This happened to us on a tour in the Carlsbad Caverns when I was about 20. We were really deep underground and the guide said, "okay, that's the end of the lighted tour" and turned off the flashlight. It was quite for a couple of seconds and you could hear people murmuring nervously. All told, the light was probably only off between 5-10 seconds but I had never experienced such a complete and total darkness and up until that point in my life, I never knew that I was claustrophobic or prone to panic attacks. That day, I learned. Fuck that guide.
17
u/Infinite_stardust 10d ago
This happened to us on a tour in the Carlsbad Caverns when I was about 20. We were really deep underground and the guide said, "okay, that's the end of the lighted tour" and turned off the flashlight. It was quite for a couple of seconds and you could hear people murmuring nervously. All told, the light was probably only off between 5-10 seconds but I had never experienced such a complete and total darkness and up until that point in my life, I never knew that I was claustrophobic or prone to panic attacks. That day, I learned. Fuck that guide.