I scared of my new house

[HouseyMcHouseFace]

Please talk some sense into me. I’m normally a very rational, non-woo person.

I recently moved into my dream house. I’ve always dreamed of living in a period property and I now live in an absolutely gorgeous medieval farm house. It’s even got a secret passageway!

But dh works away Monday-Friday and I’ve so far spent the evenings sitting in my dc’s bedroom after they fall asleep. The first night I was on my own I lit a fire and snuggled up and watched a film which turned out to be quite scary. Then a branch banged into the window, I complete crapped myself and ran up to dc’s bedroom and didn’t come out until morning.

This week I’ve even felt on edge during the day when I’m in the house. There’s lots of creaks and odd noises and I just can’t relax.

I know there’s no such thing as ghosts. So why am I being such a tit? I can’t possibly tell dh - I spent years convincing him how happy I’d be living in an old house 🤦‍♀️.

Has anyone else managed to overcome their fear of living in the house they’d always alwanted to live in.

Oops, sorry didn’t mean to post in AIBU. Asked MN to move to chat.

Cut the branch back that knockd the window. Don’t watch scary films and get a grip!
You are living in a house a lot of us would bite off our hand for. Enjoy it and all the creaks and groans. If the doors and windows are locked, there is nothing there.

We've moved it now, OP.

I shouldn't laugh but....

Just remind yourself lots that ghosts aren't real and even if they were, which they're not, they would have no reason to want to harm you.

I live in a really old house too. You know when people live next to really busy traffic and they just stop hearing it after a while? Your house noises are like that, you will genuinely not hear them soon.

People have pointed out noises in my house before and I can tell them exactly what causes it but I won't have noticed I even heard it before they brought it up.

How about you swap with me for the shitty flat pack new build in a crappy area and I'll take a few of the undead off your hands along with the house in exchange?

You'll get over it - it's new and weird and every sound is going to be different plus you probably have a bit of wildlife scooting and scuttling round the place

As you get used to the place (like, for example, being able to navigate around it in pitch black), you'll find it easier to not be such a tit.

And stop watching scary movies, especially those that involve remote farmhouses or axe murderers in the meantime!

Can you invite people over in the day to see how they react? I expect your imagination has got the better of you since the branch and window incident. How did you feel before it?

I'd be the same (sorry)

In time you'll grow used to the currently strange creaks and groans, and understand that that noise is the timbers expanding in the sun, while this noise is a draught at a window frame, and it will feel more comfortable. Meanwhile, instead of watching scary movies, watch something lighthearted, or read in silence and use your rational brain to identify each noise.
It'll be ok, honest. :)

I'd be a bit worried about that secret passage though

I used to live in a split level maisonettes and my DH used to work permanent nights. One evening late I was sitting in the lounge and thought I heard a strange noise. I tried to convince myself it was nothing but I looked up and my cat was sitting up with a startled look on her face. Creeped me right out!

I have always been scared of my parents house (where I grew up). There are parts of it I won't go into on my own. I'm atheist and totally non-woo, but I just hate the creepy feeling some bits of it have.

My recommendation would be work on your lighting. Sort it out so the lighting is as even as possible with no shadowy areas, or places where moving objects outside case shadows through windows. Keep the lights on all over the house in the evenings.

Then get a dog or four so you have company after bedtime when DH is away.

A secret passageway?! That sounds amazing! Where does it go from and lead to?

I used to live in a remote farmhouse and liked nothing better then curling up in front of the fire with a good ghost story to watch on my own. It’s not real! The stories are fantasy but your location adds to the ambience.
(DS not so keen however and he thinks I’m weird).

Get a burglar alarm and good outside lighting. It's also getting lighter at night now!!!

If your kids start to tell you about the little girl they play with at night time who has ringlets and an old fashioned dress, then start to worry. All the other stuff is just getting to know a new (old) house.

You need a dog.

My childhood home used to be a monastery, it was mentioned in The Doomsday Book. There are monks buried under the dining room floor. I used to be convinced I would see ghostly monks. I never did.

Our cottage is over 200 years old. I KNOW people died here because that’s what they did years ago. Occasionally I’ll feel a bit weird and I hear noises often. DH also works away all week most weeks. I like to think that the original owners would be happy that we live their house and that we’ve filled it with a family. For the last 100 years or so it’s been home to either an elder couple or a man on his own.

Even if ghosts live there, chances are they were just normal people. Why would they want to harm you?

an absolutely gorgeous medieval farm house. It’s even got a secret passageway!

I've just had a thought. Maybe the noises are coming from a priest hole. There may be some poor old priest who's been locked in there since the 1590s.

Oh Elderflower, how very gothic!

@Wheet 😁. I bet they are v hungry and thirsty!!

Wheesht, you are not helping

Sorry @Wheesht

Big girl pants on now OP.
You where a tit to watch a scary film on your own in your new house. You only have yourself to blame.

Cut the branch back. Then go around the house room by room marvelling at what a wonderful house you just bought, remember all the things you loved about it when you saw it, then settle down in front of the fire with a wine and a 'feel good' film on.

Embrace the noises you will learn that it's your houses character and after awhile won't even notice them.

It's the living you need to be scared of, not the dead....