FEAR!

[diver123 0]

Ok guys I need some help: It's been over 5 months since my last skydive and am finally getting up again this weekend. Aside from the safety stuff (already hammered home), what helps take away that doubt that builds up after a long layoff? Has anyone ever gone this long before? If so, what did you do to stay focused and still be able to have fun?
"pull high! It's lower than you think..."

[Deleted 0]

Personally I enjoy the fear. After a month or so having the butterflies on the way to the DZ is an awesome feeling...Kinda like the fist time. Just remember how much fun it is and that everything will be OK as long as you stick with what works and be SAFE!!

[zelda 0]

Hey Randy,
are you jumping at SDO this weekend? Be sure to torture and torment me with stories of your first jump after the long layoff; it's been about that long for me, too (maybe you saw my last jump--I landed my reserve behind the tent camp!)...let me know how it goes, and if you come up with any tricks to ward off the panic. My doctor should sign me off to jump again pretty soon, and I'm excited and terrified at the same time!!
Good luck, blue skies, can't wait to hear how it goes!
-zelda

[lazerq3 0]

I made my first tandem in jul99 and I just did my second tandem ready for AFF saturday. The worst part for me is when that door opens but this time it wasnt bad because I already knew what to expect. And what helped me was that I was so focused on what excersises I had to do in 40sec that it changed my fear to not "o my god look how high we are" but to "O my god I gotta get all these monuvers done on time and correct". For me that mentallity just made the whole experience more enjoyable. The fact that there was a task at hand and not just falling. Plus my instructor was wayy cool and he kept saying whatever you do just relax and enjoy the veiw and take your time. I think once your up there it will all come back to you.(But what do I know I only have two jumps so far...dowh) Have fun and good luck
jason

[zelda 0]

I've got a serious door demon to fight with; I'm ok once I exit, but the ride to altitude is pretty nerve-wracking, and jumprun is just excruciating...I'd love to figure out how to get over that--does it ever go away?
-zelda

[skreamer 1]

Try this :
Start visualizing your skydive now already. Picture yourself manifesting, see yourself kitting up and walking out to the plane. Then see the plane taking off and you doing your '1000 check. Imagine that door opening. Where are you going to place your hands and feet before you exit? Picture yourself in freefall and then dumping. Then visualize the canopy ride followed by a good flare and landing. And lastly? See yourself buying shedloads of beer for not jumping for 5 months!!!
You'll be fine, dude, the skies are waiting - JUST DO IT!
/S

[Zennie 0]

Fear (and I suppose to a large degree, conquering it, but you never do completely) is why we do it. I've been jumping practically every weekend since late December and I still get jittery. I try to use that energy to go over emergency procedures in my head.
I've been reading your other posts and, while I'm sure you know it already, be careful and leave yourself plenty of room for error with your new canopy. I went from a 190 to a 170 and the 170 comes in noticeably hotter (duh).
I'm at 1.12 on a 170. A 150 would load me at 1.27, and man I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. But then again I don't have nearly as many jumps as you either.
Be safe & have fun with your new rig!
------------
Blue Skies!
Zennie

[SpeedRacer 1]

Zelda, it doesn't completely go away, but there was definitely a point (I'd say 20 jumps or so) where it had diminished to the extent that it was merely an exciting feeling, not an excruciating, heart-sinking, stomach-churning fear, like it was during my first few dives. During my first few jumps there was a part of me that was hoping that we'd get rained out. Actually, after graduating AFF I felt much more relaxed when I was doing my first solo after AFF8. I just jumped out there, and I didn't have to worry about performing for a jumpmaster, I just sunk my belly down into the wind & relaxed.
Speed Racer
"Blue Skies, Red eyes, Sore thighs!"

[tigra 0]

Personally, I think a little fear shows healthy respect for the dangerous nature of this sport. Its a good thing, just don't let it overpower you.
I just made my first jump since October on a brand new canopy 2 weeks ago, and I had some jitters. I did a hop and pop- it was the perfect cure, but everyone else thought I was nuts! Any fear went away as soon as I stepped out of the plane. I landed with a stupid grin on my face that didn't go away until I was back at work 2 days later.

[Slowfaller 0]

call me crazy, but i was scared shitless on my 2nd tandem. my first was straight and i dont know why. i think its because i sat shot gun w/ the pilot and just dwelled on it. and whoever said " i wish we would get rained out" i totally agree, my first couple of afp jumps i would think to myself "why the hell do i do this?", and then i would land safely under an open canopy and think " when can i do this again?", now im just pumped and ready to complete the task at hand. the confidence will come.
blue skies, cold beer
chris

[MarkF 0]

Hey zelda, look in your private messages. The rest of you will just have to wonder...:-)
Ooroo
Mark F...

[Craig 0]

I have not made a jump since mid November but the weather is getting alot better around here. This is the first layoff I have had since I started jumping so I share the bit of apprehension about the return. The jumps before the layoff were pretty much narrowed to excitement and butterflies, I suppose this could be one of the things that bring us back. My advice is to go into it knowing you can make the jump and accept that there may be some fear or apprehension after the layoff. A little fear is not necessarily a bad thing. You could also look at it from the point of view that you have jumped many times before and know you can carry out the priorities of pulling on time and landing safely. Stay within your limits and take it easy for a few jumps back and remember why you are jumping in the first place...to have fun!
Craig

[tigra 0]

"call me crazy, but i was scared shitless on my 2nd tandem"
Chris,
I had to do 3 tandems before starting AFP. I was fine on my first, really pumped when it was my turn, no hesitation, practically dragged the jumpmaster out with me. The second time, I sat up with the pilot and when I got to the door it just hit me, like, what the hell am I doing up here?? But then I went (might have needed a nudge) and it was all good. My third tandem, they had me climb outside the plane and do a "poised" student exit with a count. There I was, standing outside an airplane at 13,000' staring at the propeller. I froze; I did not want to let go of that bar! The jumpmaster had to peel me off the side of the plane! He was pissed, and gave me a big lecture on the ground, told me I had to practice that exit, or he wouldn't let me go to afp class! (and practice I did, over and over again)
That was 5 years and many jumps ago, but I still laugh when I think about it. And I still get the jitters sometimes, especially after a long winter layoff, but the best cure is presenting my body to the relative wind and letting go.

[Pammi 0]

Just have fun Diver! It'll be a blast :) I did a lot of lamaze type breathing, but that won't help ya much will it? LOL! I went 5 months also, on top of it being right after a low pull! Everyone was pounding me with 'this is a test that you don't do that again' sort of things...talk about pressure! The hop n' pop really helped though...I got to experience the door demon's presence again! I even beat it! (he made me open the door...lol...apparently a priviledge, but one I'd previously avoided *grin*)
Honestly tho...it'll be great! You'll be scared shitless possibly, but that just makes it more interesting :) It's like riding a bike...it comes back! After I landed I just had this huge smile and said how I couldn't believe I'd forgotten how much fun it was!!
Be careful and have fun!!
Pam

[Doasfu 0]

"i would think to myself "why the hell do i do this?", and then i would land safely under an open canopy and think " when can i do this again?", now im just pumped and ready to complete the task at hand. the confidence will come."
This is my first three or four jumps. That's just what I thought. The entire ride to altitude I'm thinking over and over, "Ok, I'll do this one. Once I've done this one last jump, I quit for good. No one will think I'm a wimp after X jumps."
As soon as I'm on the ground I'm thinking, "I need back up there now!" :)

[Tee 0]

I don't have any advice on fear that hasn't already been mentioned. But I do have an interesting tid-bit of information on why we feel the way we do about skydiving....
People have always craved new and exciting experiences.
The reason is that such experiences bring pleasure. And the feeling of pleasure is caused by activation of groups of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. These nerve cells communicate with each other and with nerve cells in other brain regions by means of chemical messengers called "neurotransmitters" which transmit signals and activate nerve cells. The part of the brain which is activated by exciting experiences is the "limbic system", which is composed of the oldest part of the brain, "the rhinencephalon", the emotional part. SKYDIVING "kick-starts" this part of the brain activating the amygdala, which is concerned with emotional memories especially those arousing feelings of fear and avoidance, as well as the septal region and hypothalamus, "pleasure centers" of the brain. Activation of these regions by input from our bodies during the act of SKYDIVING causes nerve cells to release the neurotransmitters "seratonin and norepinephrine", which in turn activate other nerve cells locally and at a distance. The amount of seratonin and norepinephrine bathing nerve cells in different brain regions, regulate moods, from exhilaration to despair, from moment to moment, as well as over longer periods of time. Activation of these regions of the brain are responsible for the complex set of feelings we feel when we jump out of that airplane.
by Denson G. Fujikawa, M.D.

[Deleted 0]

What the hell did Tee say????????????????

[lazerq3 0]

yaw na splane that en anglish!!!

[Albatross 0]

Just plan the dive in your head so you have done it a thousand times before. Take your time with everything. Have someone watch you pack or pack for you. Pick some one you are really comfortable with to make the jump with. Remember that the fear is a good thing unless it keeps you from jumping. It will make sure that you do everthing conservatively and carefully. Just don't get sloppy a few jumps in that is where the real danger lies.
Blue Skys And Safe landings
Albatross

[BFK 0]

I think I can comment on this one. Being a student (first undergraduate and now finishing graduate school) I have been forced financially to take breaks from this sport. ONCE EMPLOYED I WILL NEVER QUIT!
I have taken much longer than 5 months, so no worries. It really is like riding a bike. My advice if you have more than 50 jumps is to just find someone you trust to jump with you and just hang out in freefall.
Pull at 5000 and plan a very mellow jump. Get thorough gear checks from qualified people on the ground and in the plane. Also, review all malfunctions thoroughly.
If you are exceedingly uncomfortable or have less than 50 total jumps, then do a twilight level 4 with a certified instructor.
After my times off, I was scared to death to come back. But isn't that a great part of the thrill? I personally love that part. It's almost like the thrill of your first skydive, but better in some ways.
If you're like me, as soon as you leave the plane and enter freefall, it all comes back to you and you walk around for the next few weeks with your feet above the ground from that old feeling that you know and love so well that only skydiving can bring.
Don't worry much. Make safety number one and if you're really scared (or have less than 50 jumps) then get with an instructor and have him or her walk you through it.
Brad Koch
PS RELAX! and ARCH!

[FallnAngel 0]

Quote

I've got a serious door demon to fight with; I'm ok once I exit, but the ride to altitude is pretty nerve-wracking, and jumprun is just excruciating...I'd love to figure out how to get over that--does it ever go away?
-zelda

hi, zelda!
So that's what I've got!! A nasty door demon haunting me! I've had the bastard hanging with me since day 1, just didn't have a name for it. In my mind, I *know* I'm going to have a great jump, but, man as soon as we get close to jumprun I'm thinking "what the *hell* am I thinking!!", then the door opens and my stomach just sinks & goes into a big knot! It's not as bad now as it was during aff. And it seems to be better if I'm last out - it doesn't feel as rushed (although noone has ever rushed me even when I've been first out & hesitated). And I really do like to see the different exits that others do. I wish I knew a way to get over it, maybe it just takes time.
In the meantime, if Pammi & I are ever on a plane at the same time, it's going to look like the skydiving birthing center @ 14k with all that lamaze breathing going on! lol!
Blues skies,
Karen

[SkySlut 0]

A little fear is what keeps us safe...think of the alternative.
"I'll jump anything!"

[Jeji 0]

I love you guys!!!! It's soooooo nice to know that I'm not alone out there!!! From the time we board the plane until the door opens I keep thinking, "What the H*** am I doing!!!!" As soon as I am in the door it all gets forgotten, but that ride to altitude is just awful. It's been 2 mths. since I did my L-3 and the longer I go between jumps the more I question my reason for jumping. I know I'll love every second of it and be ready to head up again as soon as I'm on the ground, but... I do remember how relieved I felt when we got winded out a few days. Since I went past my 30 days, I'm just hanging tight for another mth. or so and am gonna finish AFF in a weekend as soon as money/weather/time allow. I've been at the DZ every week and I find that just being around there my fears are starting to evaporate. But then again, do I really want them to? Fear is healthy and if I wanted a sport that I had no fear of I guess I could go bowling!!!!!!!!
Jeji

[skreamer 1]

Quote

In the meantime, if Pammi & I are ever on a plane at the same time, it's going to look like the skydiving birthing center @ 14k with all that lamaze breathing going on! lol!

Hmmm if the 3 of us ever shared a load it would be really interesting - 2 heavy breathers and 1 skreamer!
/s

[Pammi 0]

Quote

In the meantime, if Pammi & I are ever on a plane at the same time, it's going to look like the skydiving birthing center @ 14k with all that lamaze breathing going on! lol!

That's hilarious Karen! I actually got a vid finally of my face in the plane just before we exit. It's rather embarrassing *g*. I haven't shown my family because I can already hear it..."And you do this for a good time?! Doesn't look like it!" LOL!
There's a guy that jumps with us that does some Yoga stuff I suppose it is, where he'll put his index and middle finger out together, facing up, and have another person put their same fingers on his facing down. Then does this slow breathing/count thing as he moves them all up and down slowly. I don't know what in the world it is he's doing, but it's weird...it really helped me relax! Gotta learn that yoga thing! :)
Pammi