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Psychology of Survival
It takes much more
than the knowledge and skills to build shelters, get food, make
fires, and travel without the aid of standard navigational
devices to live successfully through a survival situation. Some
people with little or no survival training have managed to
survive life-threatening circumstances. Some people with
survival training have not used their skills and died. A key
ingredient in any survival situation is the mental attitude of
the individual(s) involved. Having survival skills is important;
having the will to survive is essential. Without a desk to
survive, acquired skills serve little purpose and invaluable
knowledge goes to waste. There is a psychology to survival. The
soldier in a survival environment faces many stresses that
ultimately impact
on his mind. These stresses can produce thoughts and emotions
that, if poorly understood, can transform a confident,
well-trained soldier into an indecisive, ineffective individual
with questionable ability to survive. Thus, every soldier must
be aware of and be able to recognize those stresses commonly
associated with survival. Additionally, it is imperative that
soldiers be aware of their reactions to the wide variety of
stresses associated with survival. This chapter will identify
and explain the nature of stress, the stresses of survival, and
those internal reactions soldiers will naturally experience when
faced with the stresses of a real-world survival situation. The
knowledge you, the soldier, gain from this chapter and other
chapters in this manual, will prepare you to come through the
toughest times alive.
A LOOK AT STRESS
Before we can understand our psychological reactions in a
survival setting, it is helpful to first know a little bit about
stress. Stress is not a disease that you cure and eliminate.
Instead, it is a condition we all experience. Stress can be
described as our reaction to pressure. It is the name given to
the experience we have as we physically, mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually respond to life’s tensions.
Need for Stress
We need stress because it has many positive benefits. Stress
provides us with challenges; it gives us chances to learn about
our values and strengths. Stress can show our ability to handle
pressure without breaking; it tests our adaptability and
flexibility; it can stimulate us to do our best. Because we
usually do not consider unimportant events stressful, stress can
also be an excellent indicator of the significance we attach to
an event—in other words, it highlights what is important to us.
We need to have some stress in our lives, but too much of
anything can be bad. The goal is to have stress, but not an
excess of it. Too much stress can take its toll on people and
organizations. Too much stress leads to distress. Distress
causes an uncomfortable tension that we try to escape and,
preferably, avoid. Listed below are a few of the common signs of
distress you may find in your fellow soldiers or yourself when
faced with too much stress:
-
Difficulty
making decisions.
-
Angry outbursts.
-
Forgetfulness.
-
Low energy
level.
-
Constant
worrying.
-
Propensity for
mistakes.
-
Thoughts about
death or suicide.
-
Trouble getting
along with others.
-
Withdrawing from
others.
-
Hiding from
responsibilities.
-
Carelessness.
As you can see,
stress can be constructive or destructive. It can encourage or
discourage, move us along or stop us dead in our tracks, and
make life meaningful or seemingly meaningless. Stress can
inspire you to operate successfully and perform at your maximum
efficiency in a survival situation. It can also cause you to
panic and forget all your training. Key to your survival is your
ability to manage the inevitable stresses you will
encounter. The survivor is the soldier who works with his
stresses instead of letting his stresses work on him.
Survival
Stressors
Any event can lead to stress and, as everyone has experienced,
events don’t always come one at a time. Often, stressful events
occur simultaneously. These events are not stress, but they
produce it and are called “stressors.” Stressors are the obvious
cause while stress is the response. Once the body recognizes the
presence of a stressor, it then begins to act to protect itself.
In response to a stressor, the body prepares either to “fight or
flee.” This preparation involves an internal SOS sent throughout
the body. As the body responds to this SOS, several actions take
place. The body releases stored fuels (sugar and fats) to
provide quick energy; breathing rate increases to supply more
oxygen to the blood; muscle tension increases to prepare for
action; blood clotting mechanisms are activated to reduce
bleeding from cuts; senses become more acute (hearing becomes
more sensitive, eyes become big, smell becomes sharper) so that
you are more aware of your surrounding and heart rate and blood
pressure rise to provide more blood to the muscles. This
protective posture lets a person cope with potential dangers;
however, a person cannot maintain such a level of alertness
indefinitely. Stressors are not courteous; one stressor does not
leave because another one arrives. Stressors add up. The
cumulative effect of minor stressors can be a major distress if
they all happen too close together. As the body’s resistance to
stress wears down and the sources of stress continue (or
increase), eventually a state of exhaustion arrives. At this
point, the ability to resist stress or use it in a positive way
gives out and signs of distress appear. Anticipating stressors
and developing strategies to cope with them are two ingredients
in the effective management of stress. It is therefore essential
that the soldier in a survival setting be aware of the types of
stressors he will encounter. Let’s take a look at a few of
these.
Injury, Illness,
or Death
Injury, illness, and death are real possibilities a survivor has
to face. Perhaps nothing is more stressful than being alone in
an unfamiliar environment where you could die from hostile
action, an accident, or from eating something lethal. Illness
and injury can also add to stress by limiting your ability to
manoeuvre, get food and drink, find shelter, and defend
yourself. Even if illness and injury don’t lead to death, they
add to stress through the pain and discomfort they generate. It
is only by controlling the stress associated with the
vulnerability to injury, illness, and death that a soldier can
have the courage to take the risks associated with survival
tasks.
Uncertainly and
Lack of Control
Some people have trouble operating in settings where everything
is not clear-cut. The only guarantee in a survival situation is
that nothing is guaranteed. It can be extremely stressful
operating on limited information in a setting where you have
limited control of your surroundings. This uncertainty and lack
of control also add to the stress of being ill, injured, or
killed.
Environment
Even under the most ideal circumstances, nature is quite
formidable. In survival, a soldier will have to contend with the
stressors of weather, terrain, and the variety of creatures
inhabiting an area. Heat, cold, rain, winds, mountains, swamps,
deserts, insects, dangerous reptiles, and other animals are just
a few of the challenges awaiting the soldier working to survive.
Depending on how a soldier handles the stress of his
environment, his surroundings can be either a source of food and
protection or can be a cause of extreme discomfort leading to
injury, illness, or death.
Hunger and Thirst
Without food and water a person will weaken and eventually die.
Thus, getting and preserving food and water takes on increasing
importance as the length of time in a survival setting
increases. For a soldier used to having his provisions issued,
foraging can be a big source of stress.
Fatigue
Forcing yourself to continue surviving is not easy as you grow
more tired. It is possible to become so fatigued that the act of
just staying awake is stressful in itself.
Isolation
There are some advantages to facing adversity with others. As
soldiers we learn individual skills, but we train to function as
part of a team. Although we, as soldiers, complain about higher
headquarters, we become used to the information and guidance it
provides, especially during times of confusion. Being in contact
with others also provides a greater sense of security and a
feeling someone is available to help if problems occur. A
significant stressor in survival situations is that often a
person or team has to rely solely on its own resources. The
survival stressors mentioned in this section are by no means the
only ones you may face. Remember, what is stressful to one
person may not be stressful to another. Your experiences,
training, personal outlook on life, physical and mental
conditioning, and level of self-confidence contribute to what
you will find stressful in a survival environment. The object is
not to avoid stress, but rather to manage the stressors of
survival and make them work for you. We now have a general
knowledge of stress and the stressors common to survival; the
next step is to examine our reactions to the stressors we may
face.
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 adevastating 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 behaviour, poorly thought-out decisions, and, in some
instances, 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 yourself 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.”
Guilt
The circumstances leading to your being in a survival setting
are sometimes dramatic and tragic. It may bethe result of an
accident or military mission where there was a loss of life.
Perhaps you were the only, or one of a few, survivors. While
naturally relieved to be alive, you simultaneously may be
mourning the deaths of others who were less fortunate. It is not
uncommon for survivors to feel guilty about being spared from
death while others were not. This feeling, when used in a
positive way, 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 give yourself, do not let guilt feelings prevent you
from living. The living who abandon their chance to survive
accomplish nothing. Such an act would be the greatest tragedy.
PREPARING
YOURSELF
Your mission as a soldier in a survival situation is to stay
alive. As you can see, you are going to experience an assortment
of thoughts and emotions. These can work for you, or they can
work to your downfall. Fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, guilt,
depression, and loneliness are all possible reactions to the
many stresses common to survival. These reactions, when
controlled in a healthy way, help to increase a soldier’s
likelihood of surviving. They prompt the soldier to pay more
attention in training, to fight back when scared, to take
actions that ensure sustenance and security, to keep faith with
his fellow soldiers, and to strive against large odds. When the
survivor cannot control these reactions in a healthy way, they
can bring him to a standstill. Instead of rallying his internal
resources, the soldier listens to his internal fears. This
soldier experiences psychological defeat long before he
physically succumbs. Remember, survival is natural to everyone;
being unexpectedly thrust into the life and death struggle of
survival is not. Don’t be afraid of your “natural reactions to
this unnatural situation.” Prepare yourself to rule over these
reactions so they serve your ultimate interest—staying alive
with the honour and dignity associated with being an American
soldier. It involves preparation to ensure that your
reactions in a survival setting are productive, not destructive.
The challenge of survival has produced countless examples of
heroism, courage, and self-sacrifice. These are the qualities it
can bring out in you if you have prepared yourself. Below are a
few tips to help prepare yourself psychologically for survival.
Through studying this manual and attending survival training you
can develop the survival attitude.
Know Yourself
Through training, family, and friends take the time to discover
who you are on the inside. Strengthen yourstronger qualities and
develop the areas that you know are necessary to survive.
Anticipate Fears Don’t pretend that you will have no fears.
Begin thinking about what would frighten you the most if forced
to survive alone. Train in those areas of concern to you. The
goal is not to eliminate the fear, but to build confidence in
your ability to function despite your fears.
Be Realistic
Don’t be afraid to make an honest appraisal of situations. See
circumstances as they are, not as you want them to be. Keep your
hopes and expectations within the estimate of the situation.
When you go into a survival setting with unrealistic
expectations, you may be laying the groundwork for bitter
disappointment. Follow the adage, “Hope for the best, prepare
for the worst.” It is much easier to adjust to pleasant
surprises about one’s unexpected good fortunes than to be upset
by one’s unexpected harsh circumstances.
Adopt a Positive
Attitude
Learn to seethe potential good in everything. Looking for the
good not only boosts morale, it also is excellent for exercising
your imagination and creativity. Remind Yourself What Is at
Stake Remember, failure to prepare yourself psychologically to
cope with survival leads to reactions such as depression,
carelessness, inattention, loss of confidence, poor
decision-making, and giving up before the body gives in. At
stake is your life and thelives of others who are depending on
you to do your share.
Train
Through military training and life experiences, begin today to
prepare yourself to cope with the rigors of survival.
Demonstrating your skills in training will give you the
confidence to call upon them should the need arise. Remember,
the more realistic the training, the less overwhelming an actual
survival setting will be. Learn Stress Management Techniques
People under stress have a potential to panic if they are not
well-trained and not prepared psychologically to face
whatever the circumstances may be. While we often cannot control
the survival circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is
within our ability to control our response to those
circumstances. Learning stress management techniques can enhance
significantly your capability to remain calm and focused as you
work to keep yourself and others alive. A few good techniques to
develop include relaxation skills, time management skills,
assertiveness skills, and cognitive restructuring skills (the
ability to control how you view a situation). Remember,
“the will to survive” can also be considered to be “the
refusal to give up.” |
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