Understanding intuitive safety assessment and trusting gut instincts for personal protection.
How does your internal ‘radar’ work to assess the safety of environments/people? What subtle signals does it pick up and how did you learn to trust it?
r/AskWomen
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I listen with people and watch body language. For environment, I check if there are other women around, big plus if there are babies too. My radar is really good so most of the time, all the above aside, I just go by how I feel.
These days, I am suspicious of absolutely everyone and everything. My radar is always up.
Well i have C-PTSD. I don’t know how, but I just know. And its kept me alive so far so I never ignore my hunches. If i should look behind me, you bet im turning around fully prepared to throw a 👊 i think its inside us and depending on life situation, its just like breathing or knowing something smells bad to eat.
The gut. Trust your gut. Has your gut feeling ever been wrong? It hasn’t for me. Have I ignored blazing red flags? Yep. Wish I would have just followed my gut.
Being very observant in people’s behaviour.
I don’t like people who gossip about other people’s personal lives that were entrusted to them. Which means they’d betray my trust as well.
If they speak negatively about a person whom I personally know, but find it to be false.
If their “stories” are not consistent or the same when they retell it, or there’s some information missing or don’t add up…fishy.
When a person asks very invasive questions, and keeps pushing for the answer when I try to change the subject or say I’m not willing to share.
Aggressively moving into my personal space. I don’t like when people lean into my face when they speak.
As for surroundings, I get the feel of the environment based on where I am. Always hyper aware of purse snatchers or credit card skimmers. Of an unusual attention (noticing someone following or watching) as I am walking. Always having set of keys between my fingers if walking in a sketchy area or night.
And remember, if you are being grabbed/potential kidnapping…. make lots of noise and fight back.
If you are being harassed and the guy won’t leave you alone, raise your voice.
Walk in a confident, back straight, eyes ahead with no eye contact if you are in a area you are uncomfortable in. Do not look afraid.
Being alone.. Taught myself everything. Not by choice. Since childhood and with unpredictable caregivers I had to rely on my own gut instincts to look after myself.
One important thing I often do in scary situations is eye contact. Or the lack of it. Depends on how scared I’m feeling, I either look straight and stare with resting bxtch face or avert my gaze from them. I do not engage verbally either ways. Also prevention is better so I don’t travel late nights as much as possible.