{"id":39706,"date":"2022-01-18T11:33:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T11:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=39706"},"modified":"2022-01-19T10:57:44","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T10:57:44","slug":"lets-talk-about-fear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/lets-talk-about-fear\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Talk About FEAR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dan BC explains how to make Fear into your Friend…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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“You should be scared, you’re jumping out of an aeroplane”
Photo by Gary Wainwright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019ve seen so many posts and comments from new jumpers trying to get a handle on fear. To be honest I almost find it funny that new jumpers often feel bad for feeling scared. You should be scared, you’re jumping out of an airplane!! <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your first jump is an experience like nothing you\u2019ve ever done before. You have no idea what it\u2019s going to be like. Your adrenalin and sensory overload are through the roof. Your first jump is the epitome of a leap of faith. If you\u2019re not scared the first time you jump out of an airplane you\u2019re an idiot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with each jump skydiving becomes more familiar and we begin to build our skills. Logically we should be less scared. But often we\u2019re not! Why??? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t make sense. Here are two thoughts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) The Spock effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let emotions overrule logic. For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019ve made between 5 and 10 jumps. The facts are you know how to get stable, keep track of your altitude, deploy your parachute and land safely. You haven\u2019t had a malfunction yet but you practice your EPs in your sleep and you know you\u2019ve got them. If you don\u2019t think you\u2019ve got them then practice more until you do. These are the facts. You have much less to be scared of than when you had from 0 to 3 jumps. Logic would dictate that you shouldn\u2019t be as scared anymore. Just because you \u201cfeel scared\u201d doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you should be scared. Think about it. What are you scared of? Do the facts show that you should be more confident? Think. Don\u2019t let your emotions run away with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not scared the first time you jump out of an airplane, you\u2019re an idiot!<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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“Just because you ‘feel scared’ doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you should be scared”
Photo: Focussed AFF student by Titch Wibrew<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2) It\u2019s a few minutes before exit <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re breathing heavy, heart pounding, brow sweating, and fingers buzzing. You\u2019re terrified! Or are you? The physiological sensations we interpret as fear are also signs of an intensified state of readiness. This high arousal level increases our potential for strength, speed and mental sharpness. Don\u2019t interpret it as fear. Breathe slowly, calm yourself down and trust that you\u2019re ready. Because you are. The logic and facts back it up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got my Tandem Instructor rating when they were first invented in 1984. One of the first people I took on a tandem was Chet Poland. Chet was a Barnstormer in the 1920s. He used to jump from 1000′ with one parachute. He wasn’t scared to do this tandem at all. I was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taking Chet Poland on a tandem \u2013 Terrified!
Photo courtesy of Dan BC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To sum it up, don\u2019t be scared of feeling scared. Fear is your friend. Be logical, don\u2019t let your emotions get the better of you. Breathe deeply and use these feelings of fear to become the calmest, sharpest, strongest you you\u2019ve ever seen. You\u2019re going to love how it feels and how you perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“You\u2019re going to love how it feels and how you perform”
Image: Author Dan BC landing at Skydive Perris, by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Further reading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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