{"id":2039,"date":"2023-11-10T07:57:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T12:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startskydiving.previewthe.site\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2024-02-27T08:37:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T13:37:50","slug":"facing-skydiving-anxieties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/blog\/facing-skydiving-anxieties\/","title":{"rendered":"From Fear To Thrill: Facing Your Skydiving Anxieties Head On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Facing skydiving anxieties is one of the most difficult parts of deciding to jump out of an airplane<\/a>. The act of exiting an airplane in mid-flight is completely outside of natural human behavior, so it\u2019s understandable that it would come with some intense stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, there\u2019s plenty you can overthink and worry about when falling toward the earth at 120 mph, but struggling over overcoming skydiving fear doesn\u2019t have to keep you from undertaking one of the most fulfilling experiences of a lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a lot of the fears around skydiving are valid, understanding the actual risks versus the perceived risks and learning how to mitigate them certainly makes the idea of jumping out of an airplane a lot less scary. Using techniques to cope with your fear not only helps make skydiving more enjoyable, it also serves you well in other areas of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, it helps to know that you\u2019re in good hands. Read on for some skydiving anxiety tips and let Start Skydiving support you as you embark on a life changing journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Common Skydiving Fears<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s completely normal to feel anxious about exiting an airplane and plummeting toward the ground at 120 mph. And the popular representation of skydiving as a reckless pursuit doesn\u2019t exactly help in calming any of those fears! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipment Malfunction <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common worry that arises around skydiving is equipment malfunction or failure. After all, once you leave the airplane, your entire life depends on the assumption that the gear you\u2019re wearing will work properly. That\u2019s a lot of responsibility for a bag of fabric and string! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the reality. Many decades of research and development have gone into making the equipment skydivers currently use safer and more reliable than it\u2019s ever been. In fact, equipment malfunctions account for a very small fraction of skydiving fatalities. And hear this: at Start Skydiving, we operate with an uncompromising commitment to safety. For us, doubts are don\u2019ts \u2013 if we doubt the viability of any gear or equipment, we don\u2019t jump it. Period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our fleet of skydiving rigs<\/a> is meticulously maintained and regularly inspected by an FAA certified rigger<\/a>. And every tandem pack job is completed by a highly trained and experienced professional packer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear of Heights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know you don\u2019t need to worry about equipment issues, what about those psychological and physiological reactions that are out of your control? A fear of heights is a very logical concern for someone considering exiting an airplane thousands of feet in the air, but it\u2019s also actually a lot less of a problem than it seems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extreme height at which skydiving occurs, and the lack of any close points of reference, mean that your brain can\u2019t really process the height as something to fear. It\u2019s like you\u2019re flying over a topographical map rather than the ground. So, if looking out the window in a regular airplane feels OK, chances are you\u2019ll be just fine when skydiving. What you\u2019re really dealing with is altitude <\/em>rather than height.<\/em> There are actually a lot of licensed skydivers who have an extreme fear of heights and do just fine \u2013 many with thousands of skydives under their belt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What If???<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But, of course, there\u2019s still the \u201cwhat if?\u201d What if you panic? What if you pass out? What if you \u2026 yikes \u2026 puke?? These are all valid concerns that could pose a real problem mid-jump. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is, between having an instructor who\u2019s trained to handle anything thrown their way and some solid pre-jump calming techniques, it\u2019s possible to not only make it through the skydive (even if you\u2019re worried that you can\u2019t!) but to have a fantastic time throughout!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mind Over Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several techniques that even seasoned skydivers sometimes use to calm the nerves associated with jumping out of an airplane. Do you really think Team Fastrax<\/a> never gets nervous before a big jump?? Think again! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting your day off right is a big part of managing your nerves. Have a balanced breakfast, go for a run, do some meditating \u2013 whatever helps you find your Zen. Take some time before you even leave for the dropzone to get our mind where it needs to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also helps to visualize yourself on the jump and everything going well. If you can get your mind\u2019s eye used to the idea of what you\u2019re about to do, it\u2019ll be a lot easier to process once your real eyes see it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you\u2019re someone who needs more than just imagination to get used to something, YouTube is a great resource<\/a>. There are plenty of skydiving videos on the internet that will show you exactly what it\u2019s like to jump out of an airplane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: Maybe just avoid the videos that are intended to sensationalize fear.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, you know your brain and body best, and chances are this isn\u2019t the first stressful situation you\u2019ve been in \u2026 and it won\u2019t be the last. Dealing with the nerves of a skydive isn\u2019t all that different than working through any other stressful situation. Do what calms you and your experience will be better for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Start Skydiving Assurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On top of all of your efforts to keep yourself calm, you can also rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to make your skydiving experience go as smoothly as possible. We prioritize your safety and comfort above all else, and the most important thing to us is that you leave the dropzone happy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every single one of our instructors is highly experienced and USPA certified as a minimum requirement of working at Start Skydiving. No matter which one of our instructors you\u2019re paired with, you\u2019ll know that they\u2019re qualified to do their job. We only hire instructors who share our vision of safety and satisfaction. As Start Skydiving\u2019s primary representatives, they know how to treat our customers with patience and respect: <\/p>\n\n\n\n