Is it just me who is always terrified of intruders in my home?

[AnneNonimous]

I moved out of my parents into my first flat of my own with DS in January. Since I moved every night I have been terrified of someone breaking in. I have had very bad depression and anxiety issues in the past and the stress of moving has seen me go back into anti depressants.

But I am still laying awake for hours at night listening out for noises. I am still checking all rooms about 5 times before I can go to sleep. I don't want any windows open so I have been so hot in this weather.

Does this sound like normal behaviour? Do I need help or could it even be that the flat is the problem? It's not exactly a fantastic area but I've also heard of some people never being able to settle in certain homes.

I've never been broken into anywhere I've lived so no issues from past experiences.

I am miserable and just want to feel safe in my own home.

Sorry if I'm rambling I haven't spoken to anyone about this in RL

I know some one who used to break into houses (in his youth I hasten to add.) He's now in his 60's and the kindest, nicest man ever.

He occasionally talks about his past and says he was always terrified of getting caught and would never confront a householder. This gives me strange comfort.

OP, I completely know where you are coming from. When I was 5 I used to have to have my Mum or Dad lay next to me and tell me that no-one would ever break in. When I was 12 I used to roam the house double checking that all of the doors and windows were locked (usually at 2 or 3am). Now I often wake up in the middle of the night to check the doors and windows. I also look under the beds when I get home alone. And behind shower curtains. My life is pretty much lived in fear. Its a horrible way to be.

Having had it happen (because tear ExH left back door wide open). What happens? You phone the police 7 of them turn up with a dog arrest the intruder and then drink every last drop of tea you have. It took 4 mins from making the call to the dog handler arriving. Really the reality is not what you imagine.

I'd also recommend giving your local safer neighbourhoods team a call. I'm sure they'd be very happy to come over and do a crime prevention once over on the flat and just have a reassuring chat with you?

I used to be like this, always "hearing" things etc. I've got one funny story. I was a single mum living in a large rented property, I thought I heard a noise in the night, crept downstairs and there was a light shining all round the door to the dining room. I coughed loudly and the light went off. I ran back upstairs and rang the police. Bless them, they arrived within about a minute! They came in and the room was empty, the light was the security light from next door, set off by the neighbours dog. It was coincidence that it went off when I coughed. In hindsight, the lightswitch was actually in the hallway anyway, but in my panic I didn't think of that . The really funny was that I was still am a very untidy person, and the police didn't believe me for ages that no-one had been in the room, ransacking it! They kept saying "are you sure?" "do you normally keep your video shows my age player on the chair seat?" "are there normally black bags of stuff on the table" etc.

It's not just you as you can see from the replies, but your constant checking, worrying and general anxiety and not sleeping for hours laying awake listening is not normal at all.

My house was broken into many times as a child into my early teens. Once we were even broken into 2 weeks before christmas and they took all the gifts, plus tv and video recorder.

As an adult in my own houses, for the past 10 years at least, I've never worried about it.

Hope you had a good night. Definitely seek some advice and reassurance.