The DURING

During a violent encounter, your body shifts into survival mode.

This shift is automatic. It is not weakness. It is biology.

However, understanding how stress changes perception and cognition helps you make better decisions under pressure.

The Stress Response

When a threat is perceived, the sympathetic nervous system activates.

Heart rate rises. Breathing accelerates. Blood redirects to large muscle groups. Fine motor control decreases.

This response prepares you to act — but it also alters how you process information.

Example: You may feel sudden energy, shaking, or a surge of heat. Your voice may change. Your hands may tremble.

Simple handling: Recognize the shift without fighting it. Accept the adrenaline. Then regulate it deliberately.

Tunnel Vision & Auditory Exclusion

Under stress, perception narrows.

• You may lose awareness of peripheral movement.
• You may not hear certain sounds.
• You may hyper-focus on one individual.

Example: While engaged with one aggressor, you may fail to notice a second person repositioning nearby.

Simple handling: Force your head to move. Physically scan left and right. Expand your visual field intentionally.

Time Distortion

Stress can alter your perception of time.

Events may feel slowed down — or extremely fast.

This can create confusion about sequence and duration after the fact.

Example: A few seconds of engagement may feel much longer. Later, memory may not align perfectly with actual timing.

Simple handling: Focus on immediate objectives: create space, improve position, disengage. Do not try to “analyze” the event mid-incident.

Memory Under Stress

High stress affects memory encoding.

You may recall central details clearly but peripheral details poorly. Some gaps are normal.

This is why immediate, overly detailed recollection can be unreliable.

Example: You may clearly remember hands or movement but not remember exact words spoken.

Simple handling: Understand that memory consolidation improves after stress decreases. Avoid speculation in the immediate aftermath.

Breathing as a Control Lever

Breathing is one of the few physiological levers you can consciously control during stress.

Short, rapid breathing increases cognitive narrowing. Controlled breathing widens perception.

• Inhale slowly through the nose.
• Exhale longer than you inhale.
• Lower your voice instead of raising it.

Even one controlled breath can interrupt panic escalation.

Judgment Under Pressure

Technique deteriorates under stress if it relies on fine motor precision. Decision-making deteriorates if it relies on calm reflection.

This is why preparation focuses on principles, not choreography.

The objective during stress is clarity — not perfection.

Next: Once stress is recognized and managed, the final decision layer is proportional force. Continue to Proportionality & Threshold.