jojo69

I started jumping about 3 years ago. My husband does not jump. He very seldom come to the DZ with me because I tend to be very focused when I am there. He does support me and actually brags about "his wife the skydiver". I know that he worries about me. I call him when I get to the DZ and when I am done with my last jump. I try to jump every weekend. I do however spend every Friday night and Saturday night with him and his friends playing darts. I stink at darts but it is something he loves to do. Be supportive and keep balance in your relationship.

It is always amazing to me when people ask me to jump with them. I am very outgoing and happy most of the time, once I am settled down. Unfortunately, I don't always make it on to the DZ. Sometimes I get there, sit in the car a few minutes and leave. I get so mad at myself. I have been putting myself in situations were I need to overcome this fear most of my life. I can usually do ok but sometimes it wins.

My challenge is Social Phobia. I have a difficult time with people I do not know. This is something that I have had since childhood. When I first go to a new DZ I have to keep reminding myself that I am safe and that I can leave anytime I want to. It is not that I think anything is going to happen but my heart races and I get very anxious when I go to new places. I get over this by taking deep breaths before I start, and just go. I have never had anything bad happen to me, it is just an unrealistic fear. Frequently I make an appointment with someone there so I have to go. Once I an there and have a few minutes to get over the fear I am fine.

THank you for the post. I cry when I read how brave and giving people can be. I read too much of how things are bad and never seem to see enough of how people sacrafice for the greater good. My deepest sympathy for the family. I hope they walk with their heads high and show pride in their son.

I always donated every 8 weeks without a problem for years and years. Then after being called up for the Army and getting all my shots (hepatitis B was included) I could not donate anymore. I got a letter saying that I may have hepatitis. I went to the doctor and got checked and am fine with not hepatitis in sight but the blood bank will not allow me to give anymore.

I spent a great deal of time (and money) working with a coach. You must be very clear in what you want to accomplish on each jump. You seem to have the opposite problem from me (I fall like a stone in water). I spent my first 10 jumps and about 15 minutes of tunnel time learning how to control my fall rate. These were boring jumps because all we did was get small then get large over and over again but I feel that it was worth it. If your have a tunnel near you, you may want to invest in going there. You can practice for minutes at a time in stead of seconds. Are you working on several things during the jumps? Do you have specific goals you want to accomplish? Have you shared them with your coach? Remember, you are working on your skills. Your coach is there to help and direct you with feedback. If your goal for a jump is not the same as your coaches, then neither of you going to be happy with the jump and both of you are wasting your time.

I tend to meet each person on a middle ground. I have all my life. My house was the one were if you in the military and were stuck at the end of the day for a place to stay, the door was open. I often got up in the morning and found six or seven coast guard men sleeping on the floor or coach in the living room and dining room. I remember my dad stepping over bodies to go to work, leaving my mom, sister and myself alone with these wonderful men. Today, I am not as open to having strangers in my home but there are at least a dozen people with keys to my house. It was funny when I got married and my husband came into the bedroom to say that there was a strange man in my kitchen cooking pasta sauce. The look on his face was priceless.

Thank you for actions. I hope my small donation helps. You demonstrate the best in an instructor.

I have to say that now that I jump with other people I frequently find new and exciting bruises all the time. I do not remember anyone or anything that I may have bumped or grabbed but there they are. I think that the pure concentration on what has to be done on each jump causes me to ignore everything but the movements I am expected to make. It took a long time for me to be aware of real time verses adrenaline time. It actually took me 15 or 20 jumps just to recognize where I was in the air compared to the DZ.

an A license and a new to you rig!!! Great job.

Congratulations!!! It is a great feeling to get the license.

When your wife gets her gear on next time, you may suggest that she adjust her chest strap first and then her leg straps. She should bend over at the hip and pull her chest strap tight. I have found that this relieved the chest strap hickey I was getting before I started gearing up this way. The manual that came with my gear suggested this process and it works great for me.

I can tell you that this is very normal. We tell parents to give the child a bath in "room temperature" water to bring temp to normal and give tylenol or motrin to maintain temp. Give lots of fluids and encourage rest. Good luck.

Congratulations on your safe choice to ride the plane down. I did the same thing a few weeks ago. The pilot was very friendly and helpful on the way down. When I first started to jump "self supervised" I realized that I had no idea what I was supervising myself doing. This gave me plenty of time to think and over think on the way up. My instructors started working with me on what each dives purpose should be. It helped a great deal. Dehydration is a problem that will cause light headedness and anxiety. You should always get plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty. I hope to be jumping again in two weeks. I hope to see you there.

I am sorry to hear of your injury. I can tell you from experience that all meds have side effects. However, when a drug has a side effect of nausea, and you have nausea, that does not mean that that particular drug gave it to you. With your history, you should consult your doctor. I work in a nursing home and the residents there have thier meds reviewed by thier doctor and a licensed pharmacist every 30 days. That does not promise that the residents will not have side effects. Every person is special and meds react differently in every one. Good luck and keep up the great spirits.

I want to thank everyone for their support. This is not the first time I have avoided a cloud. This is the first time that I was aware that I was doing it and should not have. Now that I am aware of my actions and why I do it, I am hoping to change this habit. The ride down was the right thing for me on that day. It may or may not be the same decision on another day or on a DZ that I am very comfortable with. Again, thanks for your support and advice.

Thank you. This makes me feel better. I think I do track to get away from them. This is what has me the most worried. I have worked with a coach for months so that I would not be a hazard to myself or other jumpers and here I go tracking away from a cloud. When I am in a cloud, I get an irrational fear that my altimeter will suddenly stop working and the cloud goes to the ground. I am also terrified that other jumpers are in there with me and I can not see them.

I felt fine about sitting down. My fear is I will get below other jumpers because I am avoiding clouds.

How do i get over my fear of clouds. I hate to jump anywhere near them. I find myself tracking away from them during free fall. This scares me because it may put me off the jump run and I do not want to become a problem for other jumpers. Last week I did not make a jump because when the light went green, I could not see the ground. I had no problem stepping down and letting the tandems out but felt funny getting off the plane on the ground. Is my fear of clouds unusual?

I have read your post and feel that I should sign and inital it. I enjoy your explanations and thank you for sharing your knowledge.

I never saw the movie but I read the book

Happy Birthday Kim!!! I am sorry that your introduction to our sport was so scary and unhappy. I believe that your desire to continue on in this sport is a testimony to your strength and core ch[email]aracter. I wish you a joyous first jump.

Welcome home and thanks for all you do. As much as I liked Fort Bragg, I have to admit Campbell is very nice.

The ocean is part of me. I am most at home near, on or under the ocean.