Geographical locations that terrify

[Jason the Rationalist]

Hello

Myself and my wife were walking near Dorking in Surrey in September 2017. It was mid afternoon. On the walk back towards Dorking we saw a signpost indicating a path to the remains of a castle, Betchworth Castle. We checked on the map and decided to go and take a look at it. We walked the path across the golf course there, quite a few people were out and about playing. It was worth seeing, in ruins but identifiable as a castle. It was reasonably close to a steep drop down to a lake, was quite a view across to the North Downs. We looked a round a bit, took a few photos and then I took a few of my wife with the ruins as a backdrop. It was at that point - and the hairs on the back of my neck are rising now as I type this, and rise every time I recall it - that a feeling of utter terror overcame me. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. It was a feeling of utter dread, deeply unpleasant. I didn't want to worry my wife and just set about getting moving away at a brisk pace. I was okay once we had a bit of distance betwen us and the ruins. I asked my wife what she had thought about the castle - she just said that she didn't like it but I don't think she had had the same reaction as me.

On the train back I looked it up. The Wikipedia page mentions a bit of a strange history, hauntings, "unexplained things"...I had never read anything about it before as far as I could recall and certainly if I had done I didn't have anything playing on my mind as we approached it.

I can't really make sense of what happened, would be interested to hear your thoughts. Have you had similar experiences?

Jason

 

[Treedbear]

I used to get anxiety attacks in certain types of social situations. Had the strong impression that a meteor was about to crash through the ceiling. Seems that I had some personal issues I needed to look at.

 

[Jason the Rationalist]

I used to get anxiety attacks in certain types of social situations. Had the strong impression that a meteor was about to crash through the ceiling. Seems that I had some personal issues I needed to look at.

It could well be an accumulation of subconscious or conscious thoughts, feelings, experiences at a certain point, potentially triggered by something quite subtle. You have reminded me of something which is that I have in the past - although thankfully very rarely - had panic attacks. In that situation, however, I know the event or situation that has triggered them....but I cannot explain or understand why I have had that reaction. I'm not aware of anything that is unsettling me day to day. Perhaps its just something that is going to happen from time to time.

What I may do is return to those castle ruins with a completely open mind and see how I feel. Will be difficult not to carry the memory but still interesting.

 

[beero1000]

 Infrasound can cause feelings of dread in some people and can be generated by a variety of natural and manmade processes. You might try looking for a low-frequency spike on a smartphone spectrum analyzer app if you go back and feel that fear again.

 

[Jason the Rationalist]

 Infrasound can cause feelings of dread in some people and can be generated by a variety of natural and manmade processes. You might try looking for a low-frequency spike on a smartphone spectrum analyzer app if you go back and feel that fear again.

Interesting, could have a variety of causes, so might reoccur in the same place or possibly somewhere apparently at random. I should try to remember this. I will also look into getting an app.

Thanks for your responses so far: two things I wouldn't have thought of.