When walking alone especially in the dark...

I do get paranoid most of the time when I'm still out late at night on my way home. I tend to also think that someone might be following me from behind and something unexpected that I don't like might happen. So far, all of such thoughts remain as thoughts and I really don't like for such things to happen at all to me. I mean, even if I do have already thought of particular ways on dealing such a situation, I'd still prefer the safe side of avoiding such things.

I get paranoid at times especially when I am all alone and walking in a dark street or alley. For same reasons, it is not the ghost that i am afraid of, it is the bad people that will take their chances to harm you or do something bad to you. Also, I also get cautious when I am in that situation, often times, I walk fast to reach my destination or I really avoid going to dark alley or places. I am just being cautious as well.

Yes be very careful. I live in a rural area and was walking at night at a nearby park at night. A truck kept circling the park. I was the only one out there. When I left it pulled behind me. I made a few turns and he was still right on me. He finally stopped and turned around when I got into a well lit area and approaching the highway.

I'm not afraid of the dark, but I fear there could be someone hiding in the shadows watching me. I always walk fast and am very alert after dark. I don't carry anything valuable. I was once attacked by two men who snatched my bag late one evening just outside my home. They must have been watching me approach and took their chance because there was no-one else around. If I had been more alert and had seen them first I might not have been attacked. I am not paranoid, but I want to make sure this does not happen again. I really was not paying attention that time, I was walking slowly and thinking about the date I had just been on!

Growing up I was never afraid to walk anywhere after dark. Now as an older woman I sometimes get a bit nervous. My last job had me walking home in the city at 2:30 am. Sunday to Thursday wasn't to bad because there were very few people on the street at that hour. The weekends were the worst because all the crazies come out to party. I'm not saying that everyone out there is a potential threat but there are those you should be wary of. The streets are not as safe as they once were and I think everyone who has to be out by themselves should carry some kind of protection or at least enroll in self-defense or street smart training. A lot of the police departments and community centers are offering them now and they are well worth the time and energy.

Yeah, I don't walk anywhere alone in the dark. I hear too many stories of rapes/attacks/muggings etc. so I get really paranoid. If I DO have to walk around on my own at night, I tend to walk quite fast and try to look confident. My boyfriend doesn't like the idea of me walking around alone in the dark so he always walks me home/makes me get a taxi! :)

No..it doesnt bother me at all actually but I use to live on the streets and am a former street kid so taking care of myself is something I do rather well ya know...Plus for whatever reason, ppl tend to not bother me when I'm out and about..some of my friends say its how I carry myself (strong and firm) others think its because of my height and being black etc etc LOL who knows...

Same here, It makes me walk as fast as I could ever imagine I can be!lol then, I can't stop looking at my back thinking if there is someone following me or whatever! What scares me this time is the presence of bad people who can afford to hurt and harm other people lives! plus the news we are hearing everyday!

I've never really been afraid of walking in the dark. I suppose I've put myself in situations where I should have been, but it doesn't really bother me at all. I've walked in the dark by myself sometimes at early hours of the morning. We tend to think we walk on water and perhaps I should be more realistic to the dangers.

I am really afraid of walking alone in the dark. I usually don't do it if I don't have to. When I do walk alone in the dark I have my car key sticking out of my fist and I have a learned a few differnet tricks from watching my sons Tae Kwon Doe on how to protect yourself.

It does not bother me going out after dark as i feel quite safe. My partner does not like me going out after dark and insists that one of my teenage boys comes with me or he does. As i have lived in the same area all my life i know it well and do feel very safe here when i am out and about in the dark.

Yeah, I get way paranoid whenever I'm walking in the dark, or even when it's daylight and I'm walking alone sometimes. I'm not a huge fan of being alone in general, because I'm fairly short and small framed, so it seems like if someone came at me and tried something, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it, and that's definitely not a good thing. I don't really imagine bad things, I guess I'm just paranoid of being followed and having bad things happening, without actually thinking about them at the time.

I don't feel scared. My city is pretty safe, we probably have 1 murder a year, if that. I would fear a dog attack more than a man jumping out.

Yeah I definitely get paranoid. I become quite jumpy too. I seem to think that any noise/person is a mugger or something haha. Though I usually just tell myself not to be silly and stop caring.

oh yes... i am also scared when i have to walk in the dark by myself... i am scared that somebody is following me and wil attack me out of nowhere... especially in the place where there are lots of trees... i always feel that somebody is hiding behind it and ready to come out and get me... the road is not safe anymore nowadays especially for women...

I am an older lady and I walk alone every day but I try to be home after dark. I don't like to walk in the dark, because of safety reasons. Women are more vulnerable to attacks, purse snatchings and robberies. It is a sad comment on contemporary society. If I have to walk in the dark I follow certain rules. If I get off a bus or subway I check behind me to see if anyone is following. If I am walking I look if someone is walking behind me. If so I cross over to the other side walk. I avoid side streets and use the main street that has street lights. I keep my key chain with keys attached in my hand. This gives me some sense of security since in the event of an attack I would have at least a small chance to get one strike in to get away and call for help. I suppose a cell phone would also help, but only if you could gain a distance from your attacker. So sad, having to be so careful.

Wgats not to be afraid of its not even safe in the daylight by yourself anymore.

Yea I know what you are talking about even though I am usually more comfortable during the night time than the day time. it's not ghost that I am scared of, it's more of those wicked human being. Most of the accidents happen in the dark and therefore we kind of associate dark with dangerous! Just be more careful and cautious!

I just do not walk anywhere alone at night at my senior age as Iam not much of a fighter. I was almost attacked bya psychotic man when I was young and pregnant with our first child so for the rest of mylife I have played it very safe. not worth the risk.

yeah, there are times that I do get paranoid especially when I go home late, since most of the time, it is at night when muggers, robbers , etc. go out and find someone who they can victimize. What I do is that, when I cannot avoid have a long walk home, I walk right in the middle of the street since there would be fewer cars by then and it would be difficult for someone to attack me and lead me to somewhere where no one could see me. And I also walk briskly much like between walking and running lol...