Am I going to get robbed or killed

[boredandgay]

Really need help with this as it's very distressing and getting in the way of my life now (exaggerated title, I know).

I have an awful phobia of having my house broken into, waking up and someone being in my room, someone coming to kill me, or looking out my window at night and seeing a face staring at me, just typing about it is making me so paranoid.

I have had problems in the past with what I think could be considered psychosis but every time I've been to my GP it's been brushed off and I've felt like I'm not being taken seriously.

Every night at 8pm I have to lock all doors and windows and I probably check they're still locked every half hour until I go to bed, curtains have to be drawn when it gets dark but I have to pull them so someone outside couldn't get the slightest peek inside.

I have no one around me other than my disabled mother who is extremely unwell herself so I don't want to stress her out with my problems, I'm just feeling very vulnerable and unsafe

Couldn't you get the dog and have it with you in bedroom?
From shelter perhaps- it may help you feel safer?
Dogs are very protective and have a good hearing.

Find the IAPT service for your local area by doing a search online. You may be able to self-refer to them and they should be able to offer you CBT without you having to go back to your GP.

Don’t get a dog just to make you feel safe - it might not help, it might make it worse. This is a mental health issue and you need to talk it through with a medicinal professional.

Dogs are very expensive pets - so if money is tight it will only make matters worse.

I hope you are getting some sleep tonight. Try and stop any compulsive thoughts - it hard but you can learn to recognise them and distract yourself.

Op you talk about having had undiagnosed psychosis. What did you mean by this?

Think of a safe a relaxing place - imagine yourself there. Mine is my back garden on a summers day.

Think through how you feel in this relaxing safe space - and then think about every muscle i your body relaxing. Start in your shoulders and work down to your toes.

Breathe deeply.

I'm so sorry to go havnt helped so far. You deserve the proper help and support you need.

Keep pushing them, ask to see different ones, ask to be refered to someone specialising in mental health - its a bore but don't give up because the help you need is out there and it will make So much difference

I had this after I'd been burgled so the fear isn't always unfounded. I left a window wide open btw, which was stupid of me and an open invitation.
Fake security alarms are cheap and would put off many a would-be burglar if they think they're being filmed. The last thing they want is a recall to jail.
Also, most burglars do it it to fund drug habits. It's not personal, they want to grab what they can and be out quick- not to be waking homeowners. I've worked with offenders and have been told by a few on asking what they would do if disturbed and they said they would not attack, but run off.

@clairemcnam I might be completely wrong about the psychosis evaluation but from what I've read-- (googled--) it seemed to be accurate, I would always think everyone around me hated me and was plotting against me, I would hear voices saying bad things, I believed if I didn't do things that something bad would happen (written in above comment)

@JosephineHass I do have a dog but she's not the guard dog type, as my mother has carers different people are in and out of the house everyday and she's always giddy and happy, having her in my room with me makes me feel a little less scared but then I worry if someone would do something to her - it's a catch 22

Hope you got some sleep last night🌺

Hi OP, I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I'm not going to armchair diagnose you over the internet, but what I will say is I am in recovery from OCD and a lot of what you have said is familiar. I bought this amazing book which really helped when I was starting treatment, it's called The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD, from OCDLA. It's a great starting point, and you can get it on kindle/whatever through amazon. I also think you might benefit from googling 'magical thinking' and seeing if that fits with anything.

Thank you for all your help guys.