My wife, Jill, loves the thrill of roller coasters. The higher, faster, and more twisty the ride, the better. Most people scream, but Jill never feels calmer than she does on a roller coaster. She’s one of those rare people who can focus and handle stress better when an adrenaline rush boosts her alertness and energy.
We recently bought annual passes to an amusement park known for its thrill rides. Since Jill has the Huntington’s disease (HD) gene, we try to do fun activities as often as possible, like going to a musical.
As we walked through the amusement park, deciding which ride to go on first, Jill fell silent.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Something feels weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m worried.”
Up to this point, Jill had been feeling fine and there were no signs of anxiety.
Many people experience anxiety, but for people with Huntington’s disease, it may have a different meaning. The disease affects brain regions responsible for regulating emotions, potentially increasing feelings of unease and fear. In addition, the progressive nature of Huntington’s disease and its uncertain course create fertile ground for anxious thoughts.
When Jill is anxious, I wonder if that is a symptom of Huntington’s disease. The problem is: Jill is not the anxious type. She was always calm, even on roller coasters, until the effects of Huntington’s disease started to appear a few years ago.
But her anxiety has definitely been more pronounced lately, and when she was scared at the theme park, I thought it was something to do with Huntington’s disease. But she also has a superpower. In the Marvel universe, it’s called “spider-sense” – a reference to Spider-Man’s hyper-awareness of impending danger.
When Jill’s spider sense tingles and tells her that something is about to go wrong, her intuition is usually right.
Her spider sense was tingling in the park and we soon found out why. We were three quarters of the way through a ride when she suddenly sped up and then stopped. As a guard passed by, he explained that the brakes had gone weak, causing the emergency brakes to activate and stop us before we reached the exit station. We remained buckled in our seats for about 10 minutes until technicians came to fix the problem. Finally, we slowly pulled into the station.
The image of a roller coaster is an apt example of Jill’s fear. It goes up and down, there are twists and turns, and whether her fear comes from Huntington’s disease or her spider-sense, Huntington’s disease is a hell of a ride for her.
Note: Huntington’s Disease News is purely a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Huntington’s Disease News or its parent company Bionews and are intended to stimulate discussion about issues related to Huntington’s disease.
