“During any challenging situation that tests the body and the mind, maintaining a healthy and positive mental state is crucial for survival. Yet, doing that is not easy. During tough times, the many physiological changes taking place in the body hamper the attitude of a person significantly. Making the person prone to embrace poor choices.
The key physiological challenges that occur during a crisis situation are:
1. Severe stress
Owing to hectic work schedules and busy lives, most people face stress on a regular basis. However, most people do not know the real impacts of stress. When the human body is stressed, it gets into a fight or flight state. A number of hormones like epinephrine, dopamine, cortisol, norepinephrine, etc. are released, as a result. When that happens, the body can get fatigued, making a person weak and numb. This urges people to make bad decisions.
2. Exposure to rough natural elements
The body’s main barrier to rough external elements is its skin. When conditions get very rough, that barrier gets damaged. Skin may get damaged to an extent that infections occur. Also, when the weather is very cold, the body loses calories fast in an attempt to maintain its core temperature. That often causes a person to take a little break on the ground – something that is never advised. Staying away from the ground in a safe spot is essential, as even a short stay on the ground can kill due to external elements.
3. Acute dehydration
The body loses moisture in the form of urination and sweating. Breathing can cause moisture loss, too. That causes dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, thirst is experienced. Usually, dehydration is not fatal, but when the conditions are tough, dehydration occurs the more than usual amount. Profuse sweating forces the body to lose important electrolytes and dehydration causes high salt concentration and low blood volume – both very dangerous for the body. Also, rapid rehydration may lead to something known as osmotic cerebral edema, a form of brain swelling.
4. Extreme starvation
Starvation normally occurs when an average person loses about 30 percent of body weight. When the body starved, it forgets everything and concentrates on keeping the brain functioning. The brain needs glucose to work, and the body can produce glucose from glycogen. The problem is, during extreme conditions; glycogen store can be used up by the body within just 24 hours.
5. Depressing loneliness
One challenge that proves to be very dangerous during critical hours is loneliness. Most people who endured tough challenges note that confusion, boredom, depression, etc. occur due to loneliness. Moreover, the depression often leads to apathy, appetite loss and agitation.”