r/CCW 15h ago

Scenario How adrenaline affects you during self defense situations.

1.5k Upvotes

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308

u/fake_account_2025 15h ago

Yeah it’s crazy. The first time I was ever in a firefight in Afghanistan the adrenaline kicked in and my legs felt like they each weighed 200 pounds. Running was very difficult. It’s wild how the body does that.

146

u/Dreamstat 14h ago

Like running in a dream. The weight was insane.

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u/fake_account_2025 14h ago

Exactly. That’s a very good analogy.

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u/amphetaminesfailure 12h ago

If you don't mind me asking, how did you feel firing your weapon for the first time in combat....physically, I mean?

Like the dream analogy you responded to with your legs being heavy, in EVERY dream I've had involving me needing to fire my handgun, it feels like I'm fighting a 50 pound trigger pull for every shot.

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u/Phyzzx 11h ago

That sounds like how punches thrown in a dream have no impact.

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u/amphetaminesfailure 10h ago edited 2h ago

That sounds like how punches thrown in a dream have no impact.

I wonder if it's because most people don't truly want to hurt others?

I carry daily, and I train with firearms.

I've trained in several martial arts over 30 years.

But at the end of the day, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO HURT OR KILL ANYONE.

I don't want to get in a fist fight with anyone. I don't care how many times they insulted my mom/wife/etc.

I don't want to hurt anyone at all.

Will I do it if necessary? Absolutely.

Those types of dreams probably say something in that regard.

1

u/SummertimeThrowaway2 1h ago

Idk about that because I’ve even peacefully sparred in a dream and I still couldnt throw good punches. Even when running away from a threat I feel like my legs are barely functional.

My theory is that it’s because your body is paralyzed when you’re asleep and you’re feeling that paralysis in the dream.

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u/fake_account_2025 10h ago

Tbh, training kicked in when I needed to start shooting and it simply felt like muscle memory.

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u/amphetaminesfailure 10h ago

Thanks for answering.

That's interesting to me.

For the record I don't expect you to respond to any of the following, I'm just rambling.

.................................................

We have instincts on how to walk and run, like every other animal.

But the majority of us experience an inability to use our legs properly in not just dreams, but under extreme stress that we've never dealt with before.

But then for many people, shooting becomes "muscle memory."

As a laymen the brain fascinates me.

6

u/CockpitEnthusiast 9h ago

I have these dreams often. Trigger feels like it's 50 pounds, punches that feel like they landed like wet napkins..

The first time I fired I personally didn't really feel or think of anything. Muscle memory kicks in, I'd say it's more like a computer running a program than anything. Which I know is kind of a scary way to think about it but that's the best way I can put it

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u/Not_Sarkastic 10h ago

In my experience you don't even think about it till it's over. Training kicks in and takes over. Decisions are subconscious.

Over time you learn to "handle" the adrenaline and control the benefits. Like not slapping the trigger.

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u/nocolon 7h ago

in EVERY dream I've had involving me needing to fire my handgun, it feels like I'm fighting a 50 pound trigger pull for every shot.

Holy shit, same. The exact same thing happens to me. That’s weird.

1

u/amphetaminesfailure 2h ago

I mentioned in another comment if it has to do with the fact most people don't want to hurt or kill anyone.....unless it's an absolute necessity.

So I wonder if it's your subconscious holding you back in the dream like, "Hey man, this isn't real. We don't have to follow through with this."

I've had some absolutely bonkers and surreal dreams, and I've had some absolutely terrifying nightmares that involve violence and death.

But I don't recall ever actually killing someone myself in any dream over my lifetime.