Bushcraft & Fears

[Ph34r]

Bushcraft, if done in certain ways, can invoke fear.
Whether this be Vertigo, acrophobia, claustrophobia or even nyctophobia, it can endanger your mental state, and therefore effectiveness in the bush.

It is important you conquer these fears, however insignificant they are.

1. Analyse the fear - Is it logical? Is it based on an earlier experience?

If your fear is based on a childhood experience, think when and why it happened. Face it, you are probably stronger physically and mentally than before. This mixed with a basic survival instinct will pull you through certain situations.

2. Thought - Don't think negatively. Do not even think "i will not die", instead think more positively: "I will survive". Think about what you will do when you get back into your zone of comfort.

3. You are a bushcrafter. You now how to deal with these situations. The human race is one of the most adaptable ever. We have developed machines and new materials. WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY FEAR.

Hope this helps,
all feedback appreciated, as is my first guide.
Ph34r

 

[Shewie]

Not sure how that really applies to bushcraft, that sounds more like a paranoid survivalist mantra to me.

Bushcraft is more about enjoying the situation rather than wanting to get out of there.

 

[eraaij]

ehh - we can still have fun, too?

 

[phill_ue]

It helps to have the mental strength and knowledge to overcome any fears you might have, whatever they may be. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

 

[Tengu]

Do you think he gets scared in the woods at night?

 

[Ph34r]

lol, i do not get scared in the woods at night. I am just saying that fears can often prevent you from achieving things you want to in bushcraft.

 

[FGYT]

when im out in the woods in at my most stress free lowest fear level


then again we used to walk the new forest at night with dark glasses on after an hour its amazing how bright it is

ATB

Duncan

actally hes right the wost fear is wondering if that bottle of beer you just took out he dark crate is the last one

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

I do occasionaly get a paranoid thought that something is stalking me and is going to get me from behind in the night, you just have tell yourself "Don't be silly" and go for a look around to ease your mind, especially on the first night out and its been a while since I was last out.

I think its just natural to be wary in unfarmiliar areas and situations but when you settle and 'tune in' your fine.

 

[Toddy]

lol, i do not get scared in the woods at night. I am just saying that fears can often prevent you from achieving things you want to in bushcraft.

You mean like I know that the fungi I want is fifteen feet up a Birch tree, and the only way it's coming down is either I bring down the whole tree or I climb the tree, and I know I'm a little lady of what society determines is really beyond tree clambouring up age, and I'm feart I get caught up that tree ?? and some iijit phones the firebrigade, and my husband and sons and uncle and brothers get on my case over it
Or do you mean like Andybysea and his neighbours advice about a good route down a sheer cliff face ?

Sometimes fear's a good thing

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Ph34r]

Sometimes fear's a good thing

Fair play. I totally agree, but yes like getting the fungus out of the tree (sound like that was fun)

 

[wattsy]

I do occasionaly get a paranoid thought that something is stalking me and is going to get me from behind in the night,

thats just perfectly normal paranoia everyone gets that lol

 

[John Fenna]

I am a big bad "Mill File" with an axe and two knives, burning brands and a heavy wooden staff to hand...I am not the one who should be scared!
Mind you ...mild paranoia is a survival instinct!

 

[Tengu]

With me its at least three axes.

 

[JonathanD]

So it's you pair that scares us at night then

 

[Toddy]

trust me, you don't need an axe, a white goonie in the fog does the trick

cheers,
M

 

[JonathanD]

What on Earths a goonie? I googled it and came up with this:

It don't look scary to me.

 

[Tengu]

Its got a big fierce beak.

 

[helixpteron]

Jonathan, you and me both!

 

[FGYT]

What on Earths a goonie? I googled it and came up with this:



It don't look scary to me.

maybe they do Shock absorbers in White

 

[jonajuna]

thats survival psychology, commonly called the will to live.

id say modern humans are far from adaptable, in fact since the industrial revolution, we are hugely unadaptable, we create things to adapt our environment to us, we certainly dont adapt to the environment anymore

its this loss of trad skills of living, that i think is in part, responsible for the recent vogue in survival/bushcraft skills, the sudden realisation that actually, we are fubar'd without our gas cookers, mobile phones and water on tap.