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="" />