Do you ever feel scared when home alone?

[deegathed]

I’m going to house sit for some friends soon. They live in the middle of nowhere, in an Elizabethan farm house. I don’t have a car so I’ll be there all on my own for a few days until dh can join me, as he has meetings in person.

I’m just starting to worry I might get scared being in a big old house all alone!

Jesus. Before meeting Late-DH, I lived alone for 19 years! Been alone with our child since he died 7 years ago. I don't know anything but, really! So I find it truly shocking when I see grown, adult women saying stuff like this! Seriously? 😳

Yep, I’m a wuss. I’m ok in my house now (if DH is away I sleep with blinds open to get moonlight in, so it’s not dark dark). If I’ve managed to scare myself I’ll put the tv on (only things like shopping channels that will have no scary adverts or late night scary films that I might wake up to). But the house you describe I doubt I’d sleep at all. And in response to an earlier poster, I’m scared of intruders and ghosts. Or intruder ghosts. I am a competent adult in most other areas of my life so I’m not too bothered by this flaw!

No but I've got great security. Cameras, dog, internal locks and a door jammer! I live in a very safe area but I get easily spooked, so I've set up tight security and can therefore relax.

Nope. I'm genuinely surprised that people are. Love my time on my own!

Yes but not of real life people. As long as the house is all locked up that doesn’t bother me. It’s the thought of anything spooky 👻

No I’m not. It’s bliss.

Oh gosh, I’d LOVE this. Think of the lovely peace and quiet. Getting to watch whatever you want on Netflix, eating and drinking whatever you wanted, books and walks. I’d have the whole thing planned out. I’d bring:

My Kindle
A couple of bottles of nice wine
All the food I like that everyone else in my house doesn’t - loads of prawns (DP is allergic so we don’t keep them in the house), steak, stinky cheese and some oatcakes. Bagels and smoked salmon for breakfast (bring lemons)
Facemask, deep hair conditioner, manicure and pedicure stuff.
Music playlists and speaker
Knowing what series you’re going to binge watch (don’t pick a scary one -ha!)

Have a great time. It will be a wonderful rest.

No. Never. I don't really get scared. Struggling ti remember that last time I was actually scared.

I don't like being in my house alone overnight, which happens 4 times a month when my DC go to stay with their Dad, my EXDP. Those nights, I find it very difficult to sleep as my house is old and creat, so I hear lots of noises in the night, and my imagination runs wild.

I dislike being in my house overnight alone so much that I'm about to take in a lodger, not so much for the money, although that will be nice, but for having another lady in the house, so I'm not scared on my own lol

No, I'm not a child lol

Yes, I get scared, but I do stuff anyway 😊

I'm a single parent so being on my own is the default. Well, apart from DD who is 15 and would sleep through any ghostly visitations so she doesn't count!

No, I'm very happy in our house, alone.
But then it happens quite a lot.

The situation you describe in the op is quite different - you will be isolated, you will be in a house where you aren't familiar with the sounds the house / heating / etc make, you won't have transport, you won't have neighbours, potentially you might not have good phone signal or good internet connection, you probably won't know where 'emergency things' are - be that candles, the stop cock or first aid.
It is very different from us feeling relaxed and comfortable in our own homes.

Agreed. Very different being somewhere unfamiliar.

No. I live alone, have camped alone in woodland campsites, and occasionally forget to lock my back door into the garden at night. In Deepest Scariest South London.

I'm truly mystified by most of these responses. What on earth are you all scared of? And why does that change if someone else is there?

@AlfietheSchnauzer I survive 😂

I've always lived either in family home, house shares , with friends , with partner - never alone .

I wouldn't mind being in my old apartment alone but I have a good sized house which makes funny noises ... I watched way too much crime watch as a child 😂

I've just done a week home alone , was fine after the first few nights but still lock the bedroom door .

I've actually considered having a security bedroom door fitted in all seriousness 🥲😂

Yes, all the time - but not for burglars and so on. My fears are along the more sensible lines of werewolves, witches and ghosts - all of which are very real in Edinburgh as everyone knows 🙄

These responses have really surprised me. I didn’t realise so many adults were scared of being alone.
No, I don’t get scared when home alone, and assuming the house has doors which lock I wouldn’t be scared there either.

I'm also really surprised by these comments. DH goes away a lot and I'm often in the house alone overnight (or with the kids). I've never felt scared. I feel blissfully peaceful and happy when alone!
We have a burglar alarm. I don't know anyone who's been attacked in the night by intruders. What's scary about being alone?

No, not as long as I'd checked that the windows and doors were all secure and locked. Rationally, there's no need to be scared.

I'd be different if doors/windows were flimsy or didn't have adequate locks, etc.

But I'm rational to a fault really and have always been ruled by the head, not the heart, so never really worry about things that are unlikely to happen or where proper precautions have been taken.

I’m really surprised by these comments, I’m a lone parent and have basically always lived alone since 16 (I live with my children now But apparently that isn’t “alone” but alone in the sense they would be useless if someone broke in or tried to hurt us in fact they make it harder as I wouldn’t just have myself to save so alone as in no other adult) but since mumsnet is usually very much “independent woman, love being single, love living alone, don’t need a man for anything!” 💁🏻‍♀️ surprised so many have said they are scared to be in their own house alone.

I live alone so no. Doesn't bother me at all.

Nope- that is my idea of bliss OP!

DD is on holiday so I've been alone for the past week & a half. DS is fed up being at his dads though so is coming to shatter my peace tomorrow then DD will return at the weekend & I'll be counting down the days until they both bugger off again & I can spend Saturday on the sofa with wine, snacks & my book.