Scared of being alone

Galsal · Post by **Galsal** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:09 am

So new twist to my anxiety is I now get freaked out being alone, even in my own home. Does anyone else have anything like this. About two weeks ago I was at work alone and it was getting dark and since then I avoid being alone and at dark its soo much worse. Would love to hear that I am not the only one.

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:34 am

Galsal omg that's what im dealing with right now. i have the hardest time being home alone and its starting to annoy me so much! i know that you're supposed to try to distract yourself from the fact that you're homealone so you don't think about it. I try doing yoga sometimes or doing my relaxation. It helps sometimes so I'd try that, but you're not alone in the being scared of being alone lol

bevhembree · Post by **bevhembree** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:11 pm

I have alot of trouble with being home alone as well, always have. I do "face the fear and do it anyway". I would be really interested in hearing from a graduate of the program to chime in on this. Anyone?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:30 pm

Galsal, I was dealing with not wanting to be alone for the past 4 months. I would not want to be home alone or be at work alone. I would not do anything that involved me being alone, like driving, shopping, anything. My test came last week when my boyfriend had to go out of town for business so I had to stay at home with my 7 year old alone the entire night. I had not been alone at home overnight in 4 months. I worked myself up the entire day and ended up have really bad anxiety all day. When night came it got worse. My first reaction was to call 911, but felt stupid b/c I knew I was fine, just anxious and panicky. So I went to my bedroom and sat down and told myself I would be fine...I went in my sons room and started occupying myself playing with him and the next thing I knew hours had passed and I was fine. My advice to you is to try not to think about the fact that you are alone, it only makes it worse. Keep yourself busy and your mind on other things beside the fact that you are alone and relax and tell yourself you will be fine. Someone told me this when I first started feeling this way and I did not want to believe them. But I finally realized I did not want to feel this way much longe so I tried it. It has really helped me. I hope this helps you as well.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:58 pm

I know exactly how you feel. My fiance was just moved to the night shift at the police department and now I am home alone week nights with our little dog. Our house was broken into a few weeks back and I have been a nervous wreck since then. I keep thinking that the person that did this to us is going to come back and plan some sort of an assault on the dog and I during the nighttime. I HATE being home alone, especially at night. My anxiety has gotten to the point that I can only fall asleep for 15 minutes at a time and then my body wakes itself back up again in fright. This has been really hard on me the last few weeks because I have to get up early and work 10-12 hour shifts during the week days. The sleep deprivation and stress has caused severe migraines the last two days and I've had to take time off work because of it. I feel like I am falling apart this holiday season.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that my mom may come into town soon to stay with me. She doesn't like being alone at night either.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:03 pm

I know exactly the way that you feel.I hate begin alone and have to have someone with me every minute or im scared.I used to have panic attacks when i was a teenager and they just started coming back.I've been with my sons father for 8 years and have been having problems with him.He refuses to work and has a substance problem.It seems like everytime i get around him i start to feel very anxious and nervous.I still feel alittle panicky when hes not around but not as bad.I'm a single mother of 2 kids,having to deal with my problems and his to is just to overwelming that i think that it drives me crazy.I just want to get better im sick of feeling the way that i do.The doctor gave me pills but im afraid to take them.I would like to try to deal with my problems without having to depend on pills to make me happy.I don't think that pills are always the answer.I can't even drive or do anything because i get very panicky.I hope that i can get over this anxiety and fear so i can go back to living a healthy and normal life.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:24 pm

I too know you how you fell diamond-krisssy. I used to have a drug problem and after I got off of them thats when my anxiety started. I am a single mother of 3. My boyfriend just thinks I'm crazy. I also don't drive or function like I should, but the program has started to help. Just stick in there. I now perfer to be alone. Good Luck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:20 pm

I have been where you are, but trust me - there will soon come a time you will begin to feel more confident. You might even start to enjoy time to yourself. In the tape series Lucinda talks about becoming your own "safe person". When I was really struggling with anxiety, I was constantly calling my husband or friends on the phone when I was experiencing anxious/depressing/scary thoughts. Somehow I felt better knowing that someone else knew - just incase "something horrible" would happen to me. (Who knows what that something horrible would be?) My doctor suggested that if I really was afraid to be alone, I should have a friend or family member come over to spend time with me. Fortunately, I have some awesome friends and family, so I started having someone come over to talk, walk, go shopping or to lunch. It wasn't easy at first, but soon my conversations became less centered on my anxiety issues. I realized that I could spend my mental energy on more pleasant things. Within a couple of weeks I stopped needing to call someone and found myself taking walks alone, doing things around the house and feeling very comfortable and safe. I encourage you to start somewhere - tell yourself you can do it and think positively. There is an awesome verse in the Bible about our thoughts: Philippians 4:2 "...whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."