For 17 days the world was captivated by the plight and eventual rescue of the 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped deep in a flooded cave. An adventure celebrating a player’s birthday quickly turned into a nightmare of darkness, isolation, and hunger. The unlikely story of survival and rescue is being hailed as an amazing example of resilience.

Finding the boys alive after nine days offered momentary relief until the difficulty of their rescue became apparent. With the promise of more rain and flooding and a dwindling oxygen supply, the situation became dire. Grim long-term options forced the rescuers to attempt a dramatic and risky underwater rescue.

The divers were confident they could accomplish a successful rescue with one major concern – panic. If the boys panicked under water, they would likely not survive. How did 12 young boys and their coach maintain a sense of calm and hope over the long days of being trapped and then during their hours-long exodus? What resilience lessons can we learn and apply to the stress we face?

Panic was on the minds of many from the outset. During the early fearful moments of finding themselves trapped, one of the boys said, “I felt scared. I was afraid I wouldn’t get to go home.” The anxious boys likely experienced physiological reactions of increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and muscle tension associated with the fight or flight response. Though helpful in some emergency situations, these stress responses impair our mental functioning and place us at greater risk. Our brain’s function is diminished in key areas, specifically in decision-making and working memory.

The most critical battle we face in emergencies is in our minds. Healthy cognitive function is vital in responding to threats and making good decisions. Giving in to panic greatly reduces our chance to thrive or even survive.

The Thai boys quickly regained their composure and found a safe place to wait. As one boy reported, they decided “to calm ourselves first, to try to fix the problem and find a way out. Be calm and not shocked.” This is precisely what resilience promotes.

Taking their prescription, we can develop practices to deal with our own stress. Deep breathing stems the stress response and the anxious physiological reactions. The resulting peace enables us to properly assess our situation and develop solutions. Empowering statements like, “I can do something about this,” and “I am not powerless” prevent us from caving in to crippling feelings of victimization.

Practicing a positive mindset in everyday circumstances prepares us to encounter any threat with maximum cognitive resources. We avoid feelings of helplessness and take positive initiatives to improve our situation.

The soccer team also benefited from the social support they offered one another. The companionship and encouragement offered by their teammates and coach contributed to the boys’ mental health and feelings of empowerment. Dangerous situations seem less threatening when we face them with friends or family members.

Social support is one of the strongest resilience resources available. Psychologist Harry Mills states, “In general, the more quality social support you can draw upon from family and friends, the more flexible and resilient you can be in stressful situations. The people who really know you will care for you during tough times.” Problem-solving, optimism, and hope all improve in the context of a group in contrast to facing adversity individually.

Once the actual rescue was initiated, the Thai boys were sedated to further assist them in avoiding panic.  While the medication undoubtedly contributed to their survival, they had already demonstrated their resilience through two weeks of waiting deep underground.

Our adversity may not be nearly as dramatic or public as being trapped in a flooded cave, but it can still lead to panic, fight or flight, pessimism, and poor decision-making. The next time you face adversity, calm your anxiety with deep breathing, maintain a positive mindset, and rely on supportive relationships. Challenging situations offer us opportunities for growing powerful stress-management skills.

Create your personalized action plan by taking one of the above practices and applying it daily. A little extra effort each day can equip us for a lifetime of resilience.

Copyright © 2018 Stephen Chupp. All rights reserved.

Steve Chupp is a Resilience Trainer and Keynote Speaker. He equips business, healthcare, and education professionals to successfully manage stress and avoid burnout. He is available for workshops, lunch and learns, seminars, and personal coaching in Resilience.

For more ideas and resources to build resilience and manage stress, go to www.stevechupp.com  Or contact at Steve at steve@stevechupp.com.