Unexplained Nerves

[mamajumps 0]

I was in Sebastian this past weekend and Deland's Skyvan was there, I have never jumped the skyvan before, so I was all over it... First jump I was a bit nervous, new jump plane ok.. I expected that, but my 2nd jump was even worse, to the point that I almost decided to ride the plane down..... Ive recently gotten current, 7 jumps this year (since 2/29). Most of my jumps are from Otters, Caravans or Cessna's. Im very upset with myself for being that nervous... jumping is a huge passion for me and I have several goals for myself... Just wondering if anyone here might have some words of wisdom for me...

[AggieDave 6]

Nervousness happens. I experience it sometimes too. Its usually when I'm tired, hung over and/or doing something different.

Currency helps a lot and sorry, but seven jumps in the past 45 days isn't that current. Take a deep breath and jump more, you'll get past it.

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

[Jumpah 0]

Perfectly normal. You are doing something that most adults would never do.

Don't beat yourself up about nerves when jumping a new aircraft

[mamajumps 0]

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Nervousness happens. I experience it sometimes too. Its usually when I'm tired, hung over and/or doing something different.

Currency helps a lot and sorry, but seven jumps in the past 45 days isn't that current. Take a deep breath and jump more, you'll get past it.

I really wish I could jump more, right now I try to make it to a DZ once a month, thats about all I can afford...

[AggieDave 6]

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I really wish I could jump more, right now I try to make it to a DZ once a month, thats about all I can afford

I understand. When I was in college and was making around $10k a year I couldn't afford to skydive. So I worked at the DZ. I swept, I washed planes, I did everything I could do to get a jump. Then I started packing, then I became an instructor.

My point is to jump as much as you can and it'll help you with your nerves. If you are lacking in the number of jumps you can do, then doing even simple things around the DZ can get you some jumps. Check with the DZO or DZM and see what needs to be done.

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

[ladyhawke 0]

Maybe you became nervous because it was an unfamiliar place and plane. That happens to me too. Oh, and I'm always a little nervous the first jump of the day!

"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." - A. Dumbledore

[AnKaLi 0]

I am the queen of the nerves...I road the plane down 3 times last summer during my student progression. My body would just put the breaks on and I would cry.
LOL

I've combatted any nerves since then with singing a song in my head up to altitude, its all about distraction. I haven't really had any issues with fear since I got my license, but I'm sure it will creep up on me again, and I'll just have to remember to rock out to some Phish in my head and remind myself that I love jumping

[ladydyver 0]

I am always a little nervous the first jump of the day....when I am at a new or different Dz or I am jumping from a different plane than what I have jumped out in the past. Jumping new or different gear will get ya too. Sometimes the "nerves" come out of no where and then the door opens and they go away - I actually get very calm. Weird huh?

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[mamajumps 0]

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I am always a little nervous the first jump of the day....when I am at a new or different Dz or I am jumping from a different plane than what I have jumped out in the past. Jumping new or different gear will get ya too. etimes the "nerves" come out of no where and then the door opens and they go away - I actually get very calm. Weird huh?

I have experienced that on the otter... as soon as im in the door..im good to go....

[mamajumps 0]

Thats a good idea... on the ride up on the skyvan, my boyfriend who mainly only jumps as sebastian was pointing out different things to me, looking out of the space between the door and floor of the skyvan. I normally close my eyes on the ride up and think about my jump. THe music thing is a good idea, one of the camera guys at Sebastian listens to his Ipod on the way up and around 10 grand puts it in his jumpsuit....

[catfishhunter 2]

Your not alone. It isn't natural to throw yourself at a giant rock from 2 miles up. Breathe deep and if it is un-controllable then ride the plane down and try the next load or even the next day or week. I have had a case of the nerves the last couple jumps since it had been over a month since my last jumps. Our flight pattern scares the shit out of me. I hate the plane ride and here in Utah we fly over the mountain at maybe 100' off the deck. I hate it at the best of times and after 3 months of not jumping it down right freaks me right the fuck out sometimes. I have yet to ride the plane down though because that scares me even more

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT
Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose.

[MomDaBomb 0]

Because I'm a student, I'm usually one of the last ones to leave the plane and it freaks me out to watch the jumpers before me exit the plane. I don't know if I will ever get used to watching it.

[grannyinthesky 0]

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I hate the plane ride and here in Utah we fly over the mountain at maybe 100' off the deck.

I was your dz a couple of weeks ago and since I'm still a student, couldn't jump, but I did do an observer ride. I loved the view and climb to altitude near the mountains. I didn't like having to ride the plane down though. Next time I'm there it's going to be when I can enjoy the view without a plane in the way.

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[yamtx73 0]

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Because I'm a student, I'm usually one of the last ones to leave the plane and it freaks me out to watch the jumpers before me exit the plane. I don't know if I will ever get used to watching it.

You'll get used to watching the others exiting before you... and before long you'll be looking forward to seeing them leave so it'll be your turn to go

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[Metekanya 0]

I suppose it is quite normal to feel the folowing cicle: First the excitement is larger than the fear so it is easy to overcome, later there is a period of asking yourself "do I really enjoy this that much so it is worth the money and the fear?" some people do not pass from this phase, but if you do, you will just want go up again and again and again, and will love new planes, new places, new people, new disciplines, etc. You will stop thinking of JUMPING and will start thinking of FLYING. I am not right, experienced guys?

[mamajumps 0]

I agree with you 100%, and I am already past "the is it worth it phase", thats why Im so flipped over my nerves.... I actually crave jumping and when I go a bit w/o a jump, I get fairly grouchy...

[yamtx73 0]

From time to time I still get hit with 'the nerves'... but once the door opens and I look out they disappear and are replaced with that sudden desire to throw my body out and start to really enjoy the flight...

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[tigra 0]

Actually, something similar happened to me on a skyvan jump a few years ago. I was current and it wasn't my first jump from a skyvan, but somehow I fixated on that gap between the door and the floor and I was pretty close to having a panic attack. Really, I have no idea why that gap in the floor bothered me so much that day, but it did. Then someone on the load took his partial out to stash, dropped it and out that little gap it went! Sad for him but somehow that made me feel better.

[mamajumps 0]

That little gap bugged me too, and on my 2nd jump my boyfriend is one the who stepped across the gap to open the door... that flipped me out. Aint that the silliest thing ever!!! All the way up on the first jump my boyfriend was pointing out land marks thru the little gap and, yeah I just didnt like it a whole lot... I will jump the van again, I wont let anything like that kick my butt....

[mattaman 0]

Why do you skydive. This is not a question, its s statement. If you willing to risk your life to jump, you need to reflect on why. If its cause your a self promoting looser who uses adrenaline to overcompensate for feelings of inferiority, and you need to bugle out "I'm a skydiver," desperatly to the world cause you have no sense of self, then maybe its time to give it up and deal with your baggage, so you don't have an accident going toward the ground and start wishing you weren't there. The only reason I skydive now is cause I enjoy helping others to face fears and find the power internally to overcome other fears. Its got little to do with skydiving, but skydiving is the best vehicle.
Don't search for why your afraid, but why your willing to risk your life. If you search deep enough it might have something to do with love. If you still stay in skydiving, bring this to the sport. Its the only thing worth risking our life for. The others are phoneys trying to convince others they are real so they can believe it themselves.
We all feel fear, but we're willing to risk for whats in our hearts. Except narcissis, he risks for whats in the mirror cause he has lost his heart.
If you stay in the sport, let you heart shine, there are others around.
Matt

Those stuck in maya, seek to be seen.

[ladyhawke 0]

It's not what you fling but the fling itself! One of my most fav-o-rite lines from Northern Exposure.

I posted a blog on my myspace page about why skydiving has been very good for me. I wish more people who skydive would use it to sort out what is within themselves.

There are and will always be skydivers who just don't get it and will continue to walk around in their empty shells fooling no one but themselves.

"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." - A. Dumbledore

[AnKaLi 0]

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Because I'm a student, I'm usually one of the last ones to leave the plane and it freaks me out to watch the jumpers before me exit the plane. I don't know if I will ever get used to watching it.

you will, it took me a long time but I love watching other people jump now :)

[tbrown 26]

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Actually, something similar happened to me on a skyvan jump a few years ago.

Skyvans are funny airplanes. I love them, but sometimes there's just something spooky about opening up the entire back end of the plane, it's almost like The Twilight Zone or something. They're always a gas to run out of, so I don't let it bother me. I figure it's just something deep inside the human psyche that doesn't like Skyvans...

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[tigra 0]

Could be just that and normally, I also love skyvans. But that day, I was just fixated on that gap in the floor for some reason. It was dumb- first of all, it wasn't big enough to fall through, and 2nd, the only reason I was on the plane was to jump out of it anyway! For some reason, watching the guy's teeth bounce right out put everything in perspective and then I was fine!

[normiss 844]

The gap is the shit!
hop n pop - lay on floor....roll over to gap...

Tailgates seem to be visually overwhelming to some....that's a BIG hole in an aircraft!