Need to relieve anxiety and stress? Ride a rollercoaster.

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Where are all those thrill-seekers out there? With summer being just around the corner and amusement park season slowly approaching, we at The Edge have some exciting news for you. Rollercoasters aren’t just amusement park rides. Though riding rollercoasters might seem like a form of entertainment, there are actually astonishing health benefits in doing so. 

Neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis conducted a study at Thorpe Park in England which showed that riding rollercoasters could reduce anxiety levels and increase feelings of happiness and self-confidence. It can also be beneficial for your relationship. 

“The euphoric buzz generated by the flood of feel-good chemicals into the rider’s brain and body can often fade daily rapidly,” said Dr. Lewis. “But more subtle effects may exert their influence for far longer,” he added. 

But what sensation do rollercoasters provide that is so alluring? At first glance, it may seem to be the experience of speed, but the evidence for linking sensation seeking to speed is not compelling. For example, when it comes to driving at speeds above the legal limit, many people do it, just not sensation seekers.

The draw of rollercoasters is the enjoyment of the fear itself, much like watching a horror movie. Physical signs of fear such as a pounding heart, faster breathing and an energy boost caused by the release of glucose are known collectively as the “fight or flight response.” Riding a rollercoaster is likely to trigger this response, as shown by researchers who measured the heart rates of riders on the double-corkscrew Coca-Cola Roller in Glasgow in the 1980s. 

According to clinical psychologist Judy Kurianski, high tempo rides expose us to “good fear.” Our brains perceive the drops and heart-stopping twists to be “safe” and “predictable,” so riding these thrill rides becomes therapeutic, especially as we scream out our anxieties. 

So, the next time you feel like you can use a bit of a boost, gather some friends and take a trip to the nearest amusement park. It will not only calm you down and help conquer your fears, but it’s a great way to socialize and make memories, too.