FEAR

In this article, I want to talk about four levels of fear that we might encounter and how to reduce that fear. I'm not talking about the fear of riding a bike for the first time or jumping out of an airplane. I'm talking about the fear of a home invasion.

What is a home invasion?

A home invasion is a crime where the perpetrator(s) enter someone's house with the intent of committing theft or some other form of violent crime such as assault. In many cases, there is more than one perpetrator.

If you encounter an intruder in your home, what level of fear do you think you would fall under?

Four levels of fear

Fear is a natural reaction we humans experience when faced with danger or the unknown. It helps us to remain alert and aware of our surroundings and often serves as a warning sign for potential risk, but for many, fear can hinder our ability to think or react. There are four standard levels of fear that people may experience: Submit, freeze, run, and fight.

Submit - Submit is the worst of the four fears. In this stage, you are handing over your life to the intruder, hoping they will let you live the ordeal.

According to the FBI crime report, data shows that giving in to intruders is more dangerous than fighting. NEVER allow yourself to give in to the intruder.

Freeze: This comes from being overwhelmed or surprised by the intruder, causing you to become paralyzed. This "freeze" may last for a second or throughout the ordeal. Although freezing sounds a lot like submitting, there is a difference. Once you break the "freeze, you now have other options.

Run - This response to fear is just as it says. You RUN! If you can get away, then get away—there is no need to prove yourself as a fighter if there are other options.

Fight - If you can't find a way to get out of the home or to your designated safe room and running is not an option, then you must fight. Your chances of the intruder leaving the house are much greater than if you were to submit. It's important to remember that unless the home invasion is for sexual assault, most thieves want to get in and out as quickly as possible. Fighting off the person(s) in the home will likely not be in their plan.

The best fear

The best fear to have is low fear, knowing that for someone to enter your home will come with more effort than they are willing to put out. How do we make that happen? We start by surveying the inside and outside of the home. Let's start on the outside. Think like an intruder. Do you see places around the house where someone can hide? Are there bushes in front of windows where someone could hide? If so, have them trimmed to see behind the bush or have them removed and replaced with thorn bushes. Do your windows and sliding doors have locks that work? If not, invest in dowel rods that keep the windows and doors from opening. Check for boxes or ladders that are in the yard. Put them away, don't make it easy for the intruder.

Now let's take a look at the inside of the house. Are your shades wide open for anyone to look in? Do you lock your doors when you're home or leave them unlocked? Do you have a security system? With so many on the market today, finding one within your budget is easy. If you can't afford a security system, put up security signs as a deterrent. You can find "fake" security signs on Amazon for a few dollars.

We have enough stress without adding a home invasion to the list. What was mentioned here is a tiny part of what you can do to help prevent an invasion. If you want more ideas, contact me, and I will be happy to talk to you. If you would like to take my home defense class, check in on the website at: wwww.firearmstrainingcolorado.com to see when they will be offered. I will be posting Home Defense classes starting in May.