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being followed ( tw. )

eylaheylah Posts: 7,905 Master Poster
in Health & Wellbeing
i put a tw bc it might trigger ppl? so i am putting it in a spoiler. but pls dont read if you get triggered by mentions of being followed by someone etc.
i dont know if i can post this bc of the nature of this but its rly playing on my mind and i am still scared bc of this and i just cant get over it. :( i was walking towards my local tesco to get some dinner today and i noticed i was being followed by a individual and i thought nothing of it but this person wouldnt stop following me. i crossed roads and this individual crossed over each time i did. bc of my past it rly triggered me and scared me so much i had a panic attack bc of past experiences with being followed. it rly triggered me. i know not everyone is out there to hurt me but this individual wouldn’t stop following me etc. i am safe now!! but it rly scared me to the point im scared to go outside now. i wish i wouldnt get so panicked abt this stuff but idk? it rly has brought up strong emotions and i know it was over 2 hours ago now but i can’t calm down. i feel rly shit and this feeling won’t go away. i hate being a girl it rly does make me so scared. this individual did go after i went up to this family and said this person is following me but i just sat down and cried in tesco bc its rly overwhelmed me. sry for posting this but idk i rly needed to get this out bc its eating me up inside. just to confirm this individual didn’t go into tesco and walked away whilst watching me. so it rly creeped me out. :(
ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
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Comments

  • shannon_164shannon_164 Community Connector Posts: 2,245 Boards Champion
    hey @eylah 🙂

    thank you for sharing this with us! i’m really sorry you went through that. you have absolutely nothing to apologise for. what you experienced was scary, and it makes total sense that it’s still affecting you now. it’s not “nothing” and you’re not overreacting, your reaction was valid, especially given your past experiences - i can totally understand this feeling, i experienced a very similar situation with someone in the middle of city centre, unfortunately though i had 5 police officers witnessing the moment but they failed to do anything as they were too busy munching on their breakfast and spectating🤦🏽‍♀️

    i’m really glad you’re safe now and that you trusted your instincts enough to approach that family, that was such a strong and smart thing to do, even in the middle of panic. it’s so heartbreaking that you’ve been made to feel this way just for existing and trying to live your life. you shouldn’t have to feel unsafe doing something as normal as going to the shop.

    i’m so proud of you eylah <3
  • eylaheylah Posts: 7,905 Master Poster
    it’s just shit bc it’s not the first time it’s happened and they shouldn’t be able to do it :(. it took me 30 minutes to get to tesco and it seemed to never ending. im so scared to even go out anymore bc of this it’s making me hate my life even more. im having rly bad flashbacks rn 😔

    thankyou shannon <3
    ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
  • Invisible_meInvisible_me Posts: 440 Listening Ear
    Hey.. its so understandable your left feeling scared from that. It definately makes you vulnerable seeing followed or having that feeling that someone is following you.
    Yiu did so well to get into Tesco and approach a family-wondering what happened when you told then?
    It really is scary and glad you've been able to speak about this here. Have you told anyone else?
    Perhaps to ease you back outside van you just go outside go down for a walk down your road, round your block. Just to help with that anxiety. The more you bury inside from.this the worse it will make it unfortunately
  • eylaheylah Posts: 7,905 Master Poster
    Invisible_me wrote: »
    Hey.. its so understandable your left feeling scared from that. It definately makes you vulnerable seeing followed or having that feeling that someone is following you.
    Yiu did so well to get into Tesco and approach a family-wondering what happened when you told then?
    It really is scary and glad you've been able to speak about this here. Have you told anyone else?
    Perhaps to ease you back outside van you just go outside go down for a walk down your road, round your block. Just to help with that anxiety. The more you bury inside from.this the worse it will make it unfortunately

    thankyou so much <3 no i have noone to tell and tbh there’s nothing else anyone can do to help with this. i went out earlier and i feel sort of better? not 100% but i feel ok.
    ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
  • Invisible_meInvisible_me Posts: 440 Listening Ear
    Small steps @eylah , well done for going out. Your not going to feel completely anxious free straight away but small steps keep going.
    I know they're may be limited they van do but they can support you
  • sinead276sinead276 Posts: 2,014 Boards Champion
    sorry to hear you went through this - it sounds like a scary experience for just about anyone to go through. hopefully things are feeling a bit better at the moment. and like the comment above this one said, take things one step at a time. making progress little by little is just as important to build back up your comfortability with going outside again, and your mental health is what matters the most.

    hope you're okay today and sending a big hug
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