How to be less afraid of the dark?

[Bird_Lover_17]

I used to be afraid of the dark myself, and I just changed how I thought about the dark. Instead of, "what's going to come up behind me??!!" I just thought, "what's outside now (in darkness) is the same when it's light outside"

When I was 7 a butterknife helped me feel safe in the dark

 

[Sally PB]

You could get a headlamp flashlight. That way it stays on your head and keeps your hands free.

Someone already said this, but it's a great idea. I also like the idea of a big, heavy flashlight. It is a good offensive weapon, and a good defensive weapon as well. Both the headlamp and the flashlight together give a lot of light, and are a back up for if one is lost or goes out.

There are reasons we are afraid of things. Some are rational, some not so rational. Identify what it is that you think *might* be out there. Is there something that scared you in the dark before? Is it still something that scares you, and could be there to harm you? Think about this in a safe place, like broad daylight, not in the dark before falling asleep.

I often sing to myself, or hum. I'm not keen on earbuds in an situation like this, just because they take one of my danger scan senses off line. But if it helps you, do it.

Another thing that helps me is to "practice" the scary thing in my head. Your brain doesn't differentiate the imagining from really doing it. This way, you can get some reps of doing it in a totally calm, safe place. The more you do something, the less scary it is. Not only that, but you can control how far the push the scariness.

I hope this helps you. You are one of my favorite people here on BYC.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Probably have great suggestions already but here's what I do.

Honestly, I've just given up at the fear. I've had to walk worse and longer than it takes to get to my coop before (My car broke down on our road in a dead zone last winter so I had to walk a mile in the dark to get to service to call someone).

We live where there are coyotes, rattlers, and we've even had a bobcat for a while that snatched birds off our house deck. It wasn't afraid of people. We've also had mountain lions spotted before. Compound this with the fact that I, the chicken keeper in the family am 5'2 and very small, it can make you rather worried on if those eyes shining are your AH cat trying to spook you or something that's debating on a hunt. Now, I just tell myself after the car incident that the 100 or so feet I have to do are far safer and closer to home base where if something happens and I scream, I have help right away.


Also a flashlight and earbuds help to listen to music while checkingmon everyone when I shut myself in the coop to do head and toe counts

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Probably have great suggestions already but here's what I do.

Honestly, I've just given up at the fear. I've had to walk worse and longer than it takes to get to my coop before (My car broke down on our road in a dead zone last winter so I had to walk a mile in the dark to get to service to call someone).

We live where there are coyotes, rattlers, and we've even had a bobcat for a while that snatched birds off our house deck. It wasn't afraid of people. We've also had mountain lions spotted before. Compound this with the fact that I, the chicken keeper in the family am 5'2 and very small, it can make you rather worried on if those eyes shining are your AH cat trying to spook you or something that's debating on a hunt. Now, I just tell myself after the car incident that the 100 or so feet I have to do are far safer and closer to home base where if something happens and I scream, I have help right away.


Also a flashlight and earbuds help to listen to music while checkingmon everyone when I shut myself in the coop to do head and toe counts

And even with this, there are times when my imagination suddenly goes haywire and I see a "memory" of something that cannot and will not happen suddenly happen. Hard to explain, but an example was when I suddenly imagined one of those foosas from Escape to Madagascar throwing itself onto the pen door. Took my breath away but then I realized it was just my mind and not an actual thing happening

 

[WindingRoad]

Our chickens are my responsibility, and by the time I get home from school and dance it is dark outside. It is my job to go out and close the pop door between coop and run and do a headcount at night, which I don't mind, but I get easily freaked out and my parents are getting tired of standing on the porch while I do this. I do use a flashlight. Anyone have tips to be less easily creeped out and startled while I go out at night?

You might try some solar lights on the side of your coop that come on at dusk . That way your path will be lighted more. Or try the head lamp they are quite bright. I know my neighbor loves to peer into my house at night with one when she takes her dogs out. EEEEEEEEE. Good luck. I'm a grown up and I'm afraid of the dark too. I have so many night lights in my house it's brighter at nite than some times during the day. LOL

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I wouldn't use earbuds either if I thought scary humans might jump out at me, but if I thought that was very unlikely I might use them to help calm me. Your call.

Listen, your folks know you are afraid. They are trying to help you develop courage, not get you hurt. Speaking as a caring parent, which I assume yours are, I would bet my house and at least one car that your Mom, if not both parents, is keeping an eye and/or ears on you to make sure you are safe on your nightly trek to the hen house. If you were to scream loudly they would be at your side in a heartbeat. They've got you.

 

[LaFleche]

Invest in an automatic coop door and maybe install a little night light in the coop also to ensure the birds will all be in at closing time.

You might even start a little self-defense training just to change your attitude and gain self-confidence.

 

[black_cat]

Invest in an automatic coop door and maybe install a little night light in the coop also to ensure the birds will all be in at closing time.

You might even start a little self-defense training just to change your attitude and gain self-confidence.

I was hoping to avoid the automatic door because they're expensive and because of the way the latch on the coop works. I didn't want to add lighting because I don't want to accidentally push them to lay longer.

I'd like to take up boxing (even before this became an issue) but I"m not comfortable going to a gym because of COVID.

 

[LaFleche]

I'd like to take up boxing (even before this became an issue) but I"m not comfortable going to a gym because of COVID.

Yes, during the actual pandemic it is best to stay at home and practise in your own safe environment.

There are Youtube tutorials on almost everything you could possibly wish for, so I am sure you will find some helpful online tutorials for your chosen sport as well.

And as Christmas is quickly approaching, make sure to put the required boxing gloves and sandbag on your wish list.

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

I'm not keen on earbuds in an situation like this, just because they take one of my danger scan senses off line.

x2