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If anything like this happens to anyone (being followed home) if possible, walk to a police station, call the police or a loved one, walk into a convince store or anything that might be open and wait for someone (call them) to come and walk u back
NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING "PARANOID"!!!!!! If u feel like something is wrong, treat it like IT IS wrong until proven otherwise
Tbh idk what to do in a situation where u notice late and ure in a secluded area, someone plz comment on advice for that [scream "fire" or look for anything that could be used as a weapon or distraction: broken glass bottle, trash bin lid, ur keys (go for the eyes or any weak points), stuff like that]
As for prevention, might vary from country to country or city to city, but if possible make sure someone has ur location (worse case scenario at least ppl will know where to look 1st), carry a weapon(s) with u [pepper spray, taser, gun (even if its empty, tho if its empty maybe carry another weapon to be safe), stabby stick or knuckle thingy, alarm thingy, etc], some places have a walking buddy system in place for women (or anyone) at night (or whenever too)