Everyone has a had a gut feeling at least once in their life– one that says, "this is bad, this is a terrible situation." Sometimes, people brush these feelings off. After all, not every situation is a dangerous one right? Well, not quite.
People on Reddit share the gut feeling that got them out of a terrible situation. Content has been edited for clarity.
“Oh My God, Guys Look”
“My friends and I went tent camping during early fall. We went to set up the tent under a tree, but I knew there was like a 100% chance for weather, so once I noticed where we were, it started nagging at the back of my head. Before we went to bed, I suggested we move the tent, and they all begrudgingly agreed. We moved it maybe a foot or two backwards away from the tree, then hit the sack.
And we were awoken by an absolutely wicked thunderstorm. Scrambling, we got up to get everything packed in the pouring rain before the tent fell (we weren’t very good at setting it up, so it wasn’t the MOST stable). But something stopped the first one to get out.
Her voice was total shock and drained fear. ‘Oh my God. Guys, look.’
A gargantuan branch had fallen not a foot in front of the tent in the direction we moved it away from. It took of us to hoist it away so we could all comfortably leave the tent, it was so heavy. Because of my gut feeling to move the tent, at least two of our lives, if not three, were saved. None including myself. Being in the back corner, I’d have lived even if we hadn’t moved the tent.”
“A Chill Spot Up My Spine”
“When I was in college, I lived in a sketchy part of Chicago. I liked to take late night strolls, even when I was living in that neighborhood as a 20-year-old woman. Yeah, I know. Pretty dumb of me.
One night, I was feeling stressed out, so I embarked on one of my late night strolls.
I was walking along a somewhat busy road. Cars were zooming past me. Pretty normal. I wasn’t paying much attention because I was too wrapped up in whatever was stressing me out that night. Suddenly, a chill shot up my spine. Hypervigilance washed over me, and I became more alert than I had ever been. Something was wrong. Someone was watching me. I quickly spotted a car. It was driving in the opposite direction, a little slower than usual. It was too dark for me to see anyone inside the car, and the car was pretty unassuming. But I still knew something was off. They were watching me. I just knew.
The car drove past me and then made a u-turn. Now, it was right behind me, creeping along the curb. Luckily, there was a Walgreens a few blocks ahead. I started walking faster. The car eventually sped past me and disappeared into a corner. I somehow knew I wasn’t safe yet, so I still sprinted to Walgreens.
I told the security guard what happened and we both went outside. The car was parked up the street, about 50-100 feet away. The security guard was a big guy who looked intimidating. He marched toward the car, and the car immediately backed up, made a u-turn, and then booked it out of there. The security guard called the cops, and they drove me home.
I never took a late night stroll again.
My gut made me more alert, but it was really the security guard who saved my life. I’m positive that if he wasn’t there that night, something bad would’ve happened to me. I wish I could find that security guard to thank him.”
“A Bad Feeling In The Pit Of My Stomach”
“My daughter was 8 months old and started acting strange. She was clingy, easily upset, running a fever, but not much else than that. I decided to take her to the emergency room one day because the fever wouldn’t go away and I just had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. The emergency room doctor told me she was teething and to put Orajel on her gums and she’d be fine. I brought her home, but just couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.
I brought her back to the emergency room. This time they told me she had the flu, even though she tested negative for it. I was given some Tamiflu and we were sent home again. I couldn’t accept that as an answer, so a few hours later I brought her back. At which point, they told me again it was the flu. I KNEW something was wrong. I knew it deep down in the pit of my stomach. So I brought her to the emergency room for a fourth time (in the span of one day). This time, they were furious I kept taking up spots for other people more deserving to be seen than my daughter. As a result, they were rude to me. They decided to run every test they could think of, just to prove I was crazy and get me out of there once and for all.
My daughter was severely dehydrated, had RSV, a UTI, a yeast infection, and very severe kidney infection. She was immediately admitted and was in the hospital for nearly a week on an IV drip and medications. Her doctor told me if I hadn’t brought her back to the emergency room that last time, she would have died that night from kidney failure.
I don’t blindly trust doctors anymore.”
“I Was Still Kicking Myself About It”
“We were looking at houses a while back and found one that was great location. It would have been perfect size for us, and didn’t appear to need any work other than new carpet. I wanted to do home repairs like painting and switching it over from oil burning furnace.
I just had a nagging feeling about it and my husband agreed. As much as we loved it, something was off with it and we ended up passing on it. I was still kicking myself about it until a few months later when it had a major electrical fire. The whole house and everything in it was a total loss. The family that lived there barely got out alive.”
“I Knew Something Was Wrong”
“I normally go to the club with my husband. He was out of town, but I had friends that said they’d be out. My club has always been a very safe club, but the area its in has had its ups and downs. Since I was alone, I chose my parking spot carefully. The usual spot was a few blocks off and that was farther than I was comfortable. The paid parking lot was open, but they cram so many cars in that getting in and out could be difficult and that just made me uncomfortable for some reason. I chose street parking two blocks down. The block itself was dark but the next block up was very brightly lit thanks to a big name hotel. Basically, I had a semi dark block, a very well lit block (with the paid parking lot and parking lot attendant across from it) and then I was at my club. Straight shot. My car and the club was in eye sight of each other if one stood at the corner and leaned over enough.
The MOMENT I got into the club, I knew something was wrong. But I couldn’t put my finger on it. None of my friends showed up, so I’m alone. Normally this isn’t an issue, but the vibe was seriously off. Without going into too long of a story with details, some dude kept trying to buy me a drink that I kept turning down. Partly, because I don’t accept drinks from strangers and partly because this dude didn’t seem to be flirting with me, so I couldn’t understand why he was so insistent on getting me a drink. I lied and said I was on medication, but he kept insisting so I agreed to a water (because it comes in a sealed water bottle). Dude comes back with the type of glass that mixed drinks usually come in. The moment he gives it to me he leaves. I don’t see him again for the rest of the night. The ‘water’ went straight down the bathroom sink and I started looking for someone to walk me out because my alarm bells are going off.
Partially due to my own impatience to get myself gone and partially because the one person I knew had also disappeared, I ended up just leaving without having someone walk me. Two blocks, straight line, mostly brightly lit… what could happen?
Once again THE MOMENT I crossed the street and was walking that first block this voice in my head says ‘You messed up! You messed up! Get your keys out and get ready!’
I’m having a full on conversation with this inner instinct/voice/what have you, trying to figure out why I’m freaked out. I thought about heading back to the club and that voice said, ‘Nope! It’s too late. Don’t run, or they’ll know you know. Just keep your eyes forward and be ready to jump in your car. Don’t stop for anything!’
I’m looking to make eye contact with the parking lot attendant, but he’s not there so I have no witnesses to at least WATCH me get to my car. Now, I’m suddenly terrified of half a block of unlit road I’m parked on.
I almost froze at the corner but that voice said, ‘Go! hurry! NOW!’
Crossing that road into darkness felt like jumping into the unknown. I’m freaking out and I have NO idea why, but now I’m picking up my pace and hoping I don’t drop my keys because my hands are shaking so badly (and also, I’ve had nightmares like this before). For no reason! There wasn’t a single thing that gave me reason to feel this panicked.
Until I get to my car door.
As soon as I get my door open, another car pulls up from behind me and slid into the spot directly behind mine. I hit the door locks and start to back up. In my rearview mirror, I see the torso of some guy jump out and head toward my passenger door. I’m already pulling out of the parking spot, but I could see his tensed up arm and closed fist just outside my passenger window. I was terrified that I hadn’t given myself enough room to pull out and would have to reverse again. Had he parked any closer, I wouldn’t have had enough room!
At that point I was FULLY committed to hitting the car in front of me if I had to because that voice was still screaming ‘Don’t stop! GO GO GO!’
And then I was gone, and that voice was gone. I’m speeding down the highway in the most deafening silence I’ve ever experienced as I tried to understand what just happened. It took me a bit to put the pieces together, but I THINK Drink Dude was spiking drinks and Car Dude was pick up. The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling that it was a trafficking operation. If I had been two seconds slower for any reason, I can only imagine how that night would have ended.”
“Had This Gut Feeling Not To Go”
“I had gone to this bar back home with a few friends, and afterwards everyone was supposed to go to this house party. I was game to go from the moment I was invited. Halfway through the night, I had this gut feeling to not go. I told my best friend she shouldn’t go, but she insisted that she wanted to go because there were a few cute guys there. I couldn’t shake the feeling we shouldn’t go, but she talked me into it.
When we got in my car to head to the party, the gut feeling was worse. I grew up around cars and drive a manual (my best friend is completely clueless when it comes to cars), so I deliberately grinded the gears and jerked the car and made it stall, acting like something was wrong. I pretended to try to fix what wasn’t broken and after about 15-20 minutes of ‘fixing’ my car, cops and fire trucks followed by EMS flew by us.
I ‘fixed’ my car, but told my best friend I just wasn’t feeling well. She agreed and said my car breaking down ruined her mood, so we went back to my place to watch movies. About an hour after getting home, we got a call from a friend of ours saying that the girl who owned the house and who was throwing the party was cheating on her husband. He was deployed and came back in leave to surprise her, and caught her in bed with his buddy. Dude pulled a weapon and started shooting at this girl and his friend while everyone else fled the house.”
“Completely Out Of His Character”
“My father was in the Army for 21 years. He retired and moved to a VERY small town in Central Florida. He got bored after a couple of years, and even though we didn’t need the money between his retirement and what my mom was making as a bookkeeper/tax prep, he wanted to go back to work. He started working at various gas stations. It being a small town, the owners wouldn’t care if I came there and helped him out with stocking the coolers, or even running the register, as long as I didn’t sell any drinks or smokes.
The actual story took place in 1990, and I remember the date well, because it was shortly after my birthday and being 15 in Florida, I had just gotten my learner’s permit. My dad would let me drive him to and from work, just to get some experience on the road, both at day and at night. I was sitting in my usual spot at a table that was set up along the windows, book in hand, feet propped up and a Mountain Dew on the table along with some snacks. I would generally spend most of the evening that way, reading books, getting up to run the register/stock the cooler at different times.
I remember glancing up because something caught my attention that was unusual. I realized that a lady was walking up our parking lot from the direction of the interstate (the gas station was right on I-75). This in itself was really strange, because where we were located, you didn’t get many people walking, and definitely not walking from the direction of the Interstate. I figured she had broken down somewhere and was coming to use the phone to call for a tow truck or something. I was completely wrong.
She came into the store and looked around for a few minutes. I remember getting just a strange and creepy feeling about her. She walked up to the counter, and started telling my dad a story about how she had gotten stranded and needed a ride up to the next big town up north from us (Ocala was the town, this is important). My dad lets her know he’s working and there is no way that he can take her.
She turns and looks at me, and while she is looking away from him, my dad catches my eye and subtly shakes his head no. I was confused for a second, but then she turns back to my dad and points at me, asking if I can take her. My dad responded back I only had a learner’s permit and wouldn’t be able to drive her anywhere and then drive back. Normally, I would have done it, even though it was illegal, because I’d done it a few times before already.
I didn’t argue with my dad, since this was completely out of character for him. He was normally chatty with the customers, but for whatever reason he was almost curt and dismissive of her. Turns out, he had a bad vibe about her from the minute he had seen her walking up the drive. Well, she cusses him for a minute and he basically tells her to get out of the store. She slammed the door open, I thought the glass was going to break from how hard she had slammed it, and then she stalks out of the store and down the driveway.
I keep an eye on her and continue to watch as she makes her way back up to the interstate and then starts up the northbound on ramp.
Almost a year passes, and I’m in my bedroom, less than a week before my 16th birthday.
I hear my dad yelling from the living room ‘Son, get in here and look at this!’
I quickly run to the living room and see my dad pointing at the TV, and look at the mug shot of the lady up on the screen, and immediately remember the lady who had been in the store.
Turns out, I almost gave a car ride to Aileen Wuornos, who was later convicted of being a serial killer and then later put to death.”
“As Soon As I Started Talking, There Was Silence”
“I was camping by a river (for reference this was in Florida, alligators lived in that river, and I was with my boy scout troop) and just got back to my hammock after a pee break in the middle of the night. I climbed in, and heard someone walking around our campsite and messing with the tents. I thought it was a friend stumbling in the dark, but after a scan with my flashlight I didn’t see anyone.
I pointed the flashlight at myself and pointed to the river, said to watch out for any gators at the base of the cliff (15 foot drop off, we’d been jumping and swimming earlier that day), and asked if they needed a light. As soon as I started talking, there was silence. Even the crickets stopped chirping and I got chills. I got in my hammock and heard a bunch of footsteps and grabbed my knife from my pocket since I was getting creeped out (thought someone wandered into the campsite, behavior and pace of steps wasn’t normal). I turned off the light, opened the knife, and stopped moving.
Turns out that a black bear had wandered in. I hadn’t seen it due to shadows, and it saw me get in the hammock and came to investigate. Thank god it left without biting or scratching me.”
“Give Me your Phone”
“My wife and I had an apartment in a really sketchy area of a city we used to live in. One day, we were walking home and could hear people yelling and a general commotion from a house about a block ahead of us. Nothing out of the ordinary for this area though.
For whatever reason, something didn’t feel right to me.
I put my hand down low and whispered to my wife, ‘Give me your phone, give me your phone.’
I dialed 9-1-1 as soon as she handed me the phone.
Within two seconds after I dialed, a guy burst out of a car parked in front and ran at the house with two giant butcher knives screaming ‘I’m gonna kill everyone!’
I got the operator just as he was banging and trying to break down the door. As I was talking with the operator, he turned and looked at us and started running full speed toward us. He was about 40 feet away when 4 cruisers came screaming up the street and stopped between us and him. The cops were able to arrest him without any issue.
I don’t know what it was about an everyday ghetto yelling match that set my gut off, but something told me it wasn’t going to end well if I didn’t get the police there as soon as possible.”
“Hey, Just Be Careful”
“We in a very deer laden area. I was driving to work one night when I saw two dead deer on the side of the road, in a very populated and busy area.
I had the sudden urge to call my dad and when I was talking to him I was like ‘Hey just be careful on your way home because I know you always take the parkway after you drop mom off at work.’
As I was pulling into the parking deck at work, I get a call back from my dad. I’m thinking, ‘Okay this is a little strange he knows I’m at work but what’s going on?’
He tells me he was on the parkway headed home and he rolled his window down so that he could smoke and let the smoke out. He said all of a sudden he had the feeling that he should slow down. He remembered what I said about the deer, so he slowed down and rolled his window back up. He said about that time a deer literally fell down the embankment horns first, and hit the side of his car right on the door. It sort of bounced off and went to the side of the road, but if his window had been down the horns would have gone through the window and into his face.
Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt and there were only minor damages to the car. A game warden was a few cars behind him and they both went looking for the deer to see if it was okay. They couldn’t find it, so they assumed it ran off.
He said if he hadn’t rolled his window up thinking about what I had said about seeing the deer on the side of the road and telling him to be careful, he probably would have gotten horns to the face.”
“Really Glad I Hesitated”
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“I was hanging out with friends at a bar but then going to head to my friend’s to stay the night. We drove separately though. It was in a city with a super high crime rate and in an even rougher part of town. We left the bar at like 3:00 am and the drive wasn’t far, but I was really low on gas and wasn’t sure if I was going to make it.
I’m not normally a person who is paranoid over city/neighborhood crime rates. I spent like half my time in this city and in the area we were in anyway, so it wasn’t foreign to me by any means. Even so, just to be on the safe side, I picked a gas station that was well lit and at a relatively busy intersection. I was the only car at the gas station and when I pulled up to the pump, I luckily took a moment to text my friend that I’d catch up with him in a few minutes.
As I’m doing that, though, another car pulls up right on the other side of the pump that I was at. I have no idea what made me pause, but I just waited a second to let them get out first. I had to keep waiting, because they weren’t getting out. At first, I thought that maybe they were taking a moment to get their wallet, text someone, just doing something. I couldn’t see through the window tint at all, though, but I also tried to not stare at them or make it super obvious. I’m also not a very intimidating guy.
I waited it out for 5 minutes, and then started getting more worried. I texted my friend to tell him exactly where I was. I couldn’t leave because I didn’t have enough gas to get anywhere else and I didn’t want to just drive to my friend’s place in the event that they followed me.
Another 10 minutes later, the car pulled off. No one ever got out to get gas, including me. I just headed to my friend’s and decided to risk getting there on what I had left in my tank.
I’m not sure what made me that paranoid in that moment, but I’m really glad I hesitated.”