Training the Adrenaline or Stress Reactions


As I continue my studies and as I begin to appreciate the need to train for the chemical dump of stress I remember how it may be a training model for the military, specifically Marines (I was a ten year active duty Marine, i.e. 1972 to 1981). It dawned on me that at least the first and second phase of recruit training puts recruits in that stress zone - a lot. 

I remember the first phase was grueling and we all were placed constantly into situations and scenario's that caused us fear, anger and with those a lot of stress from about 0500 hours in the morning through about 2100 hours at night when we hit the rack. Even at night the first couple of nights we were guarded by third phase, about to graduate as Marines, recruits who also kept the fear of god in all of us.

The yelling, the screaming, the "in your face" actions along with the mere fact that you have experienced Marines with lots of stripes pushing you beyond your limits each and every day until you graduate tends to trigger many stress related chemicals into your body. Then all those various challenges such as obstacles courses, the rifle range, grenades, etc., all under the pressures of DI's and the rest of the platoon. At first you run around like a "chicken with its head cut off," until finally all that peripheral stuff sits outside you and you act readily, fast and with purpose. 

So, if you really want to learn how to overcome stress chemical dumps, "join the Marines - go to Parris Island - complete recruit training," and the sky is no longer the limit. After that, volunteer for combat and you should develop a good sense of how to handle and work around adrenaline, etc.

My brother is a Navy Seal, just ask him the pressures and challenges of Seal training let alone serving as a Seal in combat (he served in Beirut). Any special service organization is going to subject you to a lot of stress and handling yourself really matters to you and to your fellow Sailors, Marines and Soldiers. 

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