A_girl 0 #1 February 24, 2007 I could kick myself in the ass for being such a big pussy. I have now chickened out of not one but two AFF jumps. I have done 2 tandums with slight hesitation. I am fine on the ride up, but the minute that door opens....thats it....I can feel my insides tighten up, my legs get weak, my arms go numb and my heart lodges itself in my throat. So tell me what the fuck is wrong with me that I can't get past this irrational fear of a door opening? Am I destined to be a tandum case all my life? Is pushing and shoving something that is encouraged in the aircraft and do I have to pay extra for it? What do you guys think?When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swedishcelt 0 #2 February 24, 2007 I think you are really being way too hard on yourself. Do you like skydiving? If you do, do it. If not, don't do it and be proud you did 2. No worries. It's all good, life is good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voltage 0 #3 February 24, 2007 As said before, you seem hard on yourself ... I can relate from my training My suggestion: learn all about your dive on the ground (be prepared), and when you are in the airplane and things get hot, think of why you want to do it, think of the things that help gather your courage, relax yourself Once you are out the door, the wind will wake you up and your arms and legs will come back So don't worry too much. Andi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floridadiver81 0 #4 February 24, 2007 Your problem is door anxiety. Most of us had it at one point..and actually..alot of the seasoned veterns still have it..but they jsut launch themselves out of the plane and its fine. I had it too on my tandem jump...of course the TI made it a lil worse by holding me at the door for a good minute...on my knees..looking down...lol. Im not even a newbie yet but i can understand how you feel. Im on level 4 aff and i still get it slightly...but literally...the second you are out of hte door..at least for me and most people....that feeling goes away as the adrenaline starts pumping becasue of the freefall. Everyone copes with it in different ways. As once said before...if you dont have at least a little bit of hesitation and/or fear when jumping out of a plane..then you really shouldnt be doing this sport...lol. You'll be ok...just keep thinking to yourself..that you are doing this because you want to!"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie "Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_girl 0 #5 February 24, 2007 Thanks for all your encouraging words. I probably am a bit hard on myself...I can be my own worst enemy and harshest critic. I am so demanding of everyone in my life, especially myself. My plan is to go out early one day...do a tandum immediatly followed by a free fall. Hopefully that will do the trick and I can get past the anxiety of the open door. If that doesn't work I will ask the DZO to put a trap door in the plane and catch me with a "surprise" jump....When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sartre 0 #6 February 25, 2007 I never had any fear at all until a few jumps into my AFF. The way I got through it? I promised myself that if I just did this one jump, I would never have to do it again. It worked. And about jump 23 the fear pretty much went away and I began to have fun again. I still screw up my landings, have no sense of direction, land into the wind....am faaaar from being perfect. But damn, it's fun and it's a challenge and I am proud of myself for NOT quitting when it hasn't come naturally to me. Just do it. Tell yourself just one jump at a time. That's all you have to get through. And you are allowed to quit at any time. No one will think less of you, and by doing the tandems, you've already been much more adventurous than most of the population. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floridadiver81 0 #7 February 25, 2007 Not a problem. There are alot of things that people think are wrong..but are just "normal" feelings in the skydiving world. Everyone jsut has different ways of dealing with them. Once you find your method...you'll be straight..i promise "Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie "Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites