Fires, earthquakes, car accidents, epidemics, wars—these events can sow fear and misunderstanding when we hear about them from news channels. Many of us believe that we will never encounter such situations. Unfortunately, this belief is mistaken, as there is no absolute certainty that such disasters will not become our reality at some point.

Don't be frightened. This doesn't mean you should isolate yourself in a bunker or become paranoid. In fact, you only should expand your knowledge in areas such as first aid and survival in extreme conditions. Remember: no tool you buy will be as valuable as your brain. Even if you have a fire extinguisher in your hand during a fire, you may not be able to use it if you panic and lose your composure. Your ability to remain calm and focused is the most important asset you have when an emergency strikes. Of course, this is not easy.

Two systems in our body dictate our behavior under severe stress. The first is the sympathetic system, which causes our blood to circulate faster when we are frightened, leading to increased heart rate, dilation of our pupils and lungs, and enhanced resilience and strength. Conversely, the parasympathetic system seeks to prevent these reactions. Once the danger has passed, it calms us down by constricting our pupils and slowing our blood circulation. However, sometimes our bodies malfunction, and these systems fail to cooperate, resulting in us freezing up.

The freeze reaction can be deadly in critical situations. We can't run or move because our sympathetic system has failed. But that's not all—we also can't think. Your ability to think and make decisions will determine whether you can save yourself and those around you. This can be incredibly discouraging. In such a situation, neither reflexive autopilot nor analyzing the situation and looking for a solution will help. Unsettling, isn't it? Well, in that case, let's confront it.