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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Extremely anxious out in the woods with predators outside please help me calm down

107 replies

spiralspiralspiral · 30/01/2022 23:17

In a property belonging to my in-laws at the moment, out in the woods, it's very wild where we are. We've had an awful week and a loss in the family. I am very tired, which obviously does not help anxiety in any way.

Normally I have a couple of drinks at night to sleep when we're out here (we don't spend much time here, usually) to block out the fear. I am terrified of the coyotes and bears and mountain lions, despite knowing logically they are not going to break into the house. Probably.

I can't describe how anxious I am just knowing they're out there. Despite knowing they don't want anything to do with us.

I can't have a glass of wine now tonight because I took naproxen for awful period pain. I took a beta blocker earlier, but now it's dark and night is coming.

How can I stay calm and sensible? I really need to sleep and I just can't bring myself to think of turning the light off and lying down later, will probably end up watching tv all night Sad which does me no favours for tomorrow!

OP posts:
chillied · 30/01/2022 23:19

check all doors and windows are secured and then sleep with the light on, there's no rule against it

Xmasbaby11 · 30/01/2022 23:19

Can you put some calming music or podcast on your phone?

I'm assuming you're not alone as you say we - who are you with and how do they feel?

CaptainCabinets · 30/01/2022 23:20

If it helps put it into perspective, you probably meet more dangerous humans on a daily basis than animals. Flowers and Wine for you, they’ve no reason to come into the house and they want to stay out of your way as much as you do theirs.

Smartiepants79 · 30/01/2022 23:20

Mountain lions!! Where in the world are you?
You must know, rationally, that you are very safe behind solid walls and a locked door.

lottiegarbanzo · 30/01/2022 23:21

Breaking into a house? Like burglars? You're not in a tent.

Dunno but warm milky drink and maybe go to bed with the radio on for company, if you're alone?

Pedalpushers · 30/01/2022 23:23

They can't get in the house, nor do they want to. Those sorts of creatures want absolutely nothing to do with people and try to avoid them as much as possible. Think how many people regularly hike through areas like this without ever even seeing one, let alone having any issues.

PickAChew · 30/01/2022 23:24

What time is it, where you are?

Original poster
spiralspiralspiral · 30/01/2022 23:24

With my partner who is kind and lovely about my fear and reassures me things will be ok, but will be out like a light and sleep like a log when we go to bed later! That's what happens when you grow up with this kind of wildlife being your normal, I suppose!

Not that I grudge anyone a good night's sleep, this is my daft problem. It's not rational, I know that.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 30/01/2022 23:24

Unless the can magically open doors and windows.

Thebodyshopolive · 30/01/2022 23:26

They will avoid you like the plague I'm sure. Yes check everything shut and locked and plug into a calming podcast

Where are you, the states?

LittleOwl153 · 30/01/2022 23:27

I know nothing about beta blockers... but a couple of glasses of wine onto of naproxen happens most weekends here as we both take them regularly with no effect....

Trivium4all · 30/01/2022 23:29
  1. Naproxen doesn't mean you can't have a glass of wine. I've just had 2.
  2. Bears and mountain lions won't come in your house. They won't even come in your tent unless you have an open jar of Nutella in there. They're not T-rexes in a dinosaur movie.
  3. Have a glass of wine and chill out!
WeatherwaxOn · 30/01/2022 23:30

Years ago I was in Canada and went for a walk with DH. We were walking through woodlands to a beach and it was deserted other than a guy putting up some signage which said that there were cougars in the woods - we should proceed quietly so as not to disturb them and provoke attack. The problem was that he also put up another sign which said that there were bears in the woods and to avoid attack it was a good idea to make loud noises to drive the bears away.
Fortunately we saw neither, nor did we have any trouble with them at the very rural b&b we stayed at.
Still unsure why the signage was meant to help as either way you were in potential danger.

Original poster
spiralspiralspiral · 30/01/2022 23:30

@vodkaredbullgirl

Unless the can magically open doors and windows.
No. The doors legally have to be round here so that a curious bear doesn't manage to wander into someone's kitchen by mistake by opening a door by pressing the handle down.
OP posts:
Original poster
spiralspiralspiral · 30/01/2022 23:32

I suppose my big fear is a desperate, starving animal (old or ill or something) attracted to the cooking smells coming from the house.

OP posts:
Empressofthemundane · 30/01/2022 23:33

These animals don’t have opposable thumbs. They cannot open closed doors and windows. Assuming you are not sleeping on the porch, you will be fine. You are safe in the house.

ScrambledSmegs · 30/01/2022 23:33

Bit weird but have you got a song that acts as a mental block to the bad spirals your brain can get into late at night? Mine is an Adele song, Send My Love (to your new lover). Honestly I'm not a huge fan of it in the daytime but at night I just 'sing' it in my head and it blots out everything. It's like magic.

Failing that make sure he sleeps closer to the window than you? Wink

Grin
Honeyroar · 30/01/2022 23:37

I used to play a game when I was jet lagged and couldn’t sleep - go through the alphabet and think of two cities that you’ve visited for each letter. You have to think about it enough to distract you from whatever is keeping you awake, but it’s not important enough that you can’t nod off! I never got past K.

Maves · 30/01/2022 23:38

If it makes you this bad could you just not have gone? Why put yourself through it?

FeckTheMagicDragon · 30/01/2022 23:39

I live up a mountain with bears, mountain lions, and other wild animals.
Bears will be hibernating right now, so no need to worry about them.
Mountain lions will avoid humans & their houses and are unlike bears do not have the strength or paws to get through doors.
Seriously, in the house (and even outside it) you will be fine!

You might get a cheeky raccoon trying it in if they can find a way in but they will grab and run!

FeckTheMagicDragon · 30/01/2022 23:43

Oh and coyotes are big scaredy cats. Something unusual like flapping up an umbrella will chase them away.

Animals are rightly wary of humans. We’ve killed a lot of the bold ones off and there is a theory that the ones left avoid us as the survivors are the ones with the more cautious genes

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 30/01/2022 23:43

Naproxen and a beta blocker earlier wouldn't stop me having a glass or two of wine to get me off to sleep in that situation. Rationally, presumably nobody has actually died from wild animals getting into the cabin ever before? So why tonight?

User8721643839 · 30/01/2022 23:46

Where are you OP? Sounds exciting 😁

eeek88 · 30/01/2022 23:47

I thought you meant human sexual predators which would be much more scary, to me anyway.

Maybe buy some pepper spray tomorrow so you can feel better protected. But you won’t need it, promise. They’re much more scared of you than you are of them…

Porcupineintherough · 30/01/2022 23:47

Ok so if anybody knocks on the door make them show you their paws hands before you open it. Likewise dont be taken in if they have a growling voice but claim to be your mother.

Also, build a fire in the fireplace so if they come down the chimney they'll be all fried up.

Sorted.