How many people fear the night?

[P1987]

Every night I have a routine that I follow, putting my pets to bed, letting the dog out, getting my dog a snack, making sure I have all the things that I need in my room before I lock down the house for the night. I also have to check the doors (three times), making sure they are locked and secure. I have a door camera, an indoor camera, and an alarm system set up. As soon as I have done my routine, I walk down the hall and hit the button and a voice comes on for the alarm system, "security on …. Home!"

Last night I set it, "Security on …. Home!" I thought good, everything is okay, but! "Warning, Bedroom …. " "WhAAaaaTt!" My alarm in my head goes off! I started panicking and I was scared, you know what-less! I tried to take notice that my dog was not barking, but my brain would not shut off, my body started to warm over, the sweat building at my forehead. My heart was throbbing out of my chest and I was so scared. My boyfriend was not home, I am home a few days out of the week alone, all night long. When he told me that he was going to work night shift, I made him buy a really expensive alarm system, I didn't care how much it cost! You leave me here alone, you are going to get one that has cameras, so he can check the house several times a night, while I "try" to sleep. Once I go into my room, I don't come back out and I barricade it and I wait for my dog to bark and make me go back into a panic. I was a mess last night and I lost so much sleep. Not to mention I had to find out what room had an open window and hoping it was left open by accident and not someone I don't want in here … hiding some where in the dark. I am drained from lack of sleep and my mind is full of over thinking stuff and I am jumpy, I'm jumpy all of the time.

I want to sleep a full night, I try everything that I can think of to allow me to sleep, medications make me sleep to long and I don't like the side affects. I don't like taking pills period. ASMR, EMDR, music, counting, herbal teas, and you name it. I will forever be awake. My heart feels better, but my mind is still racing … my anxiety is. Well, the house is clean!

[snow_queen]

I'm sorry, that scare doesn't sound fun at all. about sleeping, have you tried taking melatonin? it's something your brain makes naturally (so there aren't side effects like drugs have), but some people's brains don't make enough of it. good luck tonight!

[P1987 in reply to snow_queen]

I've taken that, it makes me feel groggy. I will take it as a very last resort and I am not planning on going anywhere the next day. Thank you though, I appreciate it.

[snow_queen in reply to P1987]

Gotcha, I guess everything works a little differently for different people. Best of luck 😊

[Uncle_Frank]

Looks like you are very much afraid of someone breaking into your home. Has this ever happened before? Do you live in a high crime neighborhood? Do you know your neighbors, and can you rely on their help should the need arise? Are your security measures proportionate to the risks? These are answers you can only decide for yourself.

Wishing you the best.

[P1987 in reply to Uncle_Frank]

I have a high security system, cameras and the whole nine yards. I suffer from PTSD and this fear is part of the package that I have to deal with. Not fun. Crime is, I don't know, not bad I guess. The neighbors around me are pretty cool, glad I have them around. I have the number to one of the neighbors and she will look outside if I send her a text and the same for her. She has a mother who stays alone in the house for about five hours at a time and I will get a text to take a look outside to see if there is anything out there. My boyfriend will do it actually, I will send him a text. I won't do it because it is night time and I don't want to spike my anxiety. We are pretty nosy neighbors, if we see something we don't like, we won't hesitate to call the authorities, only if it seems really bad. I don't like to be a pest to the police. I just fear a lot of things and I have a hard time dealing with being here alone in this house and I am dealing with it one step at a time with my counselor. It's fun dealing with mental illness - sarcasm here!

[spinmerightround]

I'm getting more anxious at nighttime as well, it got a bit better when I installed a home security system, fewer panic attacks. Maybe you should consider this option? At least you'll know you're protected well. At least it helped me lots. I used this company's services: securinghome.com/