Roller coasters are an iconic part of American carnivals, fairs and theme parks. A few have even became so popular as to have their own names and followings among roller coaster devotees. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people line-up during the sweltering summer months for an opportunity to take a short but thrilling ride on these massive steel machines. Unfortunately, a small number of Americans suffer from an extreme fear of roller coasters. Which often means they must sit out while family and friends take part in this fun summer tradition.
Experts aren't sure exactly what causes "coasterphobia". The majority agree, however, that individuals have different types of fears and anxieties related to being around or on roller coasters. The first type of fear is claustrophobia. The small enclosures in which people must sit in and be harnessed to during the ride are often too compact for the claustrophobic to withstand. So once they've been placed inside the enclosure, these people begin to sweat, feel as though they're suffocating, and finally must escape from what they perceive to be a restricted enclosure.
Many doctors are now using simulations to treat such phobias. In this case, there are a number of different games about roller coasters that are already produced for the general gaming market that may be able to help such individuals. Labeled as "virtual reality therapy" by the psychiatric community, the use of such games and other simulations have proven effective at treating fear by simulating real life experiences in a safe setting. This allows for such patients to gain better control over their irrational anxieties and even eventually defeat them altogether.
One of the more difficult phobias to treat that is often associated with roller coasters is acrophobia. This is the fear of heights, and it is a common fear among a large percentage of the public. It is often caused by either conditioning or by a traumatic incident experienced by the person. Either way, people inflicted by such a phobia often find roller coasters to be particularly frightening, due to the few accidental deaths that have occurred over the years, which are often caused by malfunctions or negligence, and result in riders falling from their seats mid-air. The thought of either falling or being stuck in their seat high in the air causes anxiety and fear among acrophobics, which can be crippling in extreme cases.
Just as with claustrophobia, however, psychiatrists and psychologists alike are using simulated roller coaster games to ease the anxiety that acrophobics feel concerning heights and tall structures. Modern video games have been developed which successfully mimic the feel and perspective of being on a high platform and having to look down. Being able to confront their fears in a managed setting allows for the acrophobic to eventually overcome them with the help of the medical professional. Coaster games and other simulations play a vital part in these efforts, as without them there would simply be no way for the doctors to achieve such effective results in a short period of time. Virtual reality therapy, aided by games such as those with roller coaster themes, have helped tens of thousands of patients live more normal, less fearful lives than what they could have ever imagined.
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