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Original poster

Anyone else get a bit scared in the house by themselves?

35 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 11/12/2019 20:54

Or am I a total wuss?! Newish area and new home which has more room than we had before, but my mind is doing mental gymnastics. In my head, every time I look out the window there will be an axe wielding maniac grinning back at me.

I’m a reasonably competent adult with a perfectly rational brain, so why do I do this?!

OP posts:
Anyoed · 11/12/2019 20:57

I am the same. I'm now a single parent in a villiage my dad has kindly called mid summer murders. 😂. I have to keep the hallway light on all nightGrin

Nicknacky · 11/12/2019 20:58

I guess if it’s a new feeling then it’s just because you aren’t entirely comfortable in you new surroundings.

I love being home alone, although I have a conservatory where it does go through my mind that someone could be in the garden and I can’t see them but then I give myself a shake!

MotherHeggy · 11/12/2019 20:59

For me,it's perfect. Peace and quiet,no one to worry about,I can wander about naked if I felt like it. Have my music on a bit louder.

rhubarbcrumbles · 11/12/2019 21:02

Sometimes, not often. I occasionally get a feeling that something isn't quite right (not with the house, just generally) and then I tend to leave the landing light on.

KatyaK · 11/12/2019 21:04

I do at night. I take DDog to bed with me when DH is on nights BlushGrin

overtheseagull · 11/12/2019 21:10

Me

I'm a single parent. Took me a long time to get used to being alone at night after ex left. But I'm generally fine with it now.

I have had a monitored house alarm installed, purely for my peace of mind. I set the downstairs zones when I go up to bed. I know alarms aren't always preventative but I sleep easier knowing it's on.

My neighbours are very good - they know I live alone. I accidentally triggered the house alarm at night a while ago and within minutes one of them was banging on my front door with a large bat and his German Shepherd Xmas Grin

RuggyPeg · 11/12/2019 21:13

Hate it. Have extensive security (cameras, internal locks on doors, big guarding dog etc) but I still worry. I really want a full on panic room.......

Chancey1982 · 11/12/2019 21:13

When I first became single I was terrified at night and led awake for hours over thinking. I had an irrational fear I was going to get shot through my window and actually crawled about a bit sometimes... I'm fine with that now lol! My fear nowadays is fire and checking plugs are off and checking and rechecking my doors are locked as we have had a spate of break-ins in our area.

Llareggub · 11/12/2019 21:13

I’m a lone parent. I’m absolutely fine alone. The front door is always locked and my kids leave obstacles all over the place, a la Home Alone.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 11/12/2019 21:14

I’ve got an alarm too which is actually great, set for the downstairs just now, plus we have security cameras set. I am wondering how long it will take for me to feel relaxed!

DH is out for the night for the first tine since we’ve moved in so I am hoping it’s that but also remember thinking this when I was a teenager and at my parents house alone too

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 11/12/2019 21:16

Not in a city. But you'll never find me on my own in an isolated country cottage...

overtheseagull · 11/12/2019 21:18

@ShirleyPhallus I was the same in my parents' house as a teenager. It was huge, with big bi-fold doors overlooking bleak farmland. I never saw a masked face looking in at me through the doors, but I lived in fear of it every night Confused

Cyoilo · 11/12/2019 21:20

I live in the middle of nowhere and when I'm home alone about to go to sleep, all I can think about is if someone broke in they could kill me and no one would hear my screams Shock. Lovely thought to have before I go to sleep! Grin I blame myself for all the scary movies I watch.

Flowerpot26 · 11/12/2019 21:21

I'm liertally just thinking this now, husband is away tonight and I've been nervous all evening, not sure why. I don't have any neighbours as a farm, so every little things scares me, not sure when I turned into such wuss! 🤔 I normally walk the feilds at night when lambing, but alway know hubby is around.

kiki22 · 11/12/2019 21:27

I lived in a rented house once and never felt safe in it, I lived with my mum at the time and if she was out I'd try to find someone to stay over with me.

Never have a problem other times

TrainspottingWelsh · 11/12/2019 21:31

No, never, you're a total wuss Grin

Live rurally, no neighbours within shouting distance. I've lived here alone in the past, and dp works away a lot now. I don't give it a second thought tbh. I make sure I have my phone when I go out to do late night checks on the horses, but that's about horse emergencies & the fact if I injured myself nobody would notice till the next day.

Then again I grew up outdoors in the middle of nowhere, mostly unsupervised and not limited to daytime. It's entirely normal for me.

sqirrelfriends · 11/12/2019 21:33

Yes! New house and hardly any crime in the area.

I think it's ghosts I'm most scared of, especially after reading a woo thread 😂

overtheseagull · 11/12/2019 21:36

@sqirrelfriends It's not the dead you need to be scared of, it's the living! They're far worse Xmas Grin

HeronLanyon · 11/12/2019 21:43

I live alone (dp lives elsewhere). Also very central London. The only time I felt scared was during the 2011 riots and the night of the London Bridge attack when there were wild rumours of attacks speaking across London. Riot night I had suitcase packed with valuable/precious stuff (that was eye opening) and into loft in case of trouble. Sat in hallway with all lights off. Lots locally were doing similar.
London Bridge night I had door barricades and didn’t sleep.
Other than that no.
Really don’t like to be on own in isolated cottage type scenario. Then my mind goes crazy as the dark settles and the sea fog sets in etc etc.

Moonflower12 · 11/12/2019 21:51

We live in an isolated country cottage- the middle of bleeding nowhere! With 200 acres of woodland behind us. My DP works nights a lot- paramedic.
We have a barkey spaniel who has the run of the house. I constantly expect axe wielding maniacs. I have to act brave when I let the dog out for a wee at night!
It winds me up that people constantly go on about how scared I should be! I'm brilliant at creating my own scenarios- I don't need your help!

whereishappyat · 11/12/2019 21:52

I have always been like this and I'm 30 now, married with 3 kids but if my husband is out the house while I'm in bed or I have to go up to bed on my own I am convinced I can see faces staring back at me through the windows, I think the doors have been unlocked all night someone could have snook in and hid upstairs waiting for me to go to bed. I'm horrendous with it and to be honest I don't think I will ever get better. No advice just a hug and sympathy I can totally relate your not alone!

Moonflower12 · 11/12/2019 21:53

I don't mean on here. I mean in RL.

Moonflower12 · 11/12/2019 21:55

I now severely censor my reading and TV watching!

HeronLanyon · 11/12/2019 21:56

Apols moon your set up sounds lovely. I spend a lot of time in an extremely remote setting in wind bit of coast so know that feeling well when cottage shakes with the fakes and the fret is all around. Anyway like the sound of your little doggy - Grin

HeronLanyon · 11/12/2019 21:56

Gales not fakes.