>Forest in the morningBlissful >Forest in the afternoonCool and safe refuge>Forest at sunsetEtherial and calming>Forest in the black of nightAbsolute terror and fear How do I overcome this? Exposure therapy? I was so tired by the second night of my hike it didn't matter as much but every little sound freaks me the fuck out. I'm a 28 year old 200 pound man, why does it scare me?
I lost all forest tranquility since I met a bear not one mile from my house. It's ruined for me. The terrain is very thick with short visibility and you can run into them willy-nilly. I have to bang shit all the time just passing through. Ruined.
fear is good. it keeps you alive.
>>2839476To at least solve the sleep problem try a white noise app or something or camp next to a rushing creek
>>2839476theres nothing to be afraid of in darkness (besides the mountain lion thats been stalking you for 2 miles straight)
>>2839476it scares every 200 pound 28 year old man that has ever existedyou can learn to cope with it and work under it's pressure but the fear of dark is primal because we were not designed for it, even in the modern era most people are at their most vulnerable in the dark. I guess you can invest in $12,000 of night vision combat shit technically (if you are american) but not every person alive is gonna be ready able or willing to drop money like that just to feel better at night innawoodssee >>2839481
>>2839476Don't be alone. Having other people around, even if they're sleeping, makes the woods a lot less terrifying at night. Human beings were not meant to be alone in the wilderness. We are a social species that, at our most primitive level, lived in close-knit groups. The more able-bodied men you have with you, the less you have to fear. Very few predators can take on a group of humans, most won't even try. Especially a group of humans around a big bright fire.
>>2839476Get ear plugs. What you don't hear cannot harm you.
>>2839476You don't. >gunsThe best you can do is hedge your bets. Know what's out there (at least what is known) bears, wolves etc. Arm yourself to have something resembling a chance. A hunting rifle or 10m pistol is a good option. >lightBuild a fire, learn how to arrange it to burn all night. Even a low ember is usually enough to keep most animals away.>spiritual This is the easiest and hardest. Ideally Carry a rosary. At least pray over your camp site. Ask the lord to watch over you and protect you. >enjoySit back and enjoy it. We go to the woods to get away from everything, you've done what you can for protection, no need to live in fear.
>>2839476I just carry a pepper spray and tell myself it will save me
>>2839476The exposure never got rid of the fear completely for me, it does however make it a lot easier.
>>2839476>>Forest in the black of night>Absolute terror and fearStop being a Millennial manchild. Basically nothing in the night is going to hurt you. And a heavy stick is going to scare off anything that could.
>>2839476>why does it scare me?Kinda normal, you have to be extra alert when you can barely see shit. Just accept it and get used to it.
>>2839509This, also wear a blindfold, then you won't notice that it's nighttime
I love tromping around the woods at night looking for witches and such. It's the core pastime of my hometown years.I would say exposure therapy, but also don't go it alone anon. It's easy to have fun with reckless abandon when you're with a friend. Once it becomes mundane then it's easier to go on your own
That fear is in your DNA. Probably from wolves.
>>2839948Dinosaurs
>>2839476It’s 100,000 years of evolution and almost no exposure in the modern world that leads to that fear. Get out more and get use to it but listen to it when it’s deafening.
>>2839546>Ideally Carry a rosary. I don't think OP is afraid of vampires.>>2839476The dark hides things, you as a human have a pretty weak night vision.Those two facts kinda shaped humanity's relationship with the dark.Also, thousands and thousands of years of "cave-" animals.Cave-lionsCave-bearsCave-wolvesCave-hyenas...You get the idea.The dark hides things and they see way better in the dark than you.
It will always be a bit spooky, best you can do is get a grip and not panica gun helps me sleep even if I would be impotent bear snack if it came down to it
