How to stop being afraid of a fight: advice from psychologists

Fear of a fight is normal. A man has an instinct for self-preservation, which makes men and women avoid dangerous situations. Reasonable and educated members of society try to solve problems in peaceful ways. But some individuals prefer fists. And then a person has to respond with aggression to aggression and fight his fear so that he does not prevent him from winning.

Punishment for misconduct

In kindergarten and school, children regularly arrange fights because of toys, sweets, problems with classmates and other trifles. They are not afraid to use physical force. Fear is formed in a child who is constantly punished for misconduct. A logical chain is built in the subconscious: hit someone - got a belt or was left without dinner.
Fear of punishment persists in adulthood. When a man or woman is faced with the choice to fight or run away, then in 99 cases he prefers the second option. After all, she can be punished for bad behavior.

It is difficult to deal with the subconscious, because the complexes laid down in childhood only intensify over the years. Psychologists advise starting with the realization that an adult can do what he wants. And no one has the right to criticize his choice. After the battle, a strict father with a leather belt or an angry mother who promises to tear off her ears will not appear on the threshold in the gateway or bar.

Of course, there is criminal punishment for a fight. Fine, suspended or real term in prison. But the initiator is responsible for damage and injuries. If a person had to fight so that he would not be robbed or killed, then a criminal would fall into the dock. And the second participant will act as the victim.

Proving the guilty initiator is easy. In large cities, there are many cameras that record what is happening. Video footage is significant evidence. In addition, you can always find witnesses to a fight and avoid criminal liability.

Strong opponent

Fear of a fight appears when a person realizes that his opponent is twice as large and more aggressive. Or that there are several opponents, but he is only one. The brain is obviously preparing for defeat. The heartbeat quickens, hands become cottony, and legs freeze to the ground and refuse to obey.

Fear of a major opponent is defeated in several ways:

1. They are written to the gym and are gaining muscle mass. Push-ups, tighten, box the punching bag, squat and work with the barbell. The more developed the body, the higher the confidence in one's own strength and invincibility.
2. They attend martial arts. Athletes involved in karate, also faced with fear of a fight. When they first find themselves face to face with their adversary, they panic and try to escape. But the more often they train and participate in sparring, the less they worry about the next fight. In addition, a person who owns several tricks is able to repulse even a gang of gopniks.
3. Engaged in auto-training. Sometimes a victory does not depend on the size of the participant, but on his determination. A thin man can be faster and more cunning than a clumsy giant. Only he must believe that he will certainly become a winner. Doubts and fear are friends of loss.

You can not only mentally repeat the mantra: “I can beat him,” but also show my opponent my wild nature. Screams, waving, crazy eyes and inappropriate behavior can scare and break the opponent’s fighting spirit.

This technique is advised to be used when attacking hooligans. Firstly, the gopniks and badasses are accustomed to fearful opponents who are trying to run away, but fight back in rare cases.Secondly, loud screams and inappropriate behavior attract the attention of passers-by. There is a high probability that someone will hear and come to the rescue. Perhaps the hooligans themselves will be frightened and will not want to get involved with a mentally ill person, because it is not known what he is really capable of.

Very first time

Some intelligent guys and girls who have never participated in a street showdown are afraid of a fight, because they don’t know how it all happens. How to beat and defend? Who should attack first? What does a person feel when he hits an opponent?

If the main cause of fear is the unknown, then psychologists advise turning on the imagination. First, look through books on self-defense and find out the location of pain points. Of course, the textbooks will not tell you how not to miss and just fall into vulnerable areas. But the beginner will at least know where to aim. Then scroll through the upcoming fight in your head. With dialogs, attacking and repelling enemy attacks. A person must imagine how he will act. Extends the arm forward or tilts the housing to the side. He covers his face with his palm or sits down so that the opponent loses his balance, and then pushes the attacker and knocks him to the ground.

When a fighter has a rough plan of action, fighting fear is much easier. In emergency situations, when there is no time for reflection and imagination, you need to turn fear into interest. Who says fighting isn't fun? Perhaps a person was born for street fighting, he simply does not know, because he never tried it.

Of course, if the enemy has too many cold weapons or opponents, then the best way out is to flee. But one bully can be dealt with. And turn the fight into an exciting activity that helps to let off steam and get rid of the effects of stress. Perhaps the adversary, who five minutes ago promised to bury his opponent in the asphalt, after a little sparring, will become his best friend or at least a good acquaintance with whom you can skip a glass of beer after a busy day. Indeed, in some fights, the main thing is not victory, but participation.

Pain and humiliation

The deepest fear is the fear of pain and injury. A man avoids fights so that his teeth are not knocked out, his nose is broken or his limb is broken. This is an adequate and natural behavior. But in some situations it’s impossible to backtrack and run away. The enemy either threatens the health of the person himself, or is going to harm someone close to him. And the only way out is to use your fists.

It is impossible to defeat the fear of pain, only to suppress or muffle. How to do it? A person reacts to stressful situations with aggression. Only some let her out, while others are restrained due to education, low self-esteem or infantilism.

Anger simply adds courage and stimulates the release of adrenaline. The hormone reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings, so the pain will be minimal. The main thing is to be the first to pounce on an opponent to confuse him and scare him. Indeed, many hooligans expect that the victim will tremble with fear and ask for mercy. And when the enemy shows his determination, all the courage and self-confidence of the aggressor evaporates.

Civilized people have long realized that a fight is not the best way out. But if a collision cannot be avoided, one must carefully prepare for it. To tune in to victory, to awaken in yourself an aggressive beast and to draw in your imagination a button that turns off fear. Clicked - and stopped being afraid. He went on the attack, defeated the enemy and proved that he was able to tear off the ears of any badass.

Video: psychological preparation for hand-to-hand combat