separation anxiety

[emmiwy 0]

I wanted to ask for people's advice/thoughts about their experience with transitioning off student status because I feel I'm having the same level of anxiety/fear when I was going through AFF.

It is the same feeling of separation anxiety I had when I no longer had a coach flying beside you in the solo jumps post AFF level 8. But now there is a whole different level of trust I need to re-gain with people I may not know very well, who all have more jumps with me but are not instructors/coaches. Over the weekend I did 2/3/4-ways with experienced people [the least experienced had over 60 jumps], but I still felt very anxious and scared about messing up my slot, the exit, etc.

Is there a better way to go about progressing as a new skydiver? I have a feeling it would be silly to be jumping with coaches for the next few jumps to get comfortable. In the end, it probably won't help overcome that fear of jumping with others who may not have that same level of experience.

[mgregory 0]

If they get upset because you messed something up... don't jump with them. I'm sure everyone will be happy to have you jump with them and will enjoy it even more when you screw the whole thing up so they can make fun of you;) I know this first hand.

AKA MG Hammer Flying Hellfish #834 Son's Of Bacon #1

[NWFlyer 2]

You're doing it exactly right. Keep the groups small, be up front about your experience level and things that are making you nervous, and don't be afraid to pull off or push back if something is outside of your comfort zone (for example, if that 4-way becomes an 8-way). When I'm organizing small groups, I always ask the least experienced person where they would like to break off and we go with that as a breakoff. If you're uncomfortable with the breakoff altitude that the group sets, ask if it can be bumped up to a more comfortable level.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[wildWilly 0]

I think most of us have felt to some degree what you are feeling.
As long as you are comfortable with the jumps you go on and get some good feedback from the people you jump with, this anxiety should ease.
If you have a chance, do a tunnel camp with a good coach. This will help
you gain both experience and confidence. I would also recommend reading Brian Germain's books Transending Fear and The Parachute and It's Pilot. There is a wealth of knowledge and coping techniques that will give you a great head start on a long and safe introduction to this great sport.
Have fun and keep jumping,

Willy

growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

[InfiniteSky 0]

Jumping after AFF I always felt like I was ruining people's jumps. But if people are willing to jump with you when you're just starting out, then they're not expecting you to fly like a pro. They're not going to mind that a jump didn't go perfectly according to plan. And the only way to learn is to do it. You just have to get out there and do those exits and you'll learn why you funneled one, why another one worked, and how to fly your body through the exit so it works great.

And if 4-ways just don't seem to ever work, stick with 2 or 3-ways. The smaller it is the easier it is. You still learn the skills, but it's easier to manage with fewer people.

Elsinore is very newbie friendly. You can always find people to jump with you. And most people are very safe skydivers. Ask your old instructors and coaches who they recommend you jump with and if there's anyone you shouldn't jump with. Start with the Load Organizers. They are always great jumpers and more than happy to help newbies navigate the transition to being a licensed skydiver.

Hopefully I'll see you at Excel in a couple weeks and if you ever need someone to jump with look for me (green and black jumpsuit and my name is Joel) and if I'm not already on a jump I'd be happy to go jump with you.

[Andy0689 0]

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... and don't be afraid to pull off or push back if something is outside of your comfort zone (for example, if that 4-way becomes an 8-way)....

I agree with this to some extent. You're going to have to be willing to step a little outside of your comfort zone because you'll be trying new things. Don't shy away from a jump because you don't think you can handle it. Talk it over and just be up front with whomever is organizing the load about where you think you fit in. If it's right, they'll find a good spot for you.

Don't worry about screwing up- everybody does. I screw up all the time and so do a lot of other folks. Chances are if something was organized on the way to the plane, it was destined to become a zoo dive anyway. Just have fun!!!

Andy
I'll believe it when I see it on YouTube!

[Harmless 0]

Don't you know we invite less experienced people on the jump so we have someone to blame when we screw up

"Damn you Gravity, you win again"

[emmiwy 0]

Thanks for the responses and support everyone. In my mind I know that there is still much to learn, am on my own, but always have instructors to talk to. But certain things you just have to learn by doing/trying. Yesterday I jumped my first rental/sport rig and only realized when I deployed I couldn't pull one of the toggles all the way out, and as a result the canopy started spinning really fast [canopy diving is not quite my thing]. I was about to reach to cutaway but pulled on the toggle really hard, I flattened out, and was fine.

I just wanted to get these feelings off my chest, as it was on my mind quite a bit. When I was on the ride up to altitude before my 4-way, I hadn't felt that stressed out since my FJC. But I'm feeling much better and confident that I was able to handle a "situation". A lot of this sport I am realizing is trusting yourself and other skydivers who are experienced, completely my issue :)

[emmiwy 0]

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I agree with this to some extent. You're going to have to be willing to step a little outside of your comfort zone because you'll be trying new things. Don't shy away from a jump because you don't think you can handle it. Talk it over and just be up front with whomever is organizing the load about where you think you fit in. If it's right, they'll find a good spot for you.

I'm typically a timid person and skydiving is the solution I've found to overcome my general fear for leaving my comfort zone. So I do agree with both points of view. With leaving your safe zone you do accept the fact that there is some risk involved with trying something new for the first time, as with everything...

[danielcroft 2]

Some of the funnest (yes, it's a word) jumps I've been on, at least in terms of the number of laughs you get, are when people screw up. I've done it, we've all done it do you think you're better than me? (this is a joke, Uncle Iggy would say "maybe just a little")

Seriously though, you're going to learn a lot from these jumps where stuff goes wrong but when you land and walk away, it's a good jump. If people make fun of you that's a good thing, you're part of the group. Anyone who really gives you a hard time isn't worth your time. You are best off keeping your groups small and breaking off where you're comfortable as NWFlyer said. Being comfortable with the jump and being comfortable that you may well screw up will help you enjoy it a whole lot more.

Relax, everyone sucks at skydiving... well, I do anyway.

[Scrumpot 1]

Your feelings are normal, natural - and appropriate!
Stick with it. Sounds like your instincts are perfectly where they belong. There are mentors out there (both formally and informally). Just one other piece of advice - as a female in the sport (you, not me ) be careful of those who encourage you to OVERstep your abilities and level just to get "close" to you.

Several threads in "Women's Only" I think address this in probably much greater detail.

BLUE SKIES!
-Grant

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Hello there~
We have all been there! This is a very common feeling for newer skydivers, and maybe for skydivers pushing themselves with something new.
If you're a perfectionist and have the most fun when learning, then stick to jumps where you jump with one or two others who are safe and experienced flyers. That is what worked the best for me as a newbie, even if I was invited to do bigger jumps. I did 2-ways for a while and learned more advanced skills that way, such as flying mantis or center point turns. I worked on a new skill on each jump. Then, I took my first Airspeed camp, when I had just over 100 jumps. I was asked to jump on quality jumps by experienced jumpers, when I came back from camp.

Therefore, don't feel silly, if you feel like learning more and decide to do skill-building 2-ways or if you decide to pay a coach to coach you. You can also attend an excel camp, so you get some free coaching. You can decide to get in a tunnel and kick your skill building up a notch. You can offer to pay someone else's slot, who is more experienced, if you feel uncomfortable asking them to just burn a jump. Most people won't mind jumping with a newer jumper, though. We were all once newbies.

Furthermore, it's ok to be selective and to decide who you feel comfortable flying with, as well as what you don't feel comfortable doing in the sky. It's your life.
Don't forget to sign up for Bridge the Gap. You will learn tons! I wish I could be there, but I'll be in Perris taking another P3 Bigway Camp. The learning never stops, and we can all get better and better. Blue skies, my sky sister!

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Yours is a very common situation.

I agree with the above.

Ask your instructors who is newbie friendly; and who you should avoid.

Knowing who to avoid can be just as valuable as knowing who to seek out.

We are all grown ups. If we don't want to jump with you we just need to not jump with you. However, the vast majority of jumpers I know welcome jumping with new jumpers.

If you want your skills to stay static, jump with folks @ your skill level. If you want to get better; jump w/ folks who are better than you.

If you are ever in Texas, come visit us at Skydive Dallas. We will hook you up with load organizers who will take really good care of you!

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Here is a tale of me learning to jump w/ the up jumpers immediately after getting my license:

[URL]http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2896015;#2896015[/URL]

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[emmiwy 0]

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Ask your instructors who is newbie friendly; and who you should avoid.

Knowing who to avoid can be just as valuable as knowing who to seek out.

If you want your skills to stay static, jump with folks @ your skill level. If you want to get better; jump w/ folks who are better than you.

Yes all true! the hardest part is figuring out who you can trust. Just because someone has 200 jumps doesn't mean they can fly very well...at any rate, I'll try to be cautious and just keep jumping and focus on improving my skills instead of whether other people are good enough and what not. I'd rather just keep in mind that I need to save my butt in the air in the event something screws up.

[The_Don 0]

The last sentence speaks volumes!

Good on YOU!

I am NOT being loud.
I'm being enthusiastic!

[JohnRich 4]

And I thought this thread title would refer to break-off and tracking...
because I can sure get separation anxiety trying to get away from everyone else before I open.

[hofstar 0]

I'm basically in the same spot you are. For me, I will do pretty much whatever jump as long as it doesn't make me uncomfortable. But, we have to keep stepping out of our comfort zones at least a little...that's the only way to really learn and build confidence.

I go into every jump planning to succeed. But if I screw it up, at the end of the day, I don't let it bother me, because it just means I have something more to learn and/or practice.

And what's wrong with jumping with coaches? They are there to share knowledge and experience, and that's exactly what we need.

Cheers

[NiteQwill 0]

Go out there and have fun.
Everyone messes up a slot, but when you get down on the ground and smile and slap hands... the jump was worth it.

I would say don't jump out of your comfort level but also don't forget to jump at opportunities to learn.

"Fail, fail again. Fail better."
-Samuel Beckett

[NWFlyer 2]

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Don't forget to sign up for Bridge the Gap.

And go to every Excel camp you can! The organizers there will make sure you get on safe, fun, skydives.

And yes, I think that pushing outside of your comfort zone is important, but it's also important to be able to say "no" if it goes too far outside that zone. You'll gradually learn your limits by pushing on them gently. I've just seen too many newer jumpers stay quiet with something they're uncomfortable with rather than speaking up and getting to a comfortable place.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[regulator 0]

Allright I can't speak for anyone buy myself, but the reason why I haven't jumped in two years was because I lost two jobs in two years...both layoffs. The last one happened a week after I bought myself a brand new skydiving rig. I would say that I have some anxiety issues about being back at the drop zone...seeing the instructors and having to ask questions about 'why haven't you been back at the dz since you got your license' and having to re-learn some of the things I knew well two years ago. It gets all wrapped into one emotion. Anxity, Fear, however you want to call it. I was looking for some motivation because I WILL be at the DZ this weekend ...rain or shine...I WILL get my reserve and main repacked...and I will get my refresher course ....and I WILL get my recurrency jumps in. So I went out and bought TWO copies of Transcending Fear by Brian Germain. I haven't read all of it yet, but I know the sense of accomplishment I feel every time I touch terra firma after landing my canopy, and that feeling far outweighs the anxeity I feel before that time comes. I know that not all of what I am saying can be related to this post because you already have your A and you are trying new things, but I will say that the book should be a MUST READ for new skydivers experiencing fear and anxiety while accomplishing new tasks.