Advice about anxiety, please

[hilwithonelary]

I just want to talk for a minute.

I've had anxiety about being alone at home for awhile, but it seems to have escalated in the past few months.

DH works late (getting home anywhere from 1-3 am) about once a week. I absolutely cannot fall asleep when he's gone no matter how exhausted I am. I'm terrified of a break in. Just now , I heard a bunch of sirens in the distance, and my first thought was that there was a horrible home invasion somewhere and now the criminal is on the run. I'm sure this fear will be running through my head the rest of the evening.

If the house is quiet, every little sound makes my heart race. If I turn on white noise, I panic that I won't hear something happen.

I get anxious some other times, but nothing compares to this out of control feeling I get late at night when DH is gone. I don't even know what I'd expect him to do in a break in, but for some reason I feel calm when he's here. Sheesh, typing that out makes me feel like some immature beebee. I swear I wasn't always this way. I lived on my own in an apartment without having these fears.

I think I need to get some help, but I'm not sure where to go. I have no interest in taking anxiety medication while I'm home alone with my kids. Can therapy help me deal with these feelings better? Or does anyone have some tips or know of a good self help book ?

[yellowbrkrd]

I'm sorry. I used to go through similar thoughts when DH was OOT. Oddly enough, this is the only place we've lived that I haven't once had that feeling. I have no explanation or reason. But for some reason this house makes me feel safe. I know that's not helpful, I guess I'm just sharing bc I definitely know what that feels like.

[livinitup]

You are having a completely normal reaction to feelings of isolations and vulnerability.

You know that, right?

This is how it someone feels when anyone is alone, and isolated, with children.

Get protection or medication. What ever you think is safer. I, personally, don't think I am safer with a fire arm in the home. I think I am MUCH safer with a Xanax most times.

[Deleted]

A little anxiety in this situation is normal (I'm putting off going to bed right now because DH is out and I tend to sleep poorly when I know he'll be home "soon"). You sound like it's impacting your life negatively, though, and that's the point where you want to have a conversation with your doctor. If you'd rather avoid drugs, this sounds like the kind of thing therapy can absolutely help you with - targeted therapy can help you get out of these negative thought spirals.

(hugs)

[lolo]

My sister has this kind of anxiety. She saw a therapist who helped her cope without meds. Sometimes she relapses and gives her therapist a call. Overall, though, she feels she has techniques to use when facing those feelings.