| It's two in the morning and you've just | | | | creaky sounds of a house that may be settling |
| turned off the horror movie you've watched | | | | or reacting to the weather, to the sounds of |
| for the last two hours. It wasn't great, but | | | | the wind, or animals that may be near to-or |
| you just couldn't seem to stop watching it. | | | | actually on your home. As a policeman, I |
| You're exhausted and can hardly keep your | | | | answered more calls than I can remember of |
| eyes open as you head towards your bedroom. | | | | people hearing noises in or around their |
| For some reason you feel tense as you walk up | | | | homes at night. By far, the vast majority of |
| those stairs and you just can't help | | | | those calls were caused by easily explained |
| thinking, what if there's someone around the | | | | non-threatening phenomenon such as the ones |
| next corner, waiting to "get you". As you | | | | mentioned above. |
| continue to walk, it gets worse; now you hear | | | | |
| a noise. You ask yourself, "did I really | | | | • When you are hypersensitive because |
| hear that or is it just because I'm tense | | | | of a scary movie you've watched or a crime |
| over that stupid movie?" You keep walking | | | | report you may have heard about (happening in |
| along, and now you hear another noise that | | | | another area) remember this tip: TELL |
| definitely sounds like it's coming from the | | | | yourself you will be CALM and you will assess |
| roof. You ask yourself, "Could I really be | | | | the particulars of the sounds you hear. The |
| hearing this stuff? It's got to be the | | | | key to handling any catastrophe, stress or |
| movie, right?" Now you're nervous and | | | | danger is to keep calm. Yes, you too, can |
| doubting yourself and you really don't know | | | | keep yourself calm; calm enough, no matter |
| what to do next. | | | | whom you are, to look at things as they |
| | | | really are, while they are occurring. AFFIRM |
| Well, let me break something to you. If you | | | | that you will be calm and see things as they |
| heard noises-you heard them. When we're | | | | actually are. Do not sway from that |
| tense we are more in tune to whatever is | | | | affirmation. |
| happening around us. It's a physical | | | | |
| reaction that nature instills in all of | | | | • Always keep your doors and windows |
| us--to help us survive. We become | | | | locked no matter where you live. |
| hyper-aware. We hear and see things much | | | | |
| more clearly. | | | | • If you hear noises outside, turn |
| | | | outside lights on. Criminals and animals do |
| Regarding the example above though, you may | | | | not like light, and most likely, if there's |
| have heard those same noises before, however, | | | | something out there, they will leave. |
| at that time, thought nothing of it, not | | | | |
| perceiving it as a threat and unconsciously | | | | • If common sense or calm assessing of |
| skipping right over it. | | | | noises shows you there's the possibility of |
| | | | danger, call the police. |
| Below are some tips to help you to deal with | | | | |
| noises at night | | | | Most nighttime noises simply are nothing to |
| | | | be concerned with. However, there are the |
| • Know this: At night there may be no | | | | very serious sounds that can be caused by |
| television or radio noise, little or no | | | | criminals. That's why it's the best course |
| automobile traffic sounds, no sounds from | | | | of action to remind yourself that you can |
| lawnmowers or children playing outside, just | | | | handle anything that comes your way--when |
| silence. When there's silence, every little | | | | utilizing calm judgment. |
| sound can be heard, such as the natural | | | | |