The Worry Control Workbook

CHAPTER 8
Controlling Worries About
Health and Safety Issues

cont.

Worries related to safety

Worry about issues related to safety affect all of us. I worry every time I go up in a plane, when I am traveling on icy roads and when I am walking in unfamiliar neighborhoods. A friend found an interesting way to control his worry when we were driving over some icy country roads in a snow storm. He had a bag of fresh lemons with him that he was going to give as a gift to the woman we were going to see. He cut open one of the lemons and ate it on the trip (he was in the back seat). It totally diverted his attention away from the icy roads and he arrived at our destination in good spirits.

Community Safety

Many women in the study said that, because they are not as strong as men, and because they are often the victims of crime, they worry about being the victim of violence. Their worry was echoed by gay men and lesbians who fear being the victims of hate crimes.

Being female forces me to worry about being alone in the woods or in parking garages, etc.

Sometimes I worry about being vulnerable to the will of someone stronger than I am, especially if I perceive bad motives.

Being female affects my feelings of being threatened for my safety (rape, mugging)

I think, as a woman, I worry more about my physical safety than men. I believe I would think a lot more about walking city streets alone at night than a man would.

Because of my sexual preference (gay man) I feel vulnerable to a hate crime.

What do people do to relieve their worries about being the victim of violence?

• · avoid high risk places or go there only in the company of others with whom you feel comfortable
• · make a mental plan of what you would do to protect yourself if you were attacked
• · keep a key between your fingers to gouge an attacker when you feel at risk
• · carry mace or a whistle
• · walk in a self confident manner, projecting self assurance while being aware of the surroundings
• · honor your feelings -- if something feels unsafe, take precautions
• · walk with a dog
• · take a class or course in self protection; learn self protection techniques
• · keep your car doors locked, whether you are in the car or not
• · check in the back seat of the car before you drive off
• · have your key in your hand ready to unlock doors when you get there

One woman surveyed feels uneasy when her husband is away overnight. She worries about the possibility of intruders. She and her husband have worked together to relieve her worry by installing a high quality security system and motion sensitive lighting around the outside of their home.

Another woman said:

• Once I lived in a "bad" section of a large city and was afraid to go out at night. Living in a city I learned to walk with an attitude and purpose and energetically shield myself.

To help keep yourself safe at home:

• · have a reliable system of locks for doors and windows and, if necessary, a security system-some city dwellers feel more comfortable with strong, locked wrought iron gates
• · keep the area around your home well lighted.
• · stay in close contact with neighbors and keep their phone numbers handy.
• · work with neighbors to watch for suspicious people or activities in your neighborhood.

A woman in the study said:

• I have an alarm on the house that I set at night which makes me feel very safe.

A young mother said:

• I never leave my son alone without knowing that neighbors are home. Emergency phone numbers are posted by the phone.

Another woman reported that:

• Sometimes we worry about somebody breaking in. (We live right off a public golf course.) We really don't do much. We put a broom stick in the sliding glass door. We've talked about adding more lights in the back. Also we've talked about getting a security system but I doubt we will.

Is there anything you could do or want to do to help relieve your worry about being the victim of violence or criminal activity?
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