Really scared tonight. Alone in new house.

[Scaredofthedark1986]

As the title says I’ve just moved into a new house. I’ve slept ok the last few nights as I’ve been exhausted but tonight I’m not so tired and I feel really frightened. It doesn’t help that I can hear noises. It sounds like cups being put down in a kitchen so almost certainly next door but I’m not sure how I’ll ever sleep. So scared someone will break in and there is just me and the children.

You're absolutely right that noises will just be neighbours, or pipes or the house shifting as temperature drops through the night.
Can you put a little light on and listen to the radio in bed or watch a light hearted thing on tv?

Calm down, OP. You’re not at risk, you’re just not used to the little ambient noises of your new house. What are you actually afraid of?

Could you listen to an audiobook? Whenever DH is away I listen to one in bed - either I find something on the BBC radio player (if it is episodes put auto player on) or on YouTube. There is something very comforting about having a story read to me.

Turn the volume up enough to drown out any background noise but low enough do it doesn't disturb the rest of the house.

Honestly it’s a bit embarrassing. I am scared of someone breaking in and hurting me or the children. I have always had this fear but before we were in a flat with cctv so it is worse here at the moment. I have to avoid news stories that are similar to my fear as it sets all my anxieties off badly.
I have come to bed but I think I may watch something on my amazon or on YouTube and see if I can relax a little.

I understand I don’t get nearly enough sleep because it takes such a long time to resign myself to sleeping In the house on my own.. don’t worry it will soom be morning

Hope you’re okay op. It’s awful having anxiety like this, have you considered sleeping tablets until you’re settled in? They often help you to sleep but also to switch your mind off a bit and relax. Maybe keep a lamp on or hallway light on until you’re settled in? Also might it help if you took photos of your door being locked from the inside so if you worry at night you can look at the photo and remind yourself it’s locked? Might sound strange but I get anxiety about this and always think “did I definitely lock it?” Etc

Oh an audiobook could be an option woolly thank you. I will try to find one.
Photographing the door might be an option actually. Twice I have had to go down and check the doors are actually locked so maybe it would prevent that at least.

I don’t have sleeping tablets but I do have some beta blockers. Perhaps they would help.
The upstairs is fairly light due to the kids having nightlights. I have a spare nightlight so I think I will set that up.

It'll be ok OP. Maybe some white noise?

LineEyesForever I used to do the photos of locked doors (and also switched off ovens) when I was really anxious about being by myself! OP It is definitely next door. I get your anxiety though I found it awful going from a flat to a house. Hope you get some sleep soon xx

Maybe get someone to fit you some additional security to make you feel safer? My local council fitted my old house with solar powered lights on a motion sensor & put alarms & extra catches on my Windows & a chain on both my doors.

i hate sleeping alone in my house too. i’ve always been scared of the dark but i can cope with it when my boyfriend is there but when he’s not i end up sleeping with the lamp on. on the rare occasions i am alone with the kids i have them in bed with me. luckily we have a dog that goes crazy at the slightest noise so that makes me feel better - and we keep a baseball bat under the bed just in case!

I used to have this, still do occasionally. I'd leave a light on downstairs and upstairs in the hall, keep my phone next to me and read a favourite book to stop my mind running away.

It's one of those totally irrational anxieties that it self perpetuating, the more you worry about it the worse it feels.

Take one of your beta blockers. They'll do wonders. Warm drink and a slightly heavy blanket/throw over your usual duvet.

Hoping you've nodded off by now.

Hope you get off to sleep - when I was in my late teens my parents were often abroad for a few nights at a time, my siblings were at uni or moved out, and I remember some nights getting a bit freaked out on my own in a big detached house, so I do sympathise.

I'm like this so I understand completely. I've always been scared being overnight on my own.

Hope you managed to sleep. I'm up feeding/settling a lovely 3 day old but boy would I love the freedom fo sleep!

Morning, OP, how did you get on?

Morning OP. I know I can’t help with last night now, but I’m just contradicting someone else’s advice to get motion sensor lights. We have one in our back garden and it causes me more anxiety than it solves. I remind myself it’s probably a cat or someone parking for the house behind our house but it still freaks me out!

Other than that I go for time hits house to get me to sleep. Loads of free apps.

Hello everyone. Thank you for the replies. I did manage to get some sleep and the night was completely uneventful. It’s weird the way fears creep up on you in the night. I am alone in the house during the day with the kids as well but don’t feel the same fears then.
Thank you for all the advice. I’m going To look into some extra security features that might help.

Hope you managed to get some sleep!