Overcomming exit stress

[Spudmuffin 0]

Does anyone have any advice for newbies who waste at least 5 seconds on every exit in that (pardon my French) "HOLY CRAP" phase?

I would really like to be more cognizant of what's going on at the beginning of my freefall and get so I can keep my head in the game from beginning to end. Thus far I have suffered no nervousness or ill feelings prior to any of my jumps or in the plane preceding my jumps. However, on my most recent jump my usual state of being overwhelmed upon exit was compounded by that fact that it was really cold...it was about enough to make me short out. I got through most of the drill my instructor gave me, but I could have done a lot better had I not gotten "mentally lost" for the first few seconds.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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[Luna 0]

You get over this with more jumps. The more jumps you do, the more awareness you have. There really isn't anything that I've ever heard of that will help other than more jumps.

I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

[metalslug 36]

Chances are good that your instructor has seen that "Holy Crap" expression on countless students before.. and he will probably have the best advise on how to deal with it.

The only thing I might suggest to you is... dont look down. Arch and look at the horizon as you exit.
Although my AFF went well, staring at the ground quite often on my first few freefalls didnt really help to calm me down. I would have been more relaxed geeking my instructors.



-

[bigway 4]

breath

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[AggieDave 6]

Its called door fear. Its 100% normal and just about everyone goes through it. It took me about 20 or so jumps to get over it, but I wasn't jumping much, once every 30 days or so back then.

Now days I don't have any problems (obviously).



EDIT:

I wanted to add, during my door fear problems, I would ride to altitude saying to myself "this is my last jump, fuck this shit, this is scary" etc. Everytime I would get out of the door so I wouldn't have to ride the plane down, be in freefall with a HUGE grin on my face and remember why I loved it. Then I would manifest and go again, sit in the airplane going "fuck this, this is my last jump..."

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

[Brian425 0]

The only thing that help is more jumps. It goes away. I am still a little nervous going to the door. It's just telling your body to get ready.

It's normal. Talk to your instructor about it. They can be a lot of help. Personally I found that a big smile and nice deep breaths really do help.

B

The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand.

[AMax 0]

Breathing exercise is a good way to deal with massive adrenaline release because you get extra oxygen in your blood. Take a deep breath, hold it for 1-2 seconds and then let go slowly. Repeat several times. This little trick is very powerful.

[Ncrowe 0]

I wanted to add, during my door fear problems, I would ride to altitude saying to myself "this is my last jump, fuck this shit, this is scary" etc. Everytime I would get out of the door so I wouldn't have to ride the plane down, be in freefall with a HUGE grin on my face and remember why I loved it. Then I would manifest and go again, sit in the airplane going "fuck this, this is my last jump..."

[DeNReN 0]

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Does anyone have any advice for newbies who waste at least 5 seconds on every exit in that (pardon my French) "HOLY CRAP" phase?

I would really like to be more cognizant of what's going on at the beginning of my freefall and get so I can keep my head in the game from beginning to end. Thus far I have suffered no nervousness or ill feelings prior to any of my jumps or in the plane preceding my jumps. However, on my most recent jump my usual state of being overwhelmed upon exit was compounded by that fact that it was really cold...it was about enough to make me short out. I got through most of the drill my instructor gave me, but I could have done a lot better had I not gotten "mentally lost" for the first few seconds.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am not a instructor!!...nor do I have lots of jumps!!!!

I am most nervous/anxious driving to the DZ and once arriving I need time to "get ready"

Once on the plane I am on auto pilot....I have planned my exit and jump....then its time to do what I have planned to do...no fear..no nervousness...just do what I am supposed to....

The ride up should be used to relax and go over your dive plan(including exit) and emergency proceedures...plus take a few cheap shots at whom ever is there

It will get easier with more jumps....hang in there and enjoy the ride
Again...I am not a Instructor...my posts should be taken lightly and with a grain of salt

[mattjw916 2]

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Does anyone have any advice for newbies who waste at least 5 seconds on every exit in that (pardon my French) "HOLY CRAP" phase?

Like everyone pretty much said... more jumps... It took me about 30 jumps before I started feeling comfortable during the ride to altitude and not stressed. It'll pass.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[justaflygirl 0]

ahh the ol door monster...I will pass the only advice on that I was given, take two or three deep breaths before you get to the door. That helped me, and sitting at 51 jumps now, I am pretty kosher going out, still a bit wigged on the ride up, but once the door is open I m ready to go...I have been told by several different people that it really goes away around jump 100, but a little "fear" is always good cause it keeps you safe...or so Ive been told

[Lainey 0]

I don't have many jumps but I know how you feel. I've been told by my instructors that I had the worst case of door fear they'd ever seen by any student that kept coming back. I'd be hanging onto the inside of the plane half way up with one hand, unable to move anywhere near the door, and having my instructors trying to pull me towards the door with my free arm. It wasn't until about jump 8 where i took so long people landed off that i realised i had to shape up and get out quicker. It's tough, breaking that mental barrier of actually leaving the aircraft. I was fine all the way to altitude, fine on the ground and fine in freefall, it was just those few moments between inside and outside that were the killer. As everyone has said, it gets a lot easier with time, I had to just keep telling myself that it's simply mind over matter, that you want to jump, you're ready to do it, you are calm and there is no need to worry about falling 'cos you're about to jump anyway. Take two big deep breaths and you'll be right. don't stress out too much about it, the phase will pass with time, i don't have the same uncontrollable fear i used to but i'm still guilty of trying to spot out the back of the skyvan whilst standing a foot from the edge. They keep telling me to stick my head right out there and look under the plane but it's that mental thing again... just takes time.

And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need
'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

[bob.dino 1]

Exactly the same for me.

One handy thing I found was to force (and yes, I had to force) a smile before exiting. The simple act of smiling actually relaxes you. At the very least, it worked for me.

[bob.dino 1]

Hey, I remember you blowing the plane a kiss on your first hop n pop You got over that exit fear pretty damn quickly

[Spudmuffin 0]

As I mentioned to Belinda:

For me I'm really alright until I'm right outside the door...and the wind starts roaring in my ears...and I start sucking that thin air...AAAGGGHHH!! My brain just seizes up. I think it’s something about falling forward…and forward…and never rebounding back up.

Let's just say I'm glad I wasn't being photographed this last jump. With the heady days of my first tandem long gone (when I had no real responsibilities other than to enjoy the ride), I know I was, shall we say, fairly "wild eyed" as I did my best to execute my drill.

Thanks, everyone, for your great responses! It's good to know I'm not alone in facing those door demons.

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[riggerrob 643]

I got through most of the drill my instructor gave me, but I could have done a lot better had I not gotten "mentally lost" for the first few seconds.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hee!
Hee!
Welcome to freefall.
I swear that my most important task as a reserve-side PFF instructor is holding students stable until they get through the sensory-overload of the first few seconds of freefall.

[ahegeman 0]

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I wanted to add, during my door fear problems, I would ride to altitude saying to myself "this is my last jump, fuck this shit, this is scary" etc. Everytime I would get out of the door so I wouldn't have to ride the plane down, be in freefall with a HUGE grin on my face and remember why I loved it. Then I would manifest and go again, sit in the airplane going "fuck this, this is my last jump..."

No doubt, I went through the same thing - after every one of my first 20 or so jumps after the adrenaline rush wore off I would make excuses to myself and my instructors about why I didn't need to manifest again as soon as possible. Now you couldn't keep me off that plane with a chain and a tree stump.

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There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[rhys 0]

bro you have jumped and you obviously want to do it again. you have already weighed up the odds when you drove to the dropzone so have faith in your equipmet (after you have checked it properly) and get the f**k out there. you know you love it!uncertainty is linked with failure!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[BIGUN 1,314]

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"fuck this, this is my last jump..."

You still do that.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[dreamsville 0]

Yesterday was R/W day. Being the rear-most floater gives me extra time before the rest of the 6 or 8 way is set to go. That little extra period of time sometimes gives me a breather to relax and think about the jump and the approach to the rest of the formation after exit. It gives you time to feel aclimated to being outside the airplane before everyone leaves. It may sound strange but that's the way it appears to me sometimes, or even if it is a head-down video exit instead.
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I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane.

Harry, FB #4143