To understand his psychological reactions in a survival situation, it is useful to have some basic knowledge about stress. Stress is not an illness that can be treated and eliminated. It is a state that we all have to face. It could be broadly described as our reaction to the pressures and tensions of life.
THE NECESSITY OF STRESS
We all need stress, as it has many positive effects. By challenging us, it gives us the opportunity to better understand our values and strengths. It can reveal our ability to withstand pressure without giving in; it tests our adaptability and flexibility; it can motivate us to push our limits. Since we generally do not consider insignificant events as stressful, stress can also be an excellent indicator of the importance we attach to an event – in other words, it reveals what is important to us.
We all need a certain dose of stress in our lives. But, like with everything, excess can also be harmful. Therefore, we must seek stress, but within reasonable limits. Too much stress leads to distress. And distress generates an uncomfortable tension that we try to escape from as much as possible.
Below you will find a list of some of the most common signs of distress that you may observe in your companions or in yourself in situations of excessive stress:
- Indecision.
- Angry outburst.
- Memory loss.
- Lack of energy.
- Constant apprehension.
- Tendency to error.
- Thoughts focused on death or suicide.
- Difficulty in relating to others.
- Withdrawal attitude.
- Evading responsibilities.
- Neglect.
Stress can therefore have a positive or a negative effect. It can encourage or discourage; stimulate or paralyze; give meaning to life or make it seem insignificant. In a survival situation, stress can both double your effectiveness and multiply your abilities as well as plunge you into panic and make you forget everything you have learned. To survive, it is therefore essential to be able to manage the inevitable stresses we face in such situations. The person who survives is the one who knows how to take advantage of stress, not the one who lets it undermine them.
THE STRESS FACTORS IN SURVIVAL SITUATIONS
Any event can trigger stress and, as everyone knows, stressful events tend to accumulate. Often, they even occur simultaneously. While these events do not constitute stress in themselves, they are nonetheless its origin. That is why they are called "stressors." Stressors are the manifest causes, and stress is the reaction they provoke. As soon as it detects the presence of a stressor, the body springs into action to protect itself.
In response to a stress factor, the body mobilizes either to fight or to flee. It sends out a generalized internal SOS that triggers a series of phenomena. The body will draw on its reserves (sugars and fats) to quickly provide energy; the breathing rate accelerates to bring more oxygen to the blood; muscle tension increases to prepare for action; various blood coagulation mechanisms come into play to reduce any potential bleeding caused by any cut; the senses are sharpened (hearing becomes more acute, the pupils of the eyes dilate, and the sense of smell becomes more acute) to better monitor the environment; heart rate and blood pressure increase to better supply the muscles with blood. This state of alertness prepares us to face potential dangers; but no one can sustain such tension indefinitely.
Stressors have no manners; none give way to the other. On the contrary, they pile up. However, the too rapid accumulation of stressors, even minor ones, sometimes results in a state of major distress. As its resistance decreases, the body eventually becomes exhausted under the incessant (or increasing) assaults of stress. Its ability to resist or to use it positively begins to erode, and the first signs of distress appear.
A good way to manage stress is therefore to anticipate the stressors and develop strategies to cope with them. In a survival situation, it is essential to be well aware of the different types of stressors you may encounter. Let's take a look at some of them.
INJURIES, ILLNESSES OR DEATHS
Injuries, illnesses, and deaths are eventualities that the survivor must concretely consider. Nothing may be more stressful than finding oneself alone in an unfamiliar environment, at the mercy of a hostile attack, an accident, or food poisoning. Illness and injuries can also sometimes increase the level of stress by limiting the ability to move, seek food and drink, find shelter, and defend oneself. Even when they are not fatal, they still add to the stress due to the pain and discomfort that accompany them. Only the person who can manage the stress associated with their vulnerability to injuries, illness, and death will find the courage to take the risks inherent in any survival attempt.
Uncertainty and lack of control
Some have difficulty functioning in an environment where everything is not clearly marked. In a survival situation, one thing is certain: nothing is certain. It can be extremely stressful to operate from partial information in a situation where one has a poor grasp of the environment. Uncertainty and lack of control add to the stress related to illness, injury, and death.
The environment
Even in ideal circumstances, nature can be formidable. In a survival situation, you will have to deal with the stress factors of climate, terrain, and the variety of indigenous animals. Heat, cold, rain, wind; mountains, swamps, deserts; insects, reptiles, and other dangerous animals present numerous challenges that you will have to face. Depending on how you cope with the stress created by your environment, it will either provide you with sustenance and protection, or destabilize you to the point of making you vulnerable to injury, illness, or death.
Hunger and thirst
"Whoever is deprived of water and food loses their strength and eventually dies. In a survival situation, the longer time passes, the more important it is to find water and food, and to preserve them. For a person accustomed to their 3 daily meals, the quest for food can sometimes become a significant source of stress."
Fatigue
As fatigue increases, the effort required to continue surviving becomes more and more arduous. Sometimes we reach such a degree of fatigue that the very effort of staying awake becomes a source of stress.
Isolation
There are certain advantages to facing adversity in company. We certainly acquire individual skills, but we are also trained to function as a team. Being in contact with others also increases the feeling of security: in case of a problem, someone is there to help us. Whether alone or in a team, an important stress factor in survival situations is that, in many cases, one can only rely on one's own resources.
The stress factors mentioned here are by no means the only ones you may encounter. It should also never be forgotten that what is stressful for one person is not necessarily stressful for another. The perception of what is stressful or not in a survival situation depends on one's experience, training, outlook on life, physical and mental attitude, and level of self-confidence. The goal here is not to avoid stress, but rather to cope with stress factors and make the most of them.
Conclusion
In a survival context, stress management is of crucial importance. Understanding our psychological reactions in such situations is essential for navigating the challenges that arise. Stress is not simply a reaction to be avoided, but rather a force to be understood and tamed.
It is undeniable that stress, in various forms, is omnipresent in our lives. However, it is necessary to recognize that stress can be beneficial, prompting us to surpass ourselves, discover our limits, and refine our priorities. Nevertheless, an excessive accumulation of stress can lead to distress, affecting our ability to cope with the challenges that lie ahead.
Ultimately, the key to survival lies in our ability to cope with stress and leverage it. It is the person who knows how to channel stress constructively who will be best equipped to face challenges and overcome adversities. In this spirit, whether in a survival situation or in daily life, stress management is a valuable skill that deserves to be cultivated and developed.
