| If you are attacked, no matter the situation, you will | | | | will be able to hit or kick their way away from an |
| experience what some people have termed "combat | | | | attacker, but instead they might be frozen in place |
| stress." Your natural flight or fight tendencies will kick | | | | and shaking too bad to fight back. Instead, carry |
| in, no matter how prepared you are. However, | | | | pepper spray or a stun gun with you. These are so |
| expecting this natural response allows you to deal | | | | easy to use that you won't have to think about it in |
| with it, and can mean the difference between life | | | | the moment, and the physical signs of stress won't |
| and death. | | | | make you unable to fight back. |
| When you are attacked, your adrenaline will increase. | | | | Before you get yourself into these situations, know |
| The signs of an adrenaline rush include slight trembling | | | | what to expect from your body. Your body is |
| and increased heart rate. Many people who are | | | | surprisingly efficient when fighting against threats, |
| attacked report becoming "frozen" and unable to | | | | with a quick and automatic response. The body |
| move or fight back. Others have a burst of energy. | | | | focuses its energy on short-term survival, with a |
| By harnessing the physical side-effects of your | | | | surge of adrenaline in your blood stream to help you |
| natural fear, you can actually strengthen your | | | | focus on the immediate threat. Blood pressure |
| defense, increasing your chance of escaping | | | | increases and breathing becomes faster, preparing |
| unharmed. It is all a matter of how you deal with | | | | your muscles for action. The muscles in your |
| your body's reactions to fear and adrenaline. | | | | extremities may start to shake. You may become |
| Too many people don't consider how they will act if | | | | instantly energetic, or you may feel stuck in place. |
| they are being attacked. You might assume that this | | | | Your palms will become sweaty, and your pupils |
| will never happen to you, but unfortunately, it may. If | | | | dilated. The body's natural painkillers, endorphins, are |
| this does occur, you need a plan to fight back. You | | | | released to dull any pain that occurs as a result of |
| can't stand there thinking about what your next | | | | the attack. |
| move will be. For one, your heart will be racing and | | | | Although your mind focuses on the immediate attack, |
| you probably won't be able to think clearly. For | | | | you'll also be very scared, and may not be able to |
| another, every second counts in a self defense | | | | think clearly about what to do. This is where a plan is |
| situation. The longer you take to react, the worse | | | | necessary. If you have no plan and aren't carrying |
| your chance of escape may become. | | | | any self defense devices, what will you do? More |
| When someone attacks you, you will inevitably be | | | | than likely, you won't do anything to stop the attack. |
| terrified, no matter how much training you have had. | | | | Instead, have a clear plan to use a self defense |
| The difference is that knowing how to fight back | | | | device, fighting back to free yourself from the grasp |
| allows you to get out of the situation even when | | | | of your attacker. |
| you feel terrified. Too many people think that they | | | | |