I know this analogy has been made before, but usually the analogy is typically only made by people who have only ever ridden on a roller coaster. However, now that I’m a month into being a roller coaster operator on one of the most well known roller coasters, I think it’s safe to say that there’s a lot more to that analogy than just the perspective of the people on the ride.
If you’ve never heard of the roller coaster analogy for anxiety, here’s how I like to think of it. Keep in mind that since I work at Space Mountain, this is going to be relevant to that specific roller coaster. You have something, let’s call it a trigger, that is causing you to feel anxious. It’s something that you’re going to have to face sooner or later, and there’s no avoiding it.
You’re already strapped into this coaster. At this point, you’re on the main lift hill. It’s dark, and you have no idea when that first drop off is going to happen, but you’ve had anxiety before, and you know the big breakdown is going to happen. Then, it happens, and you’re sent hurtling into the darkness, sometimes you think it’s better, sometimes it gets worse. Eventually, you make it back down and get off the ride. Maybe you’re wondering why you were so worried in the first place.
Now let’s step back and look at anxiety as a roller coaster from the perspective of someone working the ride. In this analogy, the person working the ride has a pretty good grip on their anxiety. That’s not to say things don’t happen on occasion, but they’re mostly under control.
As someone who works at Space Mountain, I’ve had the opportunity to not only see the ride with the lights on, but also ride with them on. I get to walk around inside the track. I know the Mountain on a much deeper level than any ordinary guest. I’ve also had the chance to get to know my anxiety and what triggers it. I’ve come to accept it as part of who I am. Because of that, neither Space Mountain, nor my anxiety scares me.
Where someone who doesn’t know when the big drop is coming, I know exactly when it’s coming, and how to prepare myself. Even in the dark, I can remember when all the twists and turns are. I know when I’m only briefly in a good spot, and when a bad one is coming. And when it’s over, I know that it’s over. When I get off, I know that it’s not a big deal for me to get back on.
