Dear friends,

We constantly are talking about equipment. How strong our knives/tools are, how bright flashlights should be or how should we pack our packs in order to have maximum amount of stuff in minimum amount of space. It’s all great. Since person with right tools will perform better than person with no tools. But what about the human factor in survival situation? How would you behave when faced with clear and present danger? How would you behave if you ditched in the middle of pacific with 6 people? Maybe you would have your marbles together but not them. What would you do? How would you behave? Would you take over as a leader or would you wait patiently until everyone dies and than do your own thing.

When preparing for survival we always think of physical/technical aspects but never about mental. We are so sure that if dropped with a knife and PSK anywhere in the world we would make it. But I read many stories where mental toughness was a higher priority skill than starting fire.

I decided to investigate this issue a bit. One of the things that prompted that was recent certification course I took for Critical Incident Stress Management and also my degree in forensic psychology. We will all agree that survival situation is a very stressful event. Most of the time it’s not the actual survival task at hand or location that causes feeling of impending doom but the feeling of uncertainty and unknown. Stress also in right doses can be a powerful motivator. In order to arrest “stress factor” at that stage you have to be positive. I found out that for me when situation may get out of hand I concentrate on priority things and do them by the numbers. I treat thinking about my family, home, good food or beverage as a reward. You should chart your survival as a goals list with different priorities. Your first priorities should be easy so when you complete them you have a feeling of accomplishment. But don’t do all the easy tasks at once. Swing forward to more difficult task. If you don’t succeed swing back to the easy task. Time yourself properly so you don’t overwork yourself. When you complete certain number of task than it’s time for the reward. Think about your family, good times you shared (that should be avoided if you know your family perished). But don’t dwell into details. My newest addition to my PSK is a picture of my friends and family. Now your goals should be reachable. Don’t try to repair a nuclear reactor no matter how many MacGyver shows you have watched. Your time frame for completion should be flexible yet firm. In urban situation your goals should be simple and kept to the minimum. Example would be getting reunited with your family and than taking off as a unit. Education, proper planning and understanding will ensure that even when panicked your training will take over. Your family has no use for you when you are not there and if you are being torn between your loved ones and task at hand you will not be dedicated 100%. It’s hard to suck it up and be tough especially if entire world is falling apart around you. But many people will look up to you as a leader or somebody high up on the totem pole. Nobody expects you to be fearless and mighty but being calm and in control will increase the chances of survival. We can go over countless scenarios in our heads and say that we would do this and that but there is nothing out there that would prepare us for the real deal. But more you think about it the chances are you will act more like it. My motto in life is “by the numbers”. I don’t worry about tomorrow until I’m done with today. I will follow or I will lead but I will do everything one step at the time. In the end it all comes down to hope. I will hope to survive, I will hope to do my best and what I was asked to do. I will accept my situation as it is and don’t do any blaming, grieving, crying or finger pointing. For that I will have enough time when I get out of the current mess and get home.

I just think that metal aspect of survival is being very often overlooked and I wanted to share with you guys in above rant little ideas I pulled. Don’t underestimate yourself and put all your trust into tools. It may turn out to be that you are your worst enemy. Not the elements, injuries or location but you.

Matt

My Hat's Off to what you said! This also brings to Mind the Book "Deep Survival", of which you may already know about. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Polak187[/email]

Excellent points all around Matt.

I have seen people freeze in situtations that seemed too complex. Apparently they did not think of small steps to the ultimate goal.

During our earthquake in 2001, I took a look around my work area and found 3 visitors to our building under the desk by the exit. They spoke no English and I had to nearly drag them out from under the desk to the exit. They had were uninjured but frozen, being in an unfamiliar building in an earthquake just put them far enough out of their element to be able to respond.

Once down the stairs we hooked up with their translator and all was better.

Their mental state seemed to just not allow action.

Excellent points, Matt. We see the same problem in the world of armed self-defense. People focus all their energy on possessing the "best" hardware, and forget about the software. The priority chain for general survival is the same as for armed self-defense, IMO:

1. Mindset (willingness to deal w/ the situation)
2. Tactics (knowing what to do in the situation)
3. Skills (being able to carry out your tactics)
4. Equipment (tools that enhance carrying out your tactics)

It has been said your best tool is your mind - use it.
But following this thread and having recently looked at the list of books on this site the one that struck me the most was the "Deep Survival" which asks the question, why do some make it while others do not, mental attitude. This stuck me, as I've never been in a true survival situation so I don't know how I'd really react. I believe I'd cope but that might just be wishful thing, blind optimism or ignorance. I've ordered the book to explore this subject. All my gadgets won't be worth a damn if I'm frozen and can't control my own anxiety. I'm not a normally anxious person I deal with "stress" everyday with the job. But that's a different stress, if there's a problem we solve it, panic never restarts a job no matter how much there is, job is one thing but when push comes to shove under "survival" conditions I don't know. I can have a positive mental attitude now here in front of my machine, have all the right kit but if I've not got that "right stuff" then ?

I'd like to see how this thread progresses and the opinion of others on this forum.

Physique and skills go a long way to determine the difference between a survival situation and an unplanned camping expedition or such.

Staying in generally good physical condition - Aerobically fit most importantly - will help you to feel more in control of your immediate surroundings because you won't feel immediately threatened with physical collapse (barring injury for the moment). Being fit will also give your body a small extra margin for withstanding most traumas as well.

Having practiced the fundamental skills of survival so that you are confident in them individually will also go along ways. If you are on land and can confidently construct shelter and fire you will have bought yourself and your party a moment of peace from the stress of the situation. Few things relieve the stress and panic of the situation better than sitting, warm and dry, in front of a cheery fire. (of course a beer and a steak would make it better) <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and EMT's are constantly in "live fire" situations and become, thereby, somewhat stress-hardened. The same can be done for anyone. Next time you are camping, try running as fast and as long as required by your physique to exhaust yourself, then try to create fire from surroundings as quickly as possible. The simulated stress of being exhausted with your aerobic systems working overtime will handicap you in very much the same way as psychological stress of panic would.

As far as PMA goes, I refer to my second point, establish safe-haven and start a cheery fire to stare into and you will immediately feel more hopeful. Also, remember, "idle hands are the devils playground". As long as you are busy doing something about your situation you will feel hope. When you sit down and wait it will become more difficult to keep a PMA. Resting is important but idleness may be fatal. If you must sit and wait, because that is the right thing to do in many instances, then you will need something to occupy your mind and hands. I usually have with me a dice game, a pocket chess board and a bit of inspirational reading. (the list is growing but I like "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen; "The Art of War" by Sun Tsu; "The Teachings of Buddha" a collection of translations; "The New International Version" bible; "The Prince" by Machieavelli; etc. These are all printed in micro-book format 1"X2" paperback or hardbound and available in the novelty area of most bookstores. There are also a series of "Sips of chicken soup for the ...." which are smaller versions of the larger book - too maudlin for me tho.) I find the inspirational reading more useful to me than the survival instruction sheets.(tho I do have the Brunton survival cards in my wallet and BillVan's cheat sheet in my PSK.)

I find that If I can translate my situation into a normal situation in my mind then I won't feel overwhelmed. Instead of "Omigod! I'm lost in the wilderness" - "Gee what a great opportunity to get away from it all for an extended camping trip". Instead of "Omigod! I'm in the middle of the atlantic without a boat" - "Great I wanted to go for a swim anyway!" This won't work for all situations eg. "Omigod! I'm in an office on the 30'th floor and the hall is a raging inferno" - "Gee at least it isn't too cold anyway" (just doesn't work) <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

During my military survival training, the best advice was to watch for your own mistakes. Aside from the sudden catastrophic event (crash or whatever) many survival situation are self-induced. They are the result of a series of mistakes. Small mistakes. Any of which, alone, would be hardly noticed.

The good sergeant said something to the effect of… Watch yourself carefully. When you make your first mistake take that as a warning. Resolve the issue and then be on guard for the next mistake. When you discover the second, sit down and think about things. Go slower, be very cautious. If you find a third mistake, then STOP. Think about your situation as though your life depended on it, because it probably does.

His example was driving in a remote area. You make a wrong turn. (mistake one) you notice it and decide to turn around. In your haste, you get stuck, mistake two. You get the idea.

The human factor is always the most important part of any difficult situation. It is the time when training and attitude become the deciding factor. But one cannot generate training and attitude when stuck on a deserted road. It comes only with long and dedicated awareness to improving yourself.

Nomad.