Preparing your MIND for emergencies

The Monthly Theme for August!
 
When we think about preparedness, we often consider the physical and practical steps we need to take to prepare our families and homes. However, being psychologically prepared for an emergency situation is just as important as being physically prepared.
It can help you feel more in control and confident in dealing with an emergency, and help you to think more clearly while under severe stress.
There is a reason we encourage people to write down and practice their bushfire survival plans. It is because our brains can become overwhelmed when they become faced with stressful situations.
The adrenaline hormone which helps us survive can also shut off the parts of our brain linked to problem solving.
Being psychologically prepared also includes having realistic expectations. An emergency situation (such as a fast moving bushfire) can very quickly become unmanageable and unpredictable.
So how do we prepare our minds for a emergencies?
 
There are three main steps we can take:
ANTICIPATE  how you may react

• When preparing your survival plan, try to anticipate what your likely response to the situation will be.
• Expect that the situation will be highly stressful and think about how you usually react to stress. Although these reactions are completely normal,  they can get in the way of your thought process.

IDENTIFY - Identify your own feelings and thoughts by

• Noticing what is happening to your body and the physical sensations that tell you that you're feeling anxious.
• Asking yourself if your thoughts are helping you or making things harder?
• Reminding yourself that strong physical sensations and frightening thoughts are normal reactions to stress but they are not helping you to stay calm and clearheaded without being too critical of yourself

 MANAGE - In stressful situations, people can feel more in control through

• Slowing down your breathing
• Replacing frightening thoughts with more helpful ones

 
You need to be able to draw on your own strengths, survival resources and your ability to cope. It's important not to let your feelings and thoughts of fear get in the way of careful and well planned actions.
Remind yourself that this is an emergency situation and that it's natural to feel anxious and stressed. You cannot directly control what's happening but you can manage your responses in this emergency and influence the impact on you and your family.

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