Rescued by the police tonight, very distressing events

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I had attended a social function in an area that I am very unfamiliar with. Driving there in daylight with good directions was ok, and the function was enjoyable. It was located in a part of the city which has very uneven topography so that streets twist this way and that around and across a vast complex of hills and dales.

When I left the function it was dark, raining, clouded over so that there was no moonlight and visibility was very restricted. I also have visual impairment (macular generation and cataracts) which don't help - and when night time driving conditions are also poor, it is very difficult. I tried to go back home the way I had come, but the route had been closed for some reason and I tried to find another way out of this maze of crescents. The windscreen fogged up and I wiped it with a rag I found in the car - disastrous move because it had grease on it and smeared the windscreen badly so that I had very limited visibility, and couldn't even read street names by that point to try and orientate myself from a map. I don't have GPS. Efforts to get the grease off with little bits of paper I had in the car didn't work.

I asked a passerby for help and directions and that was a disaster. He grunted at me, sneered and there seemed something really off about him, so I drove off. He followed and tailgated me. I was terrified - could hardly see where the streets twisted and turned in the extreme darkness with this lunatic car stalking me. I made some abrupt turns as fast as I dared to shake him off and that took about ten minutes. By then I was hopelessly lost, couldn't make sense of the map in terms of where I was and intensely stressed. I rang a family member for help but there was only an answerphone.

Scared of staying parked in case the lunatic found me again, I drove on again at a very slow pace, steering with one hand and using the other clear patches of the windscreen to provide enough vision so that I didn't hit obscured parked cars. By this time two hours had elapsed since I had left the function, I had a severe headache, and I was so distressed by the disorientation of being utterly lost that I was shaking and going into meltdown. I was considering parking wherever I could and just sitting there all night until the sun came up and then I could ask for help in more safety with people around going to work etc. It is Winter here and would have been a very cold and awful night, so when I saw the police pull up with their flashing lights, it was the most wonderful sight.

Someone had reported me for extremely slow driving and the police searched for and found me. They were great after they realised I wasn't a drunk driver but a lost and distressed one with no effective way of clearing the grease from my windscreen to enable a good view of the road and upset by the weirdo car stalker. Their supportive attitude helped to calm me, they fixed the screen, navigated me out of the rabbit warren and after receiving my heartfelt gratitude, I was back on the motorway and finally on a direct route to my home.

I've been home for about an hour and there is still some residual distress from the stress overload of it all so I am unwinding by sharing this. I do have trouble with navigation in unfamiliar places generally, but tonight was the worst experience I have ever had and the first time I have had to be rescued. I hope it is the last. Thank goodness for cops!

I can feel the distress you were in. I've had similar experiences.

I'm glad you were able to escape that person.

I only have relatively mild eye problems. I can imagine how your situation was made worse by your situation.

I'm glad the police officer was able to see the truth of your situation.

I'm glad you're safe.

Thank God you're safe, B19!
Have had similar situations myself.
In one case, not even the policeman knew how to give me proper directions.
He just told me to drive to the nearest gas station and ask someone there.
I normally ask for directions in a place like a donut shop, restaurant, store, or gas station when I can.

I am glad you were found safe and a little less distressed, B19!

I know exactly what you went through because ... I had the same experience in 1988 at Stanford University after a meeting I attended. The developed part of the campus is relatively small and quite a difficult place in which to get lost, but the roads through its undeveloped land can be completely terrifying after dark since they had no street or traffic lights; completely dark except for my car's headlights. It took me an hour to find a lighted intersection where I could compare street signs and consult my Bay Area roadmap. I never went driving around that area after dark again.

I can only imagine adding rain to my experience. You really are a survivor! I recommend resting up and trying to relax after such an ordeal.

Being lost in an urban area is difficult enough without the vision difficulties too, the stress must have been quite intense, I am glad you got home safely .

Getting lost is really scary, let alone in the dark and the rain with some weirdo following you, who knows what that guy wanted. Does GPS not work there? I wouldn't leave home without it out here in the hellscape desert.

Glad it all turned out well at the end. It must feel good to be at home after all that.

By the way just about ten minutes ago I saw police forces in action. I heard people yelling outside and as I looked out, at the same moment two police cars drove there in almost movie style and captured two men and one woman, just outside my window!

Thanks for your support and understanding folks

I am always grateful to Alex for conceptualising and creating WP and building it to what it is, though last night especially so. Wrong Planeteers are so often great on this forum at "being there" for members in distress. I appreciate that.

This morning I have mostly recovered though feel particularly weary, in both mind and body. The hyperstress aftermath affects me like that. Mood wise I am recovered and the headache has gone. It will be a quietly lived day for me.

It's only going on 3pm here and I am feeling as if I have been awake for 48 hours. Bedtime!

I don't get lost. However, I rage in traffic jams.

I'm sure getting some rest will help further, I'm very glad to hear you're safe now and feeling better!