4 Helpful Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Skydiving

Key Takeaways
Skydiving anxiety is normal, and many first-timers report that making a skydive actually helps with their anxiety! If you’re scared, it’s important to practice some breathing techniques in advance, prepare your body by resting and eating well beforehand, do research to choose the right dropzone, and challenge yourself to stay present during the jump.

Table of Contents
Why It’s Normal to Be Nervous About Skydiving
1. Prepare Your Mind Before You Jump
2. Strengthen Your Body to Support Your Mind
3. Choose the Right Dropzone & Instructor
4. Stay Present During the Jump
From Fear to Freedom

Why It’s Normal to Be Nervous About Skydiving

Is skydiving scary? It can be, and isn’t that also fun? But, how scary is skydiving? Most people are scared for their first skydive – skydiving anxiety is common, even among thrill seekers! If you’ve thought about skydiving for the first time, you should know that it’s completely normal to feel fearful about it.

Fear is the main reason it takes some people a while to decide to take the leap from a perfectly good airplane. To help you overcome your fear of skydiving, we put together the top things we recommend doing before you book your first jump. Learning what to expect and preparing mentally and physically helps calm any skydiving-for-the-first-time anxiety, so let’s dive right in. These four proven methods can help turn your fear into excitement!

1. Prepare Your Mind Before You Jump

“How to get over the fear of skydiving?” is a common question. One answer is arming yourself with calming techniques in advance. Practice calming your breath. Effective breathing techniques can help you regulate anxiety before and during the plane ride. For a quick fix on how to overcome fear and anxiety in 30 seconds, breathing techniques are your best bet.

Another helpful trick is to visualize success: imagine the freefall going smoothly and landing safely. Mental rehearsal builds confidence. When you get to the dropzone, you will also get the chance to rehearse the skydive on the ground with your instructor. Knowing what to expect reduces uncertainty.

We also always recommend that you bring a friend if you’re feeling anxious about a skydive. Jumping with someone you know adds comfort and accountability. Facing your fear of skydiving with a friend or loved one (or even a group of people) makes it a more memorable experience.

You’ll share in the nerves as well as the exhilaration and you’ll always have that bond with them. Once you’ve stepped out of the airplane, floated through the sky and landed safely, you’ll feel like you can conquer other challenges in life – and you’ll have a friend who did it with you and can provide encouragement, too! 

Pro Tip: be sure to get photos and video of your skydiving experience so you and your friends can relive and share the moment again and again!

2. Strengthen Your Body to Support Your Mind

Stay active before your jump! Light exercise or stretching relieves tension and burns nervous energy. Just don’t go overboard – being too sore may prevent you from having full mobility to lift your legs for landing or properly arch your body during freefall.

Make sure you fuel your body. Eat a balanced meal and hydrate so you’re focused and energized, not lightheaded or jittery. On that note, rest well. A good night’s sleep lowers anxiety and improves focus.

3. Choose the Right Dropzone & Instructor

One of the best ways to alleviate your anxiety is to do your research. Choose a USPA-certified dropzone with experienced instructors and excellent safety records. Once you’re there, it’s important to trust your tandem instructor. They’ve done thousands of jumps, and your safety and comfort are their top priority.

At Skydive St. Louis, our primary focus is on safety and our customer service is unmatched. We value safety above all else and we take great pride in our professionalism. We also place strong importance on hiring team members who have great personalities, a serious approach to safety, and who help to promote a positive culture for our staff and guests.

In fact, each of our tandem instructors is USPA-certified, highly trained and super experienced. We are committed to creating an unforgettable skydiving experience for every customer because we are passionate about sharing the adventure of skydiving with others.

Never be afraid to ask questions! Understanding the process helps replace fear with informed confidence. We have a helpful list of tandem skydiving FAQs, and you’re always welcome to give us a call or stop by the dropzone.

4. Stay Present During the Jump

Wondering how to relax while skydiving? Tune in to your instructor’s cues – their calm, steady voice will help you stay focused.

When it comes to staying present, it’s helpful to understand what the scariest thing about skydiving is. Surprise, surprise, it’s usually the airplane ride up! It’s the apprehension and anticipation that’s most nerve-wracking! Instead of hyper fixating on the negative and your own fear, distract yourself with the view. Shift your focus from fear to the breathtaking scenery and an unparalleled sense of freedom.

If you’re afraid of heights, remind yourself how amazing it is to be doing something cool despite your fear! Challenge yourself to look out that airplane window and see your own strength rather than focusing on the altitude. It’s important to live in the moment! Once you leave the plane, adrenaline takes over. For many first-timers, the fear instantly turns to exhilaration.

From Fear to Freedom

So, should you skydive with anxiety? With preparation, physical readiness, trust, and staying present, you can have a life-changing first skydive. Fear is temporary – the experience is unforgettable! We can’t wait to share our passion for skydiving with you. Book your jump today!