sciutto said every person is different, he finds that gradual exposure usually helps to alleviate clients' nagging feelings of anxiety and fear.

"Throwing someone into the deep end, especially if they've had a negative experience with something, is usually not the best idea," he said.

Both Eldredge and Sciutto recommend starting slow.

The first step to overcoming a fear of thrill rides involves not even leaving the comfort of your own home: Try watching a first-person point-of-view of a ride video and see how that makes you feel.

If that's too much, look at pictures.

"The more you anticipate what's coming, the smoother of a ride you'll have," Eldredge said.

For those ready to visit the park, Eldredge said that a less-intimidating coaster, such as Hydra, may be a good place to start.

"People shouldn't feel pressure to get on Iron Menace right away," he said. "We have such a variety of rides that are all at different intensity levels, so you can pick the one that is most comfortable for you."

Sciutto said that while visiting a place that is anxiety-inducing, mindfulness techniques, such as breathing exercises, can be helpful, too.

"Anxiety is a time machine — you're either feeling guilty about things of the past or are worrying about the future," Sciutto said. "Mindfulness gets us back into the present.

"When I'm anxious, I like to walk around Muhlenberg's campus and notice new things. Or name birds I can hear singing. That way, I'm not worried about what's to come."

Kindness and empathy

Whether you're ready to soar through the skies on Iron Menace or stick to the swings, above all, it's important to approach anxiety, whether it's yours or a loved one's, with kindness, experts said.

"Instead of judging people and saying 'Oh, well, you're being a baby,' it's important to understand where another person's uneasiness may be coming from," Eldredge said.

"My staff and I are trained to help anyone feeling fearful, and the last thing we want to do is peer pressure."

Asked whether he was going to ride the new Iron Menace, Sciutto smiled.

"Absolutely not," he said.

Dorney Park Preseason Preview Days, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 28 and May 4-5. Tickets: Discount tickets, at $29 per person, on Dorney Park's website ticket page. The official grand opening of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom's season is May 10.