Walking Alone In The Woods

[xena21]

A whole lot of us go overdrive into "fight" instead of "flight". And while I'd lay money on Military, First Response, Medics, etc. making up the bulk?

Thanks. I will try that route. I appreciate your input. I do sympathize with everyone else on here too!!!

 

[digger]

I was actually trying to see who was more in the category like I am...taking risks instead of caring about protecting themselves.

Am I the only one that is not afraid for my life? I'm not making other people's lives inconsequential. I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that has no regard or fear anymore for my safety? I go to the state park and walk alone at night on purpose. I hope to run into someone so I can confront them and "scare" them. I feel like an animal now. I have no care for my own safety. Does anyone get that?

Not so much now, but I used to definitely fall more into this category when I was younger. I think, for me, having kids probably curbed most of the the more reckless disregard for my life/safety etc a bit, but there are definitely still elements of it there and a lingering "I don't care what happens to me anyway".

I seem to fluctuate between two extremes of really not giving a shit about anything and being absolutely scared stiff of everything!

 

[Ellabella44]

I dont have a wooded park near me, but i do go to the beach alone. Sometimes when it rains there is absolutely nobody there and its so peaceful for me. I had thought about once what if someone came and attacked me, but then again what could they possibly do to me that i havent been through already? I used to always carry a knife with me in my 20s, especially on a date. I'm trying to not go back to that again.

 

[xena21]

I think, for me, having kids probably curbed most of the the more reckless disregard for my life/safety etc a bit

I can imagine having kids and a family would definitely change things for someone. I happy that happened for you.

I suppose being in that space...no fear for your on safety...is a big minority...because I know the symptoms of PTSD reflect a big deal on hyper alertness. I get that, and I'm not saying I don't have that. As a matter of fact...I am so hyper alert that that's one of the reasons I like being alone out in the woods. I hate the city and small spaces. I hate being surrounded by people. I would rather have myself prepared for someone coming up on me alone in the woods than in a crowd in the city. Does that make sense? I jump at EVERY sound. My neighbors are so loud upstairs. I get so angry at the smallest sounds. I am afraid I will start fighting with them, and often I do scream at them to shut up.

So I do feel safer alone in the woods.

 

[Ice_Fire]

When I go hiking, it tends to be with other people, a couple of friends or family. If I walk alone I find that I get anxious, jumping at shadows rather than any real danger. I think this is why I want a dog! But I think that as others have said, as long as you take precautions, you are as safe as you are in any other situation. It's about balancing the protection against the risk. I agree that the further out you go, the less people you see and for me that helps clear my head, although I do then panic at the people I do see because I question their motives, why they are out in the middle of nowhere. Although they are probably thinking the same about me.

I go out into the woods on my bike alone quite happily. Working on the basis that someone on foot can't catch me. In that situation, it is the worry of crashing and not being able to get help that stops me straying too far off the beaten path. But taking clothing/ a bivvy bag, food and water and tools for simple mechanicals is the sensible way of protecting myself from harm as much as possible.

 

[xena21]

I had thought about once what if someone came and attacked me, but then again what could they possibly do to me that i havent been through already? I used to always carry a knife with me in my 20s, especially on a date. I'm trying to not go back to that again

I hear you. I guess it's easy for me to see the one side of the equation because I'm on that side. I feel so comforted in the woods alone or in nature alone. I feel SO confident in just myself with my training in the wilderness and with a knife. I also think what you said, about what could anyone else do to me that hasn't already been done?

That is probably the biggest factor in my reason to be happy out in the woods alone. I have no fear that anything will EVER be worse, and because I believe that, I would rather die out in the woods in a different circumstance than live in fear somewhere else.

I hiked the Appalachian trail for 700 miles until I got Lyme disease, and it was the most peaceful time of my life. I can't wait to finish. Of course there were some crazy people out there, but I wasn't afraid. I slept in my tent, and was just so happy to be away from the rest of the world. Do other people relate to that or am I just crazy?