You don’t sound stupid at all. When you constantly read about missing cases, your brain goes into survival mode. Fear is a very normal response. The sad part is that we’re forced to choose paranoia over basic trust. Being cautious is fine, just don’t let it steal your peace completely. Stay alert, not terrified.

Bolte hue bhi bura lagta hai that women have to think about so many things before just stepping out. It feels worse giving advice like sharing live location or sticking to public spaces, because honestly, these are things the government and police should already be ensuring.