Why I Hate Roller Coasters (and I'm Okay With it)
- priscillawrites
- Jun 10, 2016
- 2 min read
Growing up, I always had the sneaking suspicion that I would hate roller coasters. I had never been on (a real) one before, but something about how tall and fast and intimidating they looked gave me a feeling that - if I was ever convinced into strapping myself into one of those things - it would not be a pleasant experience. Eventually I did get on a roller coaster, mostly because everyone around me insisted that the unsettling panic at the bottom of my stomach would disappear once the adrenaline of the ride kicked in.
But.…. they were wrong. The truth is that roller coasters are just not for me. I don’t find them fun in the slightest. I find them horribly uncomfortable. Being strapped into a moving vehicle twisting and turning at who-knows-how-many miles an hour is not thrilling to me. It’s exhausting.
The reason I’m telling you this is because I eventually figured out the reason why extreme thrills like roller coasters have no appeal to me. It’s the same reason I have a ridiculously low tolerance for caffeine (one cup and I will be anxious for hours) and why I tend to avoid overly stressful situations.
There is a personality profile called the HSP, or Highly Sensitive Person, that explains how some people are more easily overstimulated than others. There isn’t too much science behind it, but I can recognize some definite truths in it. It’s a personality description, so of course I take it with a grain of salt. But it does explain why some of us are often more easily stimulated than others. And for that reason, I think it has value (so long as we don’t let it define us, of course).
But realizing that I do have different limits than some people around me has helped me immensely. It’s similar to discovering you’re an introvert in an extrovert’s world. I no longer feel like I’m just being a chicken when I’d rather not get on that bungee jumping ride like everyone else around me. I just know I’m not going to like it. And I’m learning that it’s okay to know your boundaries and speak up for them.
People say you should face your fears and get out of your comfort zone - and I completely agree. But knowing what you can and can’t handle is also important. Facing a fear there is value in overcoming (like public speaking, or meeting new people) is helpful. But it’s also important to find a way to walk that line without being too hard on yourself, or doing things simply because everyone else is doing them.
In my case, I’m working on getting out there more. On taking risks, being bolder and trying new things. But getting on roller coasters? I’ll probably leave that in the past. And I can live with that.. ;)
p.s. Another great resource on this topic I've been loving is this article from Darling Magazine.