Panic and Fear

From the U.S. Armed Forces Survival Manual,
Edited by John Boswell, published by Rawson, Wade Publishers, Inc., New York, 1980.

Almost everyone who has ever found himself lost, isolated, and cut off from civilization has experienced fear - fear of the unknown, fear of pain and discomfort, fear of one's own weaknesses. Under such conditions fear is not only normal - it is healthy. Fear heightens one's senses and attunes one to potential dangers and hazards. Fear is the natural surge of adrenaline, present in all mammals, that acts as a defense mechanism against hostility or the unknown.

But fear must be harnessed and properly channeled or it can lead to panic. Panic is the most destructive response to a survival situation. Energy is wasted, rational thinking is impaired or destroyed altogether, and positive steps to one's survival become impossible. Panic can lead to hopelessness, which can begin to break down one's will to survive.

Several positive mental steps can be taken to make fear an ally and panic an impossibility. As mentioned above, preparation and knowledge of survival techniques instill confidence and lead to control of one's self as well as one's environment. In addition, it is important to occupy your mind immediately with an analysis of the situation and the survival tasks at hand. It will help you to remember the word S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L and use it as a memory device. The interrelated survival tips keyed to the individual letters of the word will provide you with an initial survival checklist. More important, it focuses the mind on the tasks at h and, sublimating fear and the danger of panic.

S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L

S = Size Up the Situation ...
U = Undue Haste Makes Waste ...
R = Remember Where You Are ...
V = Vanquish Fear and Panic ...
I = Improvise ...
V = Value Living ...
A = Act Like the Natives ...
L = Learn Basic Skills ...

Survival is a positive mental attitude toward yourself and your surroundings. By memorizing, then analyzing, the survival tips keyed to the letters of the word, you will have already established a direction for your survival actions and some worthwhile tasks to perform.