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What should I do if I am afraid to sleep for fear of letting bad people into my home?

Psychological scars Home alone fear Burglar intrusion Fear mitigation Sleep vigilance
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What should I do if I am afraid to sleep for fear of letting bad people into my home? By Anonymous | Published on December 18, 2024

Because of a previous period of time when I was home alone, I may have been left with psychological scars. Whenever there is a sound in the house, I suspect that someone has entered the house. It happened to coincide with reading a lot of topics about burglars breaking into homes, which made me even more scared. At one point, I was so scared that I was afraid whenever I was home alone, day or night. Now, about six months have passed, and my fear has slowly eased. I still can't sleep alone at night. The last time I finally fell asleep, I felt someone come in and I woke up immediately. Fortunately, it was my father. Before, I could never be awakened when sleeping, but now I dare not sleep, and I am very vigilant during sleep.

Jeremy Jeremy A total of 6559 people have been helped

Hello, question asker. Let me give you a warm hug first.

From your question, I can see that I can feel the state of the questioner at the moment from the description of the words. Here is a reference:

Hearing a sound in the house means someone has entered the house. You may have been left with psychological scars after being home alone.

Given that the questioner said it has been going on for a while, I am certain you have experienced a great deal. Hugs to you again.

The home is called a safe haven, and if we don't feel safe at home, the sense of fear is unimaginable. When I was little, I had that experience too. When my parents weren't home, I lit all the lights and waited for them to come back.

As I grew up and learned more about things, I overcame my fear.

I have a few suggestions for the questioner:

Ask yourself what you are really afraid of until you can't answer anymore.

For example, I am afraid now. What am I afraid of? I hear a sound in the house.

I need to know what it is about the sound in the house that scares me. I'm afraid to sleep because I think there might be a bad person coming in.

I need to identify exactly what it is about the bad guy that scares me. My personal safety may be threatened. Has that happened?

This is not the case. The objective here is to confront our fears head-on.

2. Check for safety hazards in the home.

To dispel doubts, check for safety hazards at home, such as doors and windows, locks, and the security of the community. If necessary, carry protection, such as sprays, or put safety devices in place. Install a surveillance camera if needed.

Only when we are absolutely certain will our hearts be at ease. We won't dwell on it. It's like someone who's always feeling unwell. The only way to put their mind at rest is to take them to the doctor. The doctor is the authority figure, and what they say is final. That way, no matter what the result is, the person will accept it.

3. Limit your exposure to negative news.

As the saying goes, "Don't be paranoid, but don't be careless either." Watching some similar news reports can also alert us to be more vigilant. However, if we get too caught up in our own imaginary state for too long, we will mistakenly believe that it is true. After all, it is also a probability event. We must stay vigilant and be safety-conscious at all times.

4. Distract yourself.

When a person is highly stressed and doesn't get enough rest, it will not only affect their mental state over time, but also their body. It is essential that the questioner finds something interesting to do, or exercises, so that they can spend less time thinking about it. It is normal for us to feel fear, and we can talk about our feelings of fear to someone we trust, and face our fears directly through awareness.

There is always a way to do everything. We just haven't found it yet. Don't worry. When something happens, we can also try to look at it from multiple perspectives. Just like we think of fear. Our first impression of it is not very good, but a moderate amount of fear can also better warn us that different scenarios are not necessarily a bad thing. I believe that through this experience, the questioner will definitely do well. It will also be a kind of experience and growth.

I know the above will be inspiring and rewarding for you. I look forward to meeting a better you, and the world loves you with us.

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Scarlett Knight Scarlett Knight A total of 6966 people have been helped

Good day, host. I am July.

After reading your description, I have a better understanding of the question you wish to ask. In this regard, I would like to extend my support in whatever form is most helpful to you.

From the issues you outlined in your description, it is evident that your current thoughts are influenced by past experiences of being home alone and extensive reading about burglary. These experiences have instilled a sense of unease about your personal safety, driven by an underlying fear of being harmed. Consequently, you are currently experiencing heightened anxiety and distress regarding your safety. In light of this, I extend my support and understanding.

Indeed, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience the current situation. In today's world, the prevalence of adversity and the potential for distress are realities that must be acknowledged. It is, therefore, understandable that feelings of anxiety and unease may arise. It is crucial to recognize that while there are those who seek to cause harm, there are also individuals who strive to promote positive change. It is essential to acknowledge that these feelings are normal responses to a challenging situation.

From your description, it can be discerned that there are instances when you exaggerate your own thoughts. This is likely due to your tendency to hint at yourself excessively, which gives rise to the perception that there is a high probability that your expectations will be fulfilled. This phenomenon is what is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Therefore, the current state of tension is affecting sleep.

In this regard, I have also provided a summary of methods that may assist in alleviating the current situation, and it is my hope that these methods will prove beneficial to a certain extent.

(1) It is recommended that individuals attempt to confront their fears directly, rather than attempting to evade them. Avoidance of these fears is an ineffective strategy for problem-solving and may result in the development of a negative situation.

(2) It is recommended that you attempt to relax more and reduce your nervousness. This can be achieved through techniques such as deep breathing and meditation, which can help to relieve some of the tension.

(3) It is advisable to reduce the negative self-suggestions and instead cultivate a belief in the safety of the environment in which one lives. It is important not to allow circumstances in one's life to lead to doubt about one's current situation.

(4) It is recommended that one attempt to distract oneself from the present moment. This can be achieved by engaging in an activity that piques one's interest, as opposed to remaining in a situation that one is imagining for an extended period of time and being unable to extricate oneself from it.

(5) When an individual is experiencing a negative emotional state, it is possible to alleviate the distressing feelings through various forms of self-care, including social interaction, physical activity, journaling, and music. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to situations that exacerbate negative emotions.

The world and I extend our love to you.

Best regards.

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Comments

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Aurora Thomas A diligent heart is a heart that never gives up.

I can totally relate to feeling scared after being home alone for a while. Hearing noises around the house and thinking someone's breaking in is terrifying, especially with all those stories about burglars. It's great that your fear has lessened over six months though it's still tough sleeping alone. Waking up so easily now shows how much you've been on edge.

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Asher Jackson The roots of a healthy society are planted in honesty.

It sounds like you've had a really rough time with those lingering fears from being home alone. The combination of actual noises and reading scary stories about breakins must have made things worse. Even though things are getting better, not being able to sleep alone is challenging. That moment when you woke up thinking someone came in must have been heartstopping until you saw it was your dad.

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Liam Thomas To choose time is to save time.

Wow, it must have been such an intense experience for you. Having psychological scars from being home alone and constantly fearing intruders would be so hard to deal with. It's somewhat comforting that your fear has decreased over time, but I understand how difficult it is to feel safe enough to sleep soundly again.

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Jeremy Anderson Life is a journey of transformation.

Your story is really touching. Being haunted by the thought of intruders because of past experiences and what you read is truly unsettling. It's a relief to hear that you're gradually overcoming this fear. However, the impact on your ability to sleep alone at night must be very challenging. It's understandable why you'd be more alert during sleep now.

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Scarlett Thomas Learning is a treasure hunt for ideas.

Feeling unsafe in your own home must have been incredibly distressing. Reading those alarming stories about burglaries probably amplified your anxiety. It's positive that you're slowly recovering from this, yet the struggle with nighttime solitude remains. The incident with your father waking you up must have been quite a shock, highlighting how heightened your senses have become.

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