Fear of Sleeping Outdoors?

Barney · 12-30-2010, 04:01 PM

Are you comfortable sleeping outdoors? I have no problem sleeping anywhere while I'm with someone but spending time alone at night in the wild can be pretty scary, especially if there are a lot of animals around.

Lorax · 12-30-2010, 04:06 PM

Once you really study the issue and can slowly become comfortable with it, you'll find it (soloing) a remarkable experience.

I like the company of others on the trail or the water, but sometimes a solo trip just does a person a lot of good to have that time for themselves.

Barney · 12-30-2010, 04:18 PM

I like to go with people but I don't like going with just anyone. Once I went with a few people I don't know well and I spent most of the time explaining what each piece of my gear is for. At the end of the trip I'm sure they called me weirdo who talks with trees.

Refrigerator · 12-30-2010, 06:40 PM

Sleeping outdoors is some of my best down time. Barney those critters are as much afraid of you as you them. Solo is a good way to get to know yourself.

Joe S. · 12-30-2010, 08:23 PM

The animals really are nothing to be afraid of. What you have to be careful of, though, is that you secure any and all food, because they are very interested in food.

JDSport · 12-31-2010, 07:13 PM

I agree with everyone above me. I love to camp outside under the starts or in my tent. I also like to be outdoors by myself and find it vary relaxing.

dinosaur · 12-31-2010, 11:47 PM

Hmmm... You may be suffering from kenophobia which is the fear of voids or empty spaces. Then there is monophobia, the fear of being alone. Also nyctohylophobia, the fear of wooded areas at night. Fear of wild animals is called agrizoophobia. I ruled that one out because you will go with other people.

The fact is that unless there are maneaters in your area, you have no reason to fear the creatures of the night. Trust me, I've killed a lot of them and they are quite tasty. I shot a bear in my pajamas once. What he was doing in my pajamas I'll never know.

woodsman · 01-01-2011, 02:43 PM

I'm only sleeping if I'm not with my girlfriend and when I sleep I sleep, it's more likely that you'll be attacked in your home than a wild animal will attack you when sleeping in a tent.

IndianaHiker · 01-07-2011, 01:17 AM

Hardest part about soloing to many is the being alone. Most people have a great deal of difficulty not having someone to talk to or have some kind of distraction from their own mind. Yes thats right the mind when not occupied with distractions can be a persons own worst enemy. For example you are sitting in the words alone. The mind has no distraction so it does what it does best. It works with it's best creation fear. Now ever thing you see hear or think that you see or hear becomes a threat. This is where most of the fears of a person comes from. The mind is always having mindless noise and the trick is to learn not to pay attention the garbage. Many who enjoy being out solo have been able to do this because they are very much at peace with themselves naturally or have practiced some from of meditation and understand this on some level.

If you look at other things that many fear in life that mind like to create worst case stories. If you look at those things you will find that 99% of the time these worst case ideas or very silly very overblown.

If you noticed I feel a very spiritual connection when out solo and like the quiet time to find my inner balance. I most admit that I had to practice this some as I used to hate going solo as I wanted the distractions of another person, book or music. Now that I have developed a better relation with myself I find I like spending time with me.

Some may understand these rambling if not drop me a line and I can explain further. Not not pushing any religion or philosophy just what I have found to be true to me.