I grew up by the beach and was raised to be aware of the power and danger of the ocean.
However, when I was a teenager, I got caught in a rip current—and I did exactly what I had always been taught not to do.
When I felt myself being pulled under, the stress and adrenaline caused me to panic and attempt to swim against the current.
Thankfully, I was with someone mentally stronger than I was at the time—someone who knew not to panic, and was able to safely get us back to shore.
As an adult, I now understand that surviving doesn’t just depend on the physical supplies you have, such as food and water.
Survival is mental.
Even with survival gear, you need mental preparedness.
T.Sgt. Lee Young is a SERE instructor and survival expert teaching survival techniques to the Air Force.
According to Young:
Survival is 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental. [It takes] someone who’s mentally strong and has the willpower to endure. These are the people who make it out of a survival situation. You need food and water, but if you don’t have that mental strength and you quit within the first few days, then your life is over.
He further adds that there are three things he focuses on to stay mentally strong when doing survival training:
When I think I have it bad, someone always has it worse. It doesn’t matter how bad the situation is; somewhere in the world, someone has it worse. Someone’s in captivity getting their head chopped off. The second thing that got me through was knowing that it wasn’t impossible. If others can do it, why can’t I do it? The third thing was knowing that I couldn’t look a man in the eye and say, “I quit.” If he can do it, why can’t I do it? That would be saying, “I’m not as good as you are.”
Read on to discover the often overlooked mental aspects of survival.
Stay Calm Under Pressure
When things go south, it won’t do you any good to panic.
But this is easier said than done.
Dangerous situations are stressful, and stressful situations cause panic. You will have to force yourself to stay calm, even when your adrenaline is spiking.
Furthermore, if you have others with you, you want to appear calm. If you panic, they’ll panic.
This doesn’t just apply to situations where you are isolated, either.
Let’s say there is a terrorist attack. You do not want to be panicking and drawing attention.
Instead, you want to function as a gray man.
A gray man is someone who blends in and does not stand out. He gives no reason to pay him any attention.
Manage Fear
Survival situations are scary. You have a reason to be afraid.
However, you cannot allow your fear to overwhelm you and even paralyze you.
Caryn Mackenzie, a contributor to Survival Filter, claims: “Mental toughness is not about being impervious to pain or fear; rather, it's about embracing discomfort and adversity as opportunities for growth and development.”
Make Rational Decisions
If you are fearful and panicking, you will not be able to think clearly or make rational decisions.
For instance, you may have to make decisions based on whether to run or stay in one place.
Consider the survival story of Aron Ralston. As reported:
After being pinned for over five days, Ralston faced extreme physical and psychological stress. His mental strength and determination were crucial in making the life-saving decision to amputate his own arm to escape. Ralston’s story underscores the importance of mental fortitude, decision-making, and adaptability in survival situations.
Remain Optimistic
Survivors tend to share one thing in common: they all remained hopeful.
Survivors focused on the reasons they had to live rather than giving up.
Consider this true survival story from Joe Simpson, who took a dangerous fall off an ice cliff and into a crevasse:
The injured mountaineer made it a point to be consciously mindful of his emotional state since he realized the importance of maintaining hope in this situation that he was unlikely to survive. For the next three and a half days, he crawled towards his base camp while his mind easily wandered, causing him to lose track of time. He later recalled that, I went, “Right, I’m going to get to that crevasse in 20 minutes. Then I’m going to get to that red rock in 20 minutes.” It created structure and discipline.
Be Adaptable
Adaptability is essential to survival. You must be flexible and resourceful.
Survivors are those who adapt to their situation and make use of the resources available to them.
Focus on Immediate Tasks
In a survival situation, it can be tempting to get stuck on the end game.
But this may overwhelm you. Instead, try to focus on immediate tasks.
For example, think about what you can do for shelter in the meantime. Take things one step at a time.
Get Comfortable Being Alone
One of the hardest things to survive is isolation.
It’s the isolation and loneliness that can cause people to lose hope and give up.
If you aren’t used to being alone, this can be one of the most difficult mental challenges for you in a crisis.
Knowing this is a true concern, make a point to spend time alone.
Develop Your Skills
While survival skills aren’t all you need, they can make you feel mentally resilient.
If you know that you have wilderness skills, you won’t be as frightened or panicked if you find yourself lost in the woods.
If you know first aid, you won’t freak out if your friend needs a splint.
[Related Read: 20 Outdoor Survival Items and Skills That May Save Your Life]
Enhance Physical Strength
It is also important to stay physically strong and healthy. This will help you mentally.
Exercise is good for your mental health, and it will make you feel more prepared for crisis incidents that require strength and endurance.
Boost mental preparedness before it’s too late, friends.
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
