Depression is debilitating and exhausting.
When people have depression, dark and obsessive thoughts take over their minds.
It can be really hard to control and stop this.
In answer to your question, one skydive probably isn’t going to completely cure your depression. But with that being said, skydiving could be some of the first steps to releasing happy chemicals which will help you think clearer and rewire the brain.
Depression invades the brain and creates a pathway for negative thoughts to get through.
Skydiving can be an effective way to cancel out those negative thoughts as it requires you to completely focus on the moment you are in.
Many say that whilst skydiving hasn’t completely cured their depression, it helps them to think clearer and manages their depression.
When they feel low, they head straight to the dropzone!
So, if skydiving doesn’t cure depression let’s explore how it affects your brain and body.
Can you skydive if you have depression?
People often describe that when they have depression, they don’t feel anything.
They are just going through the motions of life, they don’t have any desire or passion to take part in anything.
As we have mentioned before, depression creates pathways for negative thoughts to come to the forefront of our brains meaning this is all we can think about.
Activities such as skydiving release natural ‘happy’ chemicals in the brain which can lift your mood and give you a natural high.
If you suffer from depression, there is absolutely no reason why you cannot skydive!
In fact, there have been many studies that show that skydiving or extreme sports can help with depression.
Your skydiving instructor will not turn you away if you have depression, however, if you are unsure or worried about skydiving, you should contact your skydiving instructor beforehand to put those worries to bed.
What happens to your brain when you skydive?
People who suffer from depression may lack natural chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.
Your brain’s happy chemicals.
Skydiving releases these chemicals which can leave you feeling fulfilled, content, and proud.
Below are the main 3 chemicals that are released when skydiving and how they can affect your brain;
Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone that is secreted when you feel strong emotions such as anger or fear.
It is known as the flight or fight hormone.
Adrenaline is produced in the adrenal glands which are located near to your kidneys.
When you first sense danger, your brain alerts the adrenal gland which will then secrete adrenaline.
When adrenaline is released quickly, you may experience an adrenaline rush.
To many, skydiving is scary and you will feel like you are in danger.
Therefore, you are likely to experience an adrenaline rush.
Some of the symptoms of an adrenaline rush are;
Increased heart rate
Sweating
Feeling nervous (butterflies in the stomach)
Shallow breathing
Shaking limbs
This is all perfectly normal to experience and means your body is reacting to the situation you are in.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain.
In short, this means dopamine is a chemical messenger to different neurons in the body.
Your brain releases dopamine when you do something you associate a reward with.
This is why dopamine is known as the reward chemical.
For example, if you want a glass of wine and you tell yourself you can have it at 5 pm, when 5 pm rolls around and you have that glass of wine your brain will produce dopamine which will make you feel happy and fulfilled.
Similarly, when you skydive, dopamine will be released.
If you are scared beforehand, once you have completed your jump you will feel happy and content.
You may even feel like you want to go and do it all over again!
Serotonin
Serotonin is another neurotransmitter in the brain and acts in a very similar way to dopamine.
Serotonin regulates our moods and happiness as well as playing a huge part in how our bodies function.
People who are deficient in serotonin are likely to be depressed or suffer with anxiety.
A serotonin release is a great way to lift spirits.
This cocktail of natural chemicals alongside meeting new people can alleviate depression, anxiety and low moods which is why people chose skydiving over many other sports.
Can skydiving cure anxiety?
Just like depression, skydiving won’t cure anxiety.
Anxiety disorders can limit people and make people feel like they can’t participate in activities which are completely out of their comfort zone.
It’s safe to say that skydiving is definitely one of those activities.
Skydiving can be a completely empowering activity.
If you suffer from anxiety and are really hesitant to jump, when you reach the ground you will feel totally proud!
Although your anxiety won’t be completely cured, your experience might make you feel more confident to take on other difficult life challenges.
How do I calm myself down before skydiving?
We’ve talked about skydiving with anxiety, but what about pre-skydive nerves?
Many people have the natural fear of falling.
Falling out of an airplane is the worst thing ever for many humans.
It goes against our natural instincts.
As we know, humans are not built to fly.
Because of this deep-rooted fear, skydiving is terrifying and can make people feel anxious before they take on this sport.
If you are one of these people, here are a few tips on how to calm yourself down before and during your skydive;
Before your skydive;
Read up on what you are about to experience, this will ensure that there are no surprises when you get to the aerial playground and you won’t freak out.
That being said, don’t watch videos that will scare you. ‘Man falls out of plane and breaks leg’ are headlines you want to avoid and are mostly fake news.
Visit the skydive place beforehand and meet your instructor.
You can chat with them and ask things that you might be worried about.
During your skydive;
Talk! Talk to your instructor, ask questions even if you feel like they are stupid.
Talk to your instructor about things other than the skydive, get to know them and have a laugh with them.
They are going to be strapped to your back after all.
Again, this might sound obvious but BREATHE!
Long, deep breaths will help to calm nerves and will give you time to mentally prepare.
Be positive and mentally prepare yourself for what you are about to do.
Imagine the feeling after you’ve jumped out of a plane! It will be so worth it.
In short, pretty much everyone is nervous before their first skydive.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder already, try to be extra aware of making yourself feel comfortable before you jump!
Following these simple steps will help to reduce anxiety and make sure you have the time of your life!
If skydiving can’t cure depression, how will it help me?
To many, skydiving isn’t just a quick fix of happy chemicals and then suddenly their depression is cured, it is part of a much bigger picture.
Skydivers say that they have made the best friends through skydiving and there is such a huge community to be a part of.
Like any sport, skydiving forces you to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself when in other instances you wouldn’t.
When you are feeling low, meeting new people and doing things you wouldn’t usually do can be really tough.
But taking that first step and becoming a member at a skydiving club will be so worth it.
Your depression might not be cured, but you will feel like you belong to a community and don’t have to go through it all alone.
That will change your life.
In conclusion, skydiving is more than just releasing natural highs.
People conquer their biggest fears, meet new exciting people and lift their mood instantly.
Experienced skydivers do not see jumping out of an airplane to be scary or a tick on a bucket list, they see it as a sport; a positive way to spend their time.
It is a passion.
If you are feeling depressed, getting involved with a skydiving club will make you feel included, a part of a community.
Plus you get to take part in an awesome sport regularly!
Skydiving might not be the ‘cure’ to depression but it becomes part of a new healthy lifestyle.
