ojibweindian
Member
Train/practice/learn. The feelings of stress won't go away, but you should be able to perform, as long as you're concentrating on the task at hand.
How do you calm yourself in high pressure?
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Koroner
Member
This is called tachipsychia, "the speed of the mind".
Just like a slow motion camera you are multiplying the input because, instead of using a tenth of your brainpower as usual, you are suddenly super alert.
Sometimes they teach this to cops or soldiers so that they know there is nothing wrong and you are probably moving faster than ever.
For me, a half century of rock climbing has taught me to turn fear into strength.
Reminds me of the time I Mad Maxed my car into a ditch upside down last Winter, if only I could learn to just feel that way on a whim. Was weird though how I didn't feel anything after, no stress, no confusion, in the moment absolutely nothing but pure logical decision making, and when it was all done I just bailed out calmly and brushed myself off. a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶a̶l̶k̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶l̶o̶s̶i̶o̶n̶
Mom was more rattled about it 2 hours later than I was in the moment.
Kevin Keith
Member
Lots of good ideas and advice here. However, if all else fails...
Lots of good advice in this thread. And has been said, being scared is okay as long as you do not let the fear overtake you. learn to deal with it and keep it under control. I've been in a situation or three that had very high pucker factors while in the Army. I feel training is a must - train as you fight. Physical fitness and proper breathing control is important also.
I won't sit here and lie to you and say that I wasn't scared on my first parachute jump. Yes I froze at the door and the jump master put his foot in my rear on my first jump. After that I was ready and raring to go. My first HALO was pretty scary too. And being on a two way range always gets the adrenaline pumping. It is how you learn to handle it that matters. I still find myself moving towards gun fire/loud noises to this day. And yes I still sometimes grab for my gas mask when the storm sirens go off. Again training kicking in.
My military experiences also helped me when I worked as a bouncer at bars. It helps being able to stay calm in a stressful situation. By you staying calm, it helps others around you calm down.
I won't sit here and lie to you and say that I wasn't scared on my first parachute jump. Yes I froze at the door and the jump master put his foot in my rear on my first jump. After that I was ready and raring to go. My first HALO was pretty scary too. And being on a two way range always gets the adrenaline pumping. It is how you learn to handle it that matters. I still find myself moving towards gun fire/loud noises to this day. And yes I still sometimes grab for my gas mask when the storm sirens go off. Again training kicking in.
My military experiences also helped me when I worked as a bouncer at bars. It helps being able to stay calm in a stressful situation. By you staying calm, it helps others around you calm down.
PWC
Member
Stress is how you react to any given situation. Stress is worse when you are unsure what to do or how to react. In shooting, I think training is the best stress breaker. Trust yourself and your equipment, shoot the same way you have trained and don't look at the leader board. You are only competing against yourself.
If you have time, put the gun down and rebuild your position. Train until you don't have to think about the integrated act of shooting. Don't chase your last shot.
Stress when your parachute fails to open or opens with malfinction...the only thing that will save you is your emergency procedure TRAINING. The media pictures showing a parachute malfunction leading to an unfortunate ending, usually show the parachutist paniced and didn't follow malfunction TRAINING procedures. I've been involved in 2 put of 372 jumps.
If you have time, put the gun down and rebuild your position. Train until you don't have to think about the integrated act of shooting. Don't chase your last shot.
Stress when your parachute fails to open or opens with malfinction...the only thing that will save you is your emergency procedure TRAINING. The media pictures showing a parachute malfunction leading to an unfortunate ending, usually show the parachutist paniced and didn't follow malfunction TRAINING procedures. I've been involved in 2 put of 372 jumps.
scaatylobo
Member
Did not read all the replys.
But the technique that I was taught a very long time ago was to "learn to breath ".
Might sound simplistic or trite,but it was a real factor that taught me how to destress.
Either look it up,Yoga breathing,or what I was taught = the 4 count.
Count 4 breathes in and 4 out to a constant count.
Also I have used the mantra [ chant to myself ] C.A.L.M then D.O.W.N. to that same 4 count.
This will not work for the first few days,week,or possibly months = it take TIME to learn.
Been doing this for about 5 and 1/2 decades !
NMexJim
Member
Training in the classroom and in the field. As much as you can get. Train under pressure if possible. IDPA is very good. Confidence in your own abilities will help tremendously. Too, some form of hand-to-hand even at a beginner level helps build confidence. Confidence not cocky, BTW.
Trunk Monkey
member
I said essentially the same thing and it got deleted.
Averageman
Member
Understand the effects of stress first, learn to control your breathing, take the task at hand and play it through in your mind first if you have time.
Persevere and remember others are depending on you.
Persevere and remember others are depending on you.
SSN Vet
Member
In through the nose, out through the mouth......
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
In through the nose, out through the mouth....
repeat as necessary.
Psalm 23 works very well too...
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
In through the nose, out through the mouth....
repeat as necessary.
Psalm 23 works very well too...
SSN Vet
Member
Which is exactly the point of "hell week" (aka. "receiving" or "indoc" depending on the service) is all about.... "a tyrannical display, intended to throw recruits into a total disarray of confusion"
Their actually is a method to the madness..... so you "don't let your shipmates burn"
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Arkansas Paul
Member
All pressure is not the same.
There is the competitive pressure when you're competing, and I guess the video game situation falls in that category.
There is the pressure you feel when that monster buck walks out and your heart seems like its pounding through your chest. I know it well and so far have been able to control it.
Then there's the pressure where someone is shooting at you and it's a coin flip whether you'll make it out alive. Thankfully I can't relate to that kind of pressure and hope I never can.
There is the competitive pressure when you're competing, and I guess the video game situation falls in that category.
There is the pressure you feel when that monster buck walks out and your heart seems like its pounding through your chest. I know it well and so far have been able to control it.
Then there's the pressure where someone is shooting at you and it's a coin flip whether you'll make it out alive. Thankfully I can't relate to that kind of pressure and hope I never can.
sonora
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George P
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Same holds true for college fraternity Hell Week
Trunk Monkey
member
So, what I'm hearing you say is
There's pressure when you see the Buck
And there's pressure when you are the Buck
Ernie Bass
member
Just ordered the Book "Protect yourself and Family with a Snubnose revolver. by Grant Cunningham.
Here is a excerpt that I found so realistic that needs to be considered:
Do your skills match your life? Take, for example, reloading the handgun. In a competition contest, where most reloading techniques come from, no one is shooting back. Regardless of the amount of stress (which in competition is nothing more than simple performance anxiety), the body's natural threat reactions have not been activated.
Because of that reality, the competitive shooter's re-loading technique has be maximized to speed under the conditions it's likely to be used: on a nice, flat range with obstructions that have been identified beforehand and against a target that does not move.
Now take those same skills and apply them to your world. Your attacker is trying to hurt you; your attention and vision are forced you from your attacker; the ground under the smooth soles of your dress shoes is wet, uneven and strewn with trash; it's dark;and the rain makes the gun and your ammunition slippery. The reloading technique optimized for speed under the ideal conditions will succeed. The difference is in the context of application and it matters.
I am looking forward to reading and studying further from this book. I have always admired Grant and always useful info.
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Good Ol' Boy
Member
Well thats certainly true however, the only even close to the exact real thing is FOF and the majority of folks don't have access to that.
Really, truly, unless you've been on a two way range or in a life or death confrontation you're just doing the best you can as far as preparation.
For a lot of folks some sort of competition is the middle ground, as its relatively easy to come by.
No doubt though I have "slipped in wet grass on uneven terrain" while running drills at home, as well as fallen with a running chainsaw among many other nerve racking things.
But I don't think this is a "you know what" contest.
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