Emotion Translation.

Eighteen months ago I was part of a group taking part in some polar survival training in Norway.? It was a starter level course and the first rung on the ladder to a full polar expedition.

We were based at Kivitivatn in the Telemark region.? It is a picturesque and beautiful place overlooked by Gausta (the local mountain).? Telemark is a historically important place being the site of the production of heavy water in World War 2 - Rjukan - Wikipedia. It’s an incredible story of sacrifice, discipline and tragedy.

We stayed a few nights at the Fjellstue - Kvit?vatn Fjellstue | Gaustatoppen (kvitaavatn.no) which was originally set up by an ex-British Royal marine.? This is technically a bunkhouse, but the food and quality of the accommodation is excellent.? While here we practiced and learnt the fine detail of travel and setting up camp in a cold environment.

On out third day we set out to make camp a few miles away.? We had a very mixed group including an ex-Olympian, a mountain rescue member, a woman bidding to become the first Caribbean woman to get to the South Pole, business owners and, a member of government intelligence!

I’m always interested in how seemingly random teams that are sometimes put together in extreme environments blend and function.? This group worked well, it had to! I'll write more on this in the future.

Our mode of transport was cross- country skiing…while towing the sled with about 30 kgs of supplies and equipment.? I had done some cross-country skiing previously so found going forward ok but going down a slope with the sled on a rope was another matter!? There was a lot of falling.

The first time setting up camp was relatively straight forward, pitching a tent and with some effort digging a snow wall for protection then spending some time melting water to rehydrate your meal, we settled into our sleeping bags with the air temperature at about -16c.? The next day we ascended onto a high plateau with a few more miles practicing sled steering.

Setting camp up that evening was different.? We had planned to sit around a small fire and chat for a while.? But the temperature started to rapidly drop.? As the cold became more obvious the urgency of getting into your sleeping bag increased.? In addition, I had left my left foot in a position while cooking which resulted in it becoming numb with cold.

So, there were a number of challenges facing me at that point.

1.?????? I need to eat.

2.?????? I need to get into my sleeping bag.

3.?????? I need to warm my foot up.

I noted how the cold makes simple tasks both physically and psychologically harder and tests your ability to focus, prioritise and work through problems.? This took me back to ideas and advice given in the Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters.? This book gives you an idea of how you can improve your control over your emotions and get them to work for you instead of against you. Book Review: “The Chimp Paradox” by Dr. Steve Peters /Reprogramming Mind .

In the course of our work in occupational health, we often receive referrals with a mental health element where emotions appear to be making the life of the employee difficult (to say the least) and I do worry that today’s parents (like myself) are not equipping our children with the tools to deal with runaway emotions.? This often makes work life difficult for them. Often, we can see that emotions such as anxiety, fear and excitement (which have similar physiological actions) become confused and unmanageable.

In my own experience, situations of ‘voluntary discomfort’ like camping at -25c (eventual temperature inside the tent on the 2nd night) help to develop a ‘tool kit’ for managing how you feel and can prepare you for other situations that would otherwise be stressful.? Another name for this is ‘type 2’ fun - The Psychology of "Type 2 Fun": Unveiling the Joy Hidden within Challenges (banananxiety.com)

My advice – Seek it, embrace it, practice it and yes, I still have my foot!

Insight Workplace Health | Occupational Health Services UK

Insight Ergonomics

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