We sell pepper sparay round here as bear spray. Cannister fits on your belt for quick accesss.
I think a major safety weapon is mental. Being able to not show fear. Rather use the adrenaline to power a defense in your body. Muscles become ready, every fiber of your being becomes attuned and ready for action as need be. This also causes you body movements to send out a message of, I am prepared, to the predator. Showing fear unfortunately just encourages an attack.....
My back ground, some of it was spent on the street. You never ever show fear.
And I am a sort that wouldn't hurt a mouse, but because of my street conditioning, when I see fear, even I get tense and physically get a response that there is 'prey' out there.
So as well as physical preparation, mental preparation is huge. I have been in many risky situ., but somehow have managed to fortunately bull my way out of it....or else I got the frickin hugest most diligent guardian angel thats ever lived...
Sorry you have to deal with this %#@&#!, I really am.
Its just not cut and dried, and its gonna take work to get yourself over this. Just buying a can of bearspray is only the beginning....
Take care.
M