Thursday, February 29, 2024

How theme parks can improve mental health

Roller coasters and mental health sound like words that don't belong in the same sentence. Wrong! A lot of people say that going on rides like roller coasters actually improves their mental health. According to Week99er.com, here's their take on mental health and roller coasters.

Banshee at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio. This is my all time favorite ride here. This is what I call a "locker ride" because you need to rent a locker to put your belongings in otherwise you lose them on the barrel rolls and inversions. This has to be the one ride here I was super excited to ride. Riding it at night affords the opportunity to see the beautiful cathedral lights at the station all illuminated

It's a getaway

Everyone needs an occasional getaway from the rut we wear ourselves into. Every day, we are, more or less, on autopilot. We need a getaway to de-stress, relax and just enjoy life. Theme parks are good for the mind because they allow you to escape your troubles for a time. Not surprisingly, counselors can also help with that. But, theme parks allow you to just breathe and relax for a time. Getting away from stress is very good for you

Face those fears

There are two types of people in theme parks: those who love thrill rides and those who don't. For the "those who don't" people, it's understandable. Sharp turns, steep drops, fast running rides. Theme parks help you tackle those fears head on. Tackling a fear head on is the best way to conquer it. You can start off small by getting on smaller rides with less thrill and working your way up to the top of the line thrill machines. Eventually, your fear of coasters will be far behind you

Bonding experience

Most if not all people go to theme parks with at least one other person, if not a group. Families with gaggles of kids go to theme parks. Couples go to theme parks. You're rarely alone. Doing all of the activities a theme park has to offer allows you to bond with the ones you're going with. You can even make new friends at the park

A great teacher of planning

A lot of people go to theme parks with a set plan in mind. Do not stray. Stay on track. Going to theme parks should be about exploring all the little nooks and crannies it offers. Exploring the different restaurants and themed areas. Exploring the attractions within those themed areas. Going to a theme park far from your home does require some pre-planning. Planning your work schedule, in other words, how much time off from work you'll need. Financial planning, how much money you will need or if you can use your bank card. Having an idea of what you want to do once you reach that park also helps. Staying organized and having a goal in mind helps keep mental health in check

Exercise

Some people jokingly say "extra fries". One thing theme parks offer is plenty of exercise. Constantly walking will burn off the calories from the pretzel you just ate or the food you ate at lunch. Exercise releases endorphins, the "feel good" chemicals. You don't need to overdo it on the exercise to get those feel good feelings. Going to a theme park and just imagining what you can do also gives that great feeling. By the end of the day, you'll have a rush of good feeling come over you

Travel experience

It's quite common to make a vacation out of going to a theme park. Many theme parks are out of state or in another city. It makes for an interesting vacation because going to that park, you can see how the locals near the park live every day. Travel benefits mental health in many ways. Besides the feeling of escaping the every day norm, you can expand your horizons and find out how other parts of the world live their lives. Even other towns or cities can be good; it can be an experience that stimulates the senses

Being outside

Being outside always does good for mental health. Breathing in fresh air. Seeing sunshine. Feeling the warm sun wash over you. Vitamin D is one of the vitamins you can get from the sun. In that case, soak it up, as long as you put on sunscreen or tanning oil; you want Vitamin D, not skin cancer.

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