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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry after a possible bat hit my forehead?

217 replies

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:35

Hi all, this evening I decided to go for a walk as I’m struggling with my MH and anxiety - namely health anxiety. I was walking down a quiet street past a hedge when I felt something impact the side of my forehead. I was confused and thought something had been thrown at me but it appeared something flew off past me very quickly. I didn’t see what it was but due to the time I’m going to guess it was a bat.

My skin has no bleeding or wounds and I don’t think I was bitten or scratched by it.

However, I’m now completely beside myself. Google is telling me to call 111 for rabies advice but I text a few family members about it who seem to think it’s just funny and this is an over reaction, and my partner thinks the same.

i have extreme health anxiety so this is just a complete nightmare to me.

AIBU to panic over this?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 21:52

BlackBirdInFlight · 09/09/2026 21:51

Lol at all the bat posts recently! Is it the bison poster again?

😂

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:52

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 21:50

Love bats.

They’re gorgeous, but I don’t fancy death by rabies lol

OP posts:
Keroppi · 09/09/2026 21:52

Call 111 anyway or your GP in the morning, it does no harm and if you would feel better asking for advice then why not?

This is one of the prev threads
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5567904-bat-flew-into-my-hair-aibu-to-seek-further-advice

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:52

Cicchetti · 09/09/2026 21:50

Thought I was having deja vu

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5565202-i-need-to-be-told-im-being-ridiculous-rabies-bats

Thanks for the clarification - I genuinely had no idea what people were referring to lol.

OP posts:
BlackBirdInFlight · 09/09/2026 21:51

Lol at all the bat posts recently! Is it the bison poster again?

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 21:50

Love bats.

Happy Dance GIF
NippyNinjaCrab · 09/09/2026 21:50

Kingdomofsleep · 09/09/2026 21:42

At this time of year it could have been a leaf, acorn or conker depending on the strength of impact.

I had an acorn fall on my head last autumn and it was very alarming, I felt like chicken licken with the sky falling on my head.

A bat with rabies seems like a very unlikely option.

Have you posted recently with bat-related worries? Because there have been a few similar threads

That was my favourite Ladybird book, in the end my Mum and sisters hid it so they didn't have to read it every night 😂😂

emptythebin · 09/09/2026 21:49

Tonmouth · 09/09/2026 21:43

Bunch of bat shit posters

Show quote history

😆😆😆

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:49

Kingdomofsleep · 09/09/2026 21:48

If it felt like an object falling from height then I'm betting on acorn or conker. They are everywhere at the moment and make quite an impact.

You'll be fine, forget about bats. Bats are quite good at dodging people, just like birds are. They "see" pretty much as well with their echolocation as birds do with their eyes.

Show quote history

I did think this but as I brushed the hedge with my shoulder as I walked by I was wondering if I may have startled it and it’s tried to fly out and hit me by accident.

OP posts:
Kingdomofsleep · 09/09/2026 21:48

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:44

I haven’t posted about bats before, no lol. These other threads are news to me. I thought at first someone had chucked something out of a top window at me and I was wondering what I’d done lol

Show quote history

If it felt like an object falling from height then I'm betting on acorn or conker. They are everywhere at the moment and make quite an impact.

You'll be fine, forget about bats. Bats are quite good at dodging people, just like birds are. They "see" pretty much as well with their echolocation as birds do with their eyes.

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:48

Coconutter24 · 09/09/2026 21:47

Is it possible it was a bird flying out of the hedge you were walking past?

Show quote history

It may well have been, as I didn’t see what it was for sure, but I don’t usually see birds flying around at this time of the evening so a bat seemed more likely.

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 09/09/2026 21:47

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:40

No, it isn’t. And I wouldn’t generally worry about rabies for no apparent reason, I’m asking because a bat hit me in the head.

Show quote history

Is it possible it was a bird flying out of the hedge you were walking past?

WattThreeWords · 09/09/2026 21:46

MakingLasagne · 09/09/2026 21:42

wtf is going on with all the bat stuff on here?

It’s bat shit. See what I did there.

Kalimeras · 09/09/2026 21:45

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:42

I did ask and it’s telling me to call 111 for a rabies assessment which has just made me even worse.

Show quote history

Oh sorry I mean I checked myself over, was satisfied that there was no mark, then got my DH to check me, then asked ChatGPT to help me manage the anxiety in the moment. I was wearing a hat at the time when I had it happen to me though so it really was anxiety talking in my case and it was a bit easier to accept I wasnt at any risk

BlueMum16 · 09/09/2026 21:45

We've had this exact thread before.

Previously I was ignore it, it'll be fine, that poster called 111 and got advise.

Please do this it's a phone call rather than randoms on the internet.

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I genuinely have no idea what anyone’s talking about with this. I don’t come on here often and haven’t seen any threads relating to bats. My post is genuine.

OP posts:
Kingdomofsleep · 09/09/2026 21:45

Kalimeras · 09/09/2026 21:42

I’ve been in your exact position before. I found ChatGPT very useful in calming me down and it won’t get fed up like friends or family will. It is vanishingly unlikely that a bat bumping into your head will have bitten or scratched you though

Don't ask AI because it always errs on the side of "SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION" because they don't want the negative PR in the unlikely event you should have.

Chunkybabythighs · 09/09/2026 21:45

Immediate forehead amputation.

The mystery object didn't break the skin, you're fine.

pizzaHeart · 09/09/2026 21:44

If you have health anxiety I would call 111. Ime it doesn’t matter what this thread will tell you - you need an answer from a health professional. And it’s ok.

whippersnapper55 · 09/09/2026 21:44

All these bat threads are batshit 🤪

MakingLasagne · 09/09/2026 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:44

Kingdomofsleep · 09/09/2026 21:42

At this time of year it could have been a leaf, acorn or conker depending on the strength of impact.

I had an acorn fall on my head last autumn and it was very alarming, I felt like chicken licken with the sky falling on my head.

A bat with rabies seems like a very unlikely option.

Have you posted recently with bat-related worries? Because there have been a few similar threads

I haven’t posted about bats before, no lol. These other threads are news to me. I thought at first someone had chucked something out of a top window at me and I was wondering what I’d done lol

OP posts:
BarbarianBabs · 09/09/2026 21:44

MakingLasagne · 09/09/2026 21:42

wtf is going on with all the bat stuff on here?

i was thinking this! Never have I seen so many posts about bat anxiety in the space of a few weeks. Have I missed something ? 🧐🧐

HermioneWeasley · 09/09/2026 21:43

Didn’t we have this exact same post a week ago?

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