To feel anxious about someone ringing my doorbell at 9pm?

[shotgun1]

Doorbell rang twice just after 9. I live somewhere that I know very few people so it's not someone I know who's rang the bell (also none of my friends would ring as they know I've got small kids in bed and I only got back today from a trip away).

DH is away with work and I always feel a little anxious when I'm home alone but surely 9pm is too late for it to be a door to door sales person?

answer it? look through the peep hole? shout fuck off through the letterbox?

Are you an anxious person in general?

Are you actually anxious or just a bit worried/wondering who it might be?

its 9 oclock not 2am. What's to be anxious about if you didn't even answer it?

i'm sure many on here will say you're being silly, but i'm with you. I've had ours ring at this time, when dh was working late, and it put me on edge and I didn't answer it.

If you open the door, you'd find out.

If you've been away from home, it could have been a neighbour who had taken in a parcel?

I would be nervy too. It would make me think it could be bad news, if it were a friend or whatever surely they'd ring or text?

I should have added, I didn't answer the door (I'm in my nightie). I suffered from anxiety quite a long time ago but I've been better for ages. I'm from a big family so I'm used to a busy household and I suppose I just feel vulnerable on my own, especially since we live in quite a quiet area with no family around.

I'm so with you. I have a little peep hole that I can look through but by this point it is obvious that I'm on the other side of the door. I've rung my neighbour before to get them to have a look who is outside. I've ignored a doorbell before and anyone I know well enough would have my number or put a note through.

I'm with you. Ours went earlier, it was a takeaway delivery to wrong address but my heart was actually thumping. No idea why.

Did you actually go to the door? I would have either put the chain on and opened it, or shouted 'who is it?' But I wouldn't just have not even gone out as that would make me feel worse. Look at how you're worrying now.

Didn't we have one of these threads a while ago? Almost identical?

Assuming this is a real thread, then you are being unreasonable. Murders and thieves don't usually knock on the door, even at 9pm. Look though the peep hole... the window... ask them who they are through the door.

And being kind, if this is something that's making you overly anxious, it may be worth considering if you are an anxious person generally, and looking into ways to tackle that.

Pleased I'm not the only one who gets unnerved by this.

It wouldn't be a neighbour with a parcel as I never had a slip through the door.

Yes this thread is literally identical even the wording!

I can assure you I've never had a thread on here about this. I'm happy to stop posting on here though if there's a thread the same, if someone would possibly link it for me? I was just after some reassurance I suppose as, like I said, I am just feeling a little vulnerable.

I've just come back from visiting family so I'm possibly more anxious tonight as I've got used to having company and I'm now back on my own again.

Yanbu. I understand, OP.

I wouldn’t answer the door after 9 if I was home alone unless I was expecting some one.

A neighbour called at my door a few weeks ago late. He leaned on the door bell for ages - I was in the bath. It was odd behaviour and it really unnerved me.

Turned out he wanted to know why my burglar alarm had triggered the night before (it was only on for a few seconds so I didn’t think anyone would have heard).

If I was in the house alone, I might answer it if it was still daylight at nine. If it was dark , I would either ignore it, or try my sister's trick of opening the door, whilst shouting over her shoulder "Okay, Dave, I'll get it!" to a non- existent male!

YNBU to feel anxious.

Yes, it's far more likely to be a neighbour with a parcel than a mad axe murderer, but it still seems late for an unexpected knock on the door. It would certainly have made me jump and I'm not sure if I would have answered or not.