posted on Aug, 13 2009 @ 11:52 AM
NATURAL REACTIONS
Man has been able to survive many shifts in his environment throughout the centuries. His ability to adapt physically and mentally to a changing world
kept him alive while other species around him gradually died off. The same survival mechanisms that kept our forefathers alive can help keep us alive
as well! However, these survival mechanisms that can help us can also work against us if we don't understand and anticipate their presence.
It is not surprising that the average person will have some psychological reactions in a survival situation. We will now examine some of the major
internal reactions you and anyone with you might experience with the survival stressors addressed in the earlier paragraphs. Let's begin.
Fear
Fear is our emotional response to dangerous circumstances that we believe have the potential to cause death, injury, or illness. This harm is not just
limited to physical damage; the threat to one's emotional and mental well-being can generate fear as well. For the soldier trying to survive, fear
can have a positive function if it encourages him to be cautious in situations where recklessness could result in injury. Unfortunately, fear can also
immobilize a person. It can cause him to become so frightened that he fails to perform activities essential for survival. Most soldiers will have some
degree of fear when placed in unfamiliar surroundings under adverse conditions. There is no shame in this! Each soldier must train himself not to be
overcome by his fears. Ideally, through realistic training, we can acquire the knowledge and skills needed to increase our confidence and thereby
manage our fears.
Anxiety
Associated with fear is anxiety. Because it is natural for us to be afraid, it is also natural for us to experience anxiety. Anxiety can be an uneasy,
apprehensive feeling we get when faced with dangerous situations (physical, mental, and emotional). When used in a healthy way, anxiety urges us to
act to end, or at least master, the dangers that threaten our existence. If we were never anxious, there would be little motivation to make changes in
our lives. The soldier in a survival setting reduces his anxiety by performing those tasks that will ensure his coming through the ordeal alive. As he
reduces his anxiety, the soldier is also bringing under control the source of that anxiety--his fears. In this form, anxiety is good; however, anxiety
can also have a devastating impact. Anxiety can overwhelm a soldier to the point where he becomes easily confused and has difficulty thinking. Once
this happens, it becomes more and more difficult for him to make good judgments and sound decisions. To survive, the soldier must learn techniques to
calm his anxieties and keep them in the range where they help, not hurt.
Anger and Frustration
Frustration arises when a person is continually thwarted in his attempts to reach a goal. The goal of survival is to stay alive until you can reach
help or until help can reach you. To achieve this goal, the soldier must complete some tasks with minimal resources. It is inevitable, in trying to do
these tasks, that something will go wrong; that something will happen beyond the soldier's control; and that with one's life at stake, every mistake
is magnified in terms of its importance. Thus, sooner or later, soldiers will have to cope with frustration when a few of their plans run into
trouble. One outgrowth of this frustration is anger. There are many events in a survival situation that can frustrate or anger a soldier. Getting
lost, damaged or forgotten equipment, the weather, inhospitable terrain, enemy patrols, and physical limitations are just a few sources of frustration
and anger. Frustration and anger encourage impulsive reactions, irrational behavior, poorly thought-out decisions, and, in some insta nces, an "I
quit" attitude (people sometimes avoid doing something they can't master). If the soldier can harness and properly channel the emotional intensity
associated with anger and frustration, he can productively act as he answers the challenges of survival. If the soldier does not properly focus his
angry feelings, he can waste much energy in activities that do little to further either his chances of survival or the chances of those around him.
Depression
It would be a rare person indeed who would not get sad, at least momentarily, when faced with the privations of survival. As this sadness deepens, we
label the feeling "depression." Depression is closely linked with frustration and anger. The frustrated person becomes more and more angry as he
fails to reach his goals. If the anger does not help the person to succeed, then the frustration level goes even higher. A destructive cycle between
anger and frustration continues until the person becomes worn down-physically, emotionally, and mentally. When a person reaches this point, he starts
to give up, and his focus shifts from "What can I do" to "There is nothing I can do." Depression is an expression of this hopeless, helpless
feeling. There is nothing wrong with being sad as you temporarily think about your loved ones and remember what life is like back in "civilization"
or "the world." Such thoughts, in fact, can give you the desire to try harder and live one more day. On the other hand, if you allow yours elf to
sink into a depressed state, then it can sap all your energy and, more important, your will to survive. It is imperative that each soldier resist
succumbing to depression.
Loneliness and Boredom
Man is a social animal. This means we, as human beings, enjoy the company of others. Very few people want to be alone all the time! As you are aware,
there is a distinct chance of isolation in a survival setting. This is not bad. Loneliness and boredom can bring to the surface qualities you thought
only others had. The extent of your imagination and creativity may surprise you. When required to do so, you may discover some hidden talents and
abilities. Most of all, you may tap into a reservoir of inner strength and fortitude you never knew you had. Conversely, loneliness and boredom can be
another source of depression. As a soldier surviving alone, or with others, you must find ways to keep your mind productively occupied. Additionally,
you must develop a degree of self-sufficiency. You must have faith in your capability to "go it alone."