The Dark Side of Being a Lone Wolf

Source: https://www.askaprepper.com/

The subject of whether one should attempt to survive a major grid down disaster alone or with other people is a perpetual one in SHTF circles.

There is certainly an argument to be had for choosing to operate independently in an SHTF disaster without joining a larger group or community for extended support.

We’ll cover some of the advantages for doing so later in this article. It’s because of these advantages we’ll cover that many people plan ahead for an SHTF scenario either intending to be a lone wolf individually or with their families.

But at the same time, there’s a potentially significant dark side to surviving an SHTF cataclysm as a lone wolf. If you are currently planning to survive a possible SHTF scenario as a lone wolf, it’s important that you are at least aware of what this dark side entails.

Why Will Some People Become Lone Wolves in an SHTF Disaster?

Humans are inherently social creatures. We all desire at least some level of communication and interactions with other people, and that’s why so-called ‘lone wolves’ still desire interaction with other people as well. It’s not that lone wolves are anti-social individuals who simply don’t like other people.

Rather, most people who will become lone wolves in an SHTF scenario do so for two very strategical big reasons:

1. They are inherently self-reliant and work very efficiently when alone. They also find peace in spending most of their time by themselves, especially alone at home or in nature.

As a result, they are naturally predisposed to wanting to attempt survival in an SHTF scenario as a lone wolf.

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2. They know that by operating in a group of other people (even if those people are like-minded survivalists), there will inevitably be drama and potentially violent instances.

Someone in the group may even attempt to exert power over the other members or otherwise overthrow someone else who is already in power.

With the above in mind, it’s easy to see why certain people would prefer to take on an SHTF scenario as a lone wolf. Their reasons become even more compelling when you consider certain advantages that a lone wolf individual will have.

What Are The Advantages of Being A Lone Wolf?

The biggest advantage a lone wolf has is independence and freedom to make his or her own decisions. This can possibly be advantageous for situations that require quick thinking, versus trying to debate other people in a group.

Another big advantage to becoming a lone wolf is keeping oneself hidden and mobile. Lone wolves can hide out in their bug out location and fly under the radar (assuming that they’ve taken the proper precautions to choose a secretive location in the first place).

Another massive advantage is the ability to preserve resources.

If a lone wolf has stockpiled enough supplies, he or she will have no need to share those resources with anyone else (other than perhaps their immediate family.  This way, those resources can be extended for longer.

In a group, resources are sure to dwindle faster, especially if not everyone in the group has contributed a large amount of supplies in the first place.

Making sure you’ve got enough food and water is key for keeping yourself going and staying well. Plus, having the right medications, especially antibiotics, is crucial to deal with any health issues and cover all bases for survival. 

Being a lone wolf also means that you won’t need to deal with the conflicts, debates, and drama that can come in a group. In an SHTF situation, people will become incredibly desperate, and the sheer weight of what’s happening will wear down on the minds of many.

That’s why several people will not act like their normal selves in a grid down scenario, and will have a tendency to make brash or erratic decisions that can negatively impact the rest of the people in the group.

So it’s easy to see why certain people believe becoming a lone wolf is the way to go in a grid down scenario.

But at the same time, there is a significant dark side that can come with being a lone wolf too.

The Disadvantages of Being A Lone Wolf

For all the reasons to become a lone wolf in an SHTF situation, there are at least an equal number of reasons not to.

There’s an old saying that there is safety in numbers.

In the event that you were attacked by multiple armed belligerents as a lone wolf, your chances of survival would be very remote.

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In the event that your group were to be attacked by the same belligerents, and assuming that there were people in your group who knew how to fight, your chances of fending them off is much higher. Don’t think of yourself as being a Rambo who could fight off anybody single handedly, no matter how trained or experienced in combat you are.

Another big disadvantage to becoming a lone wolf is sustaining an injury. If you sustain a broken limb or an open wound that results in infection and confines you to bed, how will you patrol your property? How will you prepare your meals? How will you harvest your crops, go foraging, or hunt for food?

The short answer is you won’t be able to without great difficulty, but in a group, you can still depend upon people to take care of you. If you’re in a large enough group, chances are decent that there will be at least one person who has nursing or medical experience that would be to your aid as well.

Completing basic survival-related tasks is always much more efficient in a group as well. Different people can be assigned different roles depending on their abilities, such as gathering and purifying water, gathering food, preparing and cooking food, tending to the stick and injured, chopping down and gathering firewood, helping with security and protection, and so on.

Surviving in a group simply means that people can share resources, abilities, and skills, while also protecting each other in the event that you encounter other hostile forces. Those are luxuries that a lone wolf won’t be able to enjoy.

The dark side of being a lone wolf is ultimately that you have to do everything on your own. Is it possible? Yes, but it’s also not ideal.

If you’re discovered and attacked by multiple armed combatants, you could be toast. And if you ever become wounded or severely sick, it will become significantly more difficult for you to carry out your basic tasks while also caring for yourself.

Only you can decide if you should prepare for an SHTF scenario by yourself or as part of a group.