REACTIONS TO A SURVIVAL SITUATION
An average human has an enormous capability of survival in wilderness. Ability to adapt physically and mentally to a changing conditions and world ensured survival of the human race throughout centuries. 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.
If you find yourself in a wilderness survival situation, you will have to cope with it not only physically, but also mentally. Your emotions can work for you and help you in survival or against you. To make you aware of reactions that you may have during a survival situation, we will introduce you to those that are most common.
Survival reaction – Fear
Fear is a natural reaction to situations, which we find dangerous. In wilderness survival these may be life threatening situations which can cause injury, death or illness. If controlled, fear is a positive reaction that can help you in survival. Fear of death will give you strength to fight for survival. It will also prevent you from recklessness, which could result in injury. If not controlled though, fear can immobilise you – it can excel to such levels that you will be unable to perform basic survival actions. Remember – there is no shame in fear. If you are a sane person you will be afraid. You can be afraid, but you have to overcome your fears. The best way is to name them and deal with them. Think what is it exactly that you are afraid of and ask yourself if it is reasonable or not. If not – forget it. If it is – think what can you do about it.
Survival reaction – Anxiety
Associated with fear is anxiety. It is natural for us to be afraid and so it is also natural for us to experience anxiety. Anxiety is an uneasy, apprehensive feeling we get when faced with dangerous survival situations (physical, mental, and emotional). Used in a healthy way, anxiety urges us to act to end or master the dangers that threaten our existence. Anxiousness keeps us going and changing our lives for better. You should appreciate anxiety. In a survival situation it helps you to go a few steps further than you would have without it. Apprehending anxiety helps you control your fear when you fight for survival. You have to be aware though that anxiety can have a negative impact. It can overwhelm a you to the point where you can become easily confused and have difficulty thinking. In order to survive, you need to learn to control you anxieties. Just as with fear – name them and deal with them, best by removing their sources.
Survival reactions – Anger and frustration
Frustration arises when you are continually thwarted in your 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 it, you must complete some tasks with scarce resources. You should be aware that when undertaking survival actions you are bound to encounter difficulties. Something will go wrong, something will happen beyond the your control, and with a life at stake, every mistake will magnified in terms of its importance. You may not succeed to light a fire for many hours due to heavy rains. Your attempts to build a shelter or draw attention of rescue missions may fail. You may loose your equipment or be extremely tired. While fighting for survival you are bound to feel frustrated and angry. Frustration and anger encourage impulsive reactions, irrational behaviour, poorly thought–out decisions, and, in some instances, an ”I give up” attitude. If you can master and properly channel the emotional intensity associated with anger and frustration, you can productively act and answer the challenges of survival. Improper focus on anger wastes your energy and puts you at risk of carelessness thus limiting your chances of survival.
Survival reaction – Depression
Being alone in a wilderness survival situation, you are in risk of sadness and depression. Depression is closely linked with frustration and anger. When you stay frustrated over long periods of time, your organism wares down and you slowly succumb to depression. This is indicated by a very dangerous shift of mindset from: ”What to 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 civilisation or the world. These thoughts give you strength and a will to fight for survival. One thing you cannot allow is to feel depressed and lose you faith in survival. Best way of doing that is reminding yourself what you remember from this guide: You can make it through survival situations and gradually focus on things you have already achieved (fire, water, food, shelter, etc.). Each step will ensure you more that you can cope and you will survive!
Survival reaction – Loneliness and Boredom
As a human being raised in a society, you are used to being with other people, talking, socialising etc. In a survival situation, you may be forced to spend man days or weeks in solitude, never saying a word to anyone, nor even seeing anyone. You may become bored and lonely. You must be very careful as these feelings easily turn to depression, which is a serious threat in a survival situation. In order to cope with these feeling you should occupy yourself with various tasks. These will probably be mostly actions ensuring your survival, but when your safety s somewhat secured, you can also try to find a hobby, that will occupy you during lonely times. You might be surprised what talents lie within you, when you have time and concentration. Moreover you need to develop an attitude that you ”Can go on your own”. That will ensure that boredom and loneliness will not be hunting you while in a survival situation.
Survival reaction – Guilt
The circumstances that led you to a survival setting are sometimes dramatic and tragic. It is often a result of an accident and there might be a loss of life. You may be the only, or one of a few, survivors. While naturally relieved to be alive, you simultaneously may be mourning the deaths those less fortunate. It is not uncommon for survivors to feel guilty about being spared from death while others were not. Used in a positive way, this feeling, has encouraged people to try harder to survive with the belief they were allowed to live for some greater purpose in life. Sometimes, survivors tried to stay alive so that they could carry on the work of those killed. Whatever reason you find for yourself, do not let guilt feelings prevent you from living. The living who abandon their chance to survive accomplish nothing. Such an act is the greatest tragedy
The list above is by far just an overview of reactions you may be experiencing. It is important to keep right attitude towards these reactions. There are various ways in which you can prepare yourself to be ready if a survival situation occurs. Many of these ways may also prove useful in everyday life, so have a look and consider them.