The Will to Survive - The Mental
Challenge
Will: The mental
faculty by which one deliberately
chooses or decides upon a course of
action.
The single most important survival
skill is the will to survive. If you
find yourself in a survival situation,
you must make up your mind that you
are going to survive! Attitude and
determination are your allies, doubt
is your enemy!
According to the US Army Field Manual,
the two greatest dangers to survival
are the desire for comfort, and a
passive outlook.
Desire for comfort: You must change
the way you think of comfort. Compare
your current situation with a far
worst situation, and realize that
your current discomfort is only temporary.
Knowing how much discomfort you can
handle, and understanding your need
for comfort can help you through your
survival situation. Remember, comfort
is not essential to your survival!!!
A Passive Outlook: (Passive: Accepting
one's fate without objection or resistance.)
We all have the basic will to survive,
but the overwhelming stress caused
by our situation can lead to a passive
outlook. The best way to ovoid a passive
outlook is to understand the physical
and mental stress that can cause it.
Physical Stress
Climate
- Cold: Cold weather
slows down your blood flow, and
reduces your ability to think clearly.
The cold can also make you sleepy,
week, and reduce your will to survive.
Hypothermia can set in, even in
warm climates if you get cold by
being wet. If you are cold, immediately
find shelter, and start a fire!!!
- Heat: Heat can
also weaken your will to survive.
Hot temperatures can lead to heat
exhaustion and even heat stroke.
Try not to exert yourself during
the hottest part of the day. Protect
yourself from direct sunlight. If
you are not accustomed to the higher
temperatures take extra caution.
Your body will start getting accustomed
to the higher temperatures after
a few days.
Dehydration
Once you start getting thirsty it
can weaken your ability to think clearly.
Dehydration is one of the most common
problems associated with extreme survival
situations. Dehydration can weaken,
and kill! Lack of water affects your
body’s ability to keep warm,
and cool. Drink plenty of water when
it is available and ovoid eating too
much food when water is not available.
Hunger
Hunger can affect your will to survive,
and morale. The hardest thing for
most people is overcoming the Yuk
Factor. When it comes to survival
you may have to eat things that you
normally would conceder disgusting
to even look at.
Physical Pain and Fatigue:
- Pain: is your
body’s way of telling you
that something is wrong. The sensation
of pain itself is not harmful, but
it can seam unbearable. The best
way to deal with pain is:
Know its source (treat the cause
if possible).
Understand that it must be tolerated.
Concentrate on surviving (keep mentally
& physical busy).
Think tuff, and take pride in your
ability to take the pain.
- Physical Fatigue:
can be caused by over exertion,
and can often be relived by resting.
You should ovoid repetitive activities
that can lead to soreness, and strained
muscles.
Mental Stress
Mental Fatigue
The best way to overcome mental fatigue
is to get rest, change your activities,
mild exercise, have a conversation,
play a game, and use your imagination
(fantasizing).
Boredom & Loneliness
- Boredom is usually experienced
in long term survival situations,
were loneliness and repetitive activities
are keeping the human mind from
being challenged. The best method
for dealing with boredom is to keep
busy, and remember that even your
smallest activity is playing a part
in your overall survival goal.
- Loneliness can often leave you
with a feeling of despair; it can
make you want to just give up and
die. In order to deal with loneliness
you must first accept your current
situation, and understand that by
keeping busy and focusing on your
goal you can survive. Rely on your
skills, and on your ability to get
through your situation and ultimately
reach your goal of survival. Talk
with God!
Fear
Fear is our body’s way of avoiding
dangerous situations that can cause
use physical and mental harm. As long
as the fear is founded on tangible
facts, it can be very useful. Fear
can keep our actions in check, and
it can trigger our natural “fight
or flight” response. Fear that
is unfounded in facts can impair our
ability to make rational decisions,
and it can jeopardize our ability
to survive. Worry is a type of fear
that can be based on facts, but is
usually something that has not, and
may not ever happen. Don’t be
fearful of the unknown; don’t
worry about that which you cannot
control. Instead keep your mind on
the task at hand; Survival!!!
When you find yourself in a survival
situation always remember to S.T.O.P.
Stop
Think
Observe
Plan
The US Army uses the acronym S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L.
to help soldiers’ remember
how to survive.
Size
up the situation.
Undue
haste makes waste.
Remember
were you are.
Vanquish
fear and panic.
Improvise.
Value
living.
Act
like the natives.
Live
by your wits.
For more information on the survival
acronyms, please click
here.
Be Prepared
Being prepared ahead of time will
give you confidence and the skills
you need to survive. Always assess
your situation, and prioritize your
current survival needs (water, shelter,
fire, food, first aid, and signals
[order changes depending on your
current survival needs]).
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