Return to Jumping following PTSD - Advice

[SnakesAlive 0]

Hi,

I stopped jumping a few years ago (I only have about 60 jumps and FS1) and I am thinking of returning to jumping. I spent some time in the wind-tunnel at Bodyflight before making a trip to Empuria with some mates to get back into jumping at the Christmas boogie. Thing is when I got out there I could not bring myself to getting rigged up and into an ac. The reason for this is probably down to my recent diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stresss Disorder following military service in Iraq last year and a subsequent change in my perception of mortality. Thankfully I am now much better thanks to help which I have recieved from various people.

I would appreciate any help of advice on how I can/should go about getting back into jumping, I really enjoyed using the wind-tunnel and I'm sure this will be a useful part of it. Has anyone else been through a similar process? Any helpful replies appreciated.

SA

[Squeak 17]

with that many jump and that long off, the wind tunnel and a couple of check out coach jumps would be minimum I would think

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[darrenspooner 0]

This is a question that is best asked of your psychologist or psychiatrist if you have one. You need to be sure that you have achieved complete remission from your PTSD. Two main concerns here, if you're still re-experiencing your trauma by way of flashbacks or nightmares, then doing something dangerous like skydiving might be a trigger. Secondly, and more importantly, if you are still hyperaroused and hypervigilant, then you might be outside of the range of comfortable performance from a physiological perspective. In other words, if you are over-aroused or panicking you're ability to respond in an emergency will be compromised. You would also be hypersensitive to potential danger and you might react accordingly. If you PTSD consisted of dissociation, and this got triggered while skydiving, you would probably not be able to respond well in the plane or in the air.

Also, if you continue to take medication then consider the effect of that, especially if its something like mirtazapine or older style antidepressants like dothiepin. They are sedating and will leave you feeling washed out or hungover.

If you have comfortably overcome your PTSD, then break into it as gently as you can. Perhaps even consider doing a tandem.

Good luck

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

This is a question that is best asked of your psychologist or psychiatrist if you have one. You need to be sure that you have achieved complete remission from your PTSD.

The biggst problem I had with jumping during PTSD was that I would get an extreme high from skydiving, then by the end of the next day I would crash HARD. During that crash it would act as a trigger, with nightmares and flashbacks.

It wasn't a good rollercoaster, but it didn't effect me while skydiving. However, that doesn't mean that it won't effect the next person very differently. Definately a consult would be in order.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."