Nerve problems.

[nubain1 0]

OKay here's the deal.I've been in AFF sice Aug and I'm still only at level 5.The last time I went to jump, i let my nerves get the best of me.Once we got to alti I got so nervous that I almost got sick.I could feel it at the top of my throat.Why does this keep happening to me.this is the third time I have not been able to jump.I don't understand it.Before I went for my last jump, it was all I could think about.I went over the dive flow almost every waking moment the week before.I know the flow forwards and backwards.I just could not make myself go through with it.I tried relaxing but nothing I did helped.I tried focusing on ther dive,tired slow deep breathing,and everything else I could think of to relax but it did'nt help.What am I doing wrong?I want to get through AFF as quick as I can but I keep letting nerves get in the way.Any suggestions?I've even considered some valium on the way to alti then some romazicon to reverse it just prior to jumping.HELP

[wlie 0]

Do you drink coffee? Stop if you do.

Married? Got a girlfriend? Try sex before heading out.

The thing to remember is that altitude is your friend. And you have fun with your friends. Go up with at least these 3 goals: Stay alive, Look cool doing it, Have fun.

My other ride is the relative wind.

[skybytch 273]

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I've even considered some valium on the way to alti then some romazicon to reverse it just prior to jumping.

Please say you don't mean this seriously.

[nubain1 0]

No it was a joke, Just trying a little humor in this situation

[SpeedRacer 1]

When I was a new jumper, and even now if its been awhile, I avoid anything with refined sugar or caffeine prior to jumping. No morning coffee, etc.

Think of a mantra to use. I used to sing the Bugs Bunny Opening Theme song to myself before jumping.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[freeflir29 0]

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Married? Got a girlfriend? Try sex before heading out

Girlfriend? Why does he need a girlfriend for that? Just rub one out before heading to the DZ.


Seriously, sounds like you need to do a bit of soul searching. Skydiving isn't for everyone. If you make peace with the fact that you could die doing this I think all your other worries will subside. Just chill dude....ya gotta die of something right?


"We live in fame or go down in flames...Hey!!!"

[kiltboy 0]

I got nervous for my level 6, as I didn't like the idea of going unstable.
What I did was go to the DZ but not jump and I talked to a couple of the JMs and told them that I wasn't thrilled about going unstable.

I went when I was ready and it went fine. JM gave me a huge grin when I got stable again and I was grinning the whole way down. It's a major confidence boost and I went straight up for level 7 on the next load. Then it was the level 8 Hop n Pop and a case for the first Cessna jump and getting off student status. Nobody mentioned the case but I got one anyway.

My advice would be go to the DZ, hang out maybe talk with the JMs and face your fears. If they know that you're nervous they can help. You won't be the first nervous student and you won't be the last.

David

[wmw999 2,546]

I was gut-wrenchingly "why am I doing this" sick scared through most of my static line progression. Only stubborness kept me at it, and the fact that I was only 20.

You might want to try meditating regularly, then just a short get-yourself-together session awhile before jumping. Calming breathing and the like. It works.

For me, my first freefall took that gut-wrenching away from me, and just left good old-fashioned fear abd respect. Instead of trying a progression jump, try repeating one that you know you've mastered, or maybe even a static line or a tandem, to eliminate variables from the jump that you can obsess about.

And maybe it'll just end up not being fun. Nothing wrong with that. Good luck.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Galen 0]

I think you have to ask yourself why you keep going with it. My worse jitters would kick in when we got to altitude and everyone started moving around in the plane. Then making my way to the door. I was afraid to get to close to it. But once I was out.... pure bliss. Something keeps making you go back despite the fear which you should get a lot of credit for.

[blondeflyer7 0]

I can relate to this totally.....just take some breaths and don't give up....try to get your JM to talk things one step at a time with you...you'll get it...I kept trying to relax, over and over...I got through it finally. One day you'll wake up and know its the day, and conquer this...don't try to think about it as much. I KNOW what your going through...I promise...Hang in there.

[jumperconway 0]

Hi Nubain,
I did my first 4 jumps over a 4 month period at the end of '98. I was there first thing every Saturday and Sunday and hardly ever got to jump. So I didn't jump again for 2 years out of frustration. When I started back in 2000, I did a retrain on Saturday and halfway through it we went into the plane to check it out. This was a King Air and I had jumped both an Otter and Cessna in '98. When I smelled the plane inside, I almost got sick because I was never over the hebegebies before and am deathly afraid of heights. The weather cleared up that afternoon and the JM said we could go up. I was shakin' like a leaf and the nerves had my stomach in knots. I told him I would sleep on it overnight and come back tomorrow mentally prepared to jump. When I got there the next morning, he said we're on the first load so I did'nt have the time to sit around and think about the what-ifs.I just told myself to remember that the fear stays in the plane so don't worry, relax when you're in the door and it was the best jump EVER actually watching the plane fly away! The next few levels went OK until we were going to do the second set of flips(I don't remember front or back)and suddenly I was as nervous as a first jumper all over again. Nervous stomach, sweaty palms and all. My JM asked what I was so nervous about and I told him that I could not picture the the flips in my head because I never saw hem on video! He said with a big smile "Hey Conway...IT'S ONLY AIR! If you screw it up just arch, get stable and DO IT AGAIN! You got 60 seconds to get it right!" and he just smiled. Ever since he told me that, I've never had that again! I always tell new students at my DZ about that and it calms them immensely. It's worked now for over 1000 jumps and every time I tell a student or newbie that doesn't get to jump very regularly, it seems to help them like it helped me. Hope this helps you out bud. Pass it on!

C 1027

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Clint

There is also likely something else that is going on here concerning your nerves which I don't think anybody has addressed.

You see you're trying to learn how to skydive in one of the more challenging places. Because we skydive in Colorado, we have certain altitude issues that most other people don't have to deal with. I'm sure you'd still have some nervous feelings before your jumps, but I'd be willing to bet that some of the anxiety you feel is because your likely close to 17500 above sea level and the air is thin up. Now I'm not one of the experienced jumpers that you'll talk to here, but I have done all of my jumps in Colorado (and five in New Mexico, also at a similar altitude) and I too experience this oxygen deprived anxiety on virtually every jump. It's not that I'm nervous, there's just less oxygen getting into out brains.

So I'm just trying to let you know that it's not all in your mind. It's also a physical thing.

Good luck with your training and if you're hanging out at Skydive the Rockies this weekend, you may run into me as I'll be visiting your DZ for the pre-second time (assuming the weather cooperates).

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Muenkel 0]

Clint,

When I did tandem jumps, I had absolutely no nerves. This really surprised me, as I can get butterflies in my stomach over the stupidest of things. When I began AFF training, the first step was tunnel training. Well, I got injured immediately in the tunnel. I had a traction injury in my right shoulder (stretched nerve) and could not for the life of me stabilize in the tunnel. Not only was I totally embarrassed (I was the only aff student in the group...the rest were tourists), I was extremely frustrated. Everything I looked forward to for 4 months was up in smoke in seconds! The injury took 2 months to heal.

The point of all this is, due to alot of other bullshit, I was unable to resume aff all season. In the meantime, the fact that I was never able to get stable in the tunnel scared the shit out of me (If I can't get stable in a tunnel, then how do I expect to be stable in freefall?). But skydiving is still in my blood and I do plan to re-pursue it next spring. In the meantime, I plan to learn all I can. Also, talking to people who have conquered it, really helps. You're off to a good start by posting your experience here, because I think you will get alot of sensible feedback.

Good luck and I hope you are not too quick to give up.

_________________________________________
Chris

[Brisco 0]

With only 20 jumps, I still get nervous (less each time), but what helps me is reminding myself how much FUN it is!

Brisco

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

[Chivo 0]

Hey Clint, what's up? Having anxiety problems? That's ok, many people have them, I know I'm one of them. I used to get really nervous before every jump. Sometimes I even got sick before jumping. And I ALWAYS got sick after each of my AFF jumps. Every time after I landed, I removed my helmet and got sick. After washing my teeth, I waited a few hours to get rid of the anxiety/motion sickness and jumped again.

-Watch what you eat:
Everytime I go skydiving I try to eat light. Most of the time all I have for breakfast is a Jamba Juice (Jamba Powerboost - to be exact).

-On the ride to altitude:
Think of the diveflow, go over it a zillion times. Review your emergency procedures and check your handles.

-Safety above all:
On the ground, have your instructors check and re-check your gear. It helped to calm me down to know that I was taking all the time to prepare and doing everything I could to make the jump as safe as possible.

Other than that, I can assure you: The more you jump, the easier it will get to overcome the anxiety. When you least expect it, you'll realize it is not a problem anymore.

It is a hassle, but I was able to overcome it. I know you can too. Good luck,
Chivo

[freeflir29 0]

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Safety above all:
On the ground, have your instructors check and re-check your gear. It helped to calm me down to know that I was taking all the time to prepare and doing everything I could to make the jump as safe as possible.

You might be on to something there. I have found that a lot of people fear what they do not understand. If they really know how their gear works it puts them at ease. Confidence in your equipment is essential. Confidence in your instructors is also a requirement.

[wingnut 0]

nubain..... dude, everyone gets nervous smetime......if ya make it out to sdtr before mid dec i'll be there to chear ya along and take your mind off the jump.....screwing around with the tandems is a good way to pass tme on the ride up!!!! lol... hang in there, it get easier as ya go along.....

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[jtval 0]

theh hell with trying ot figure it out...we are skydivers..have fun with EVERYTHING...
dont worry about your illness at alti...
infact drink a quart of canola oil just before you get on the plane.
then on the way up eat two pounds of poprocks....then AIM FOR THE NEW GUY....hahahaha itll be a wram welcome. LITERALLY!

My photos

My Videos

[airann 1]

Level 5... You may still be in sensory over load.

Everything is new, what should not be new are your emergency proceedures and the dive plan.

Do you trust your JumpMaster? You are not out there by yourself you know. You have some help. Just keep on with the dive plan.

Go to the door and keep your eye on the JM. Talk to him, tell him the deal. Then chill out about it or try. I will be willing to bet he already knows.

I was kind of insistent that I stay with the same JM. Later on I trusted both of them.

I never eat at the dz. I barely drink. If you eat eat just a little and like a couple of hours before you go out.

Hang out with the people at the dropzone. Learn to trust your brothers and sisters on the aircraft. There is NO WAY I could get on and off an aircraft with my rig messed up. Everyone looks at your rig, whether you know it or not. Especially if you are a student. This is an incredible thing, its good. All your gear will be fine, -But know it your self.

Stay calm cool and collected. Dont leave the ground if you arent ready to go.

PS- I have turned around at the door before. Many times. And those were as a licensed skydiver.

-If my head aint right - no flight.

Its just as important to know that you can skydive as it is to recognize that you may not want to you might want to figure that out before you get on the plane.

Also you might want to let of the dive for a little on the way to alt, to let yourself calm down. It takes a minute or two, so give it time.

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I want to get through AFF as quick as I can

May not be a great idea, take your time.

~AirAnn~

[dunesurfer 0]

I was a "stresser" through AFF, and got similar nervous reactions to what you experience. I would stiffen up in freefall and become unstable. What worked for me was a relaxation technique: I picture myself on a beach, and imagine all the sensations in a smuch detail as possible...the sound the surf makes wooshing into the sand, the feel of the warm sun, a light breeze blowing over me. pick such an event that you would find relaxing and try this technique. practice it at home a few times first, then do it on the ground before boaeding, and at some point on the ride to altitude. I hope it helps

[bobsled92 0]

Get a good jump video(Quincy WFFC 2002) with music that really gets you happy & pumped about jumping.
What it over and over and sign along.
When you're on the ride up, start humming that tune and do it again on jump run.
Next thing you know, you'll be signing..."I'm sippin' Lemonade"
(I sign that songs from that vid at work and on up to altitude)
-Grant G.

_______________________________
If I could be a Super Hero,
I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year.
http://www.hangout.no/speednews/

[drenaline 0]

Nubain you gotta take it easy, concentrate on your breathing and don't think of what you have to do, dunno what is level 5 (i did SL) but do a stable belly to earth, don't worry about anything else. The only thing you need to conquer is the exit from the plane, once you do it all the next dives will be easier. I got my nervous ride on SL jump 3 almost declined from jumping but I concentrated on "I've done it before, its safe, I have a reserve, red, silver, its costing me 60$ I gotta do it".

Why you are nervous: its the sane part of the brain telling you that you are crazy for doing sh¡t like that and that you should be at house whatching TV, smoking cigars and spend a boring "safe" life for the rest of your life. On the other hand you have your not so sane but very insane part of the brain telling you "WOOOHOOO!!!! JUMP!!!!! PARTY!!!!" now listen to that and you will live a happy life.

GO FOR IT! JUMP! dont wait at the door, don't think of it, just do it!

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

[Guest]

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I was gut-wrenchingly "why am I doing this" sick scared through most of my static line progression. Only stubborness kept me at it, and the fact that I was only 20.

Same here. Stiff as a board, and scared to the point of wanting to throw up, in my case.

Some people are more affected by it (the perfectly natural fear of imminent death) than others, but believe me, everybody feels it.

Eventually, though, the more you jump, the more habituated you will become - it's truly amazing what the human mind can adjust to, given sufficient time and / or motivation.

The day you AREN'T scared (at least a little) is the time you should become concerned. The lack of fear, it's my belief, leads to compacency, and in this sport, complacency=death.

Aside from that, please note: Fear is to be expected, but never ignored. Acknowledging the fear and pressing on anyway is best.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."