This is a superb article by an ARCS Self Defense & Combatives guest author, Jonathan E. Kiser, that deals with what you must be mentally prepared to do and deal with should you be violently attacked. Take the 2-3 minutes to read it, I promise you it is worth your time and more! Critical...

The is no "golden bullet" or "magic pill" when it comes to taking care of yourself. I don't even like the term "self defense" and more often than not I use the terms "self survival" or "self preservation", because I am not fan of play defense, but rather shifting to a strong and violent offense...