[Nicole8778]

I used to live in a small secluded town where everybody knew everybody and there was never an issue regarding locking doors and robberies since they would never happen . Anyway, I recently moved to a large city with the fourth highest crime rate in Canada. Being secluded all my life has made me so paranoid of the outside world. My fiancée recently started working night shifts 4 times a week so I stay at home by myself these nights. I hear things constantly and think people break into my house. I have called my fiancée in tears because I literally thought I heard someone breaking into my house, or walking around the house. I can't sleep during these nights which is causing me to have terrible insomnia. I went to the doctor and he said I was just being to paranoid and prescribed my Zopiclone for my insomnia... however, I don't want to drug myself to fall asleep since I am so scared that people are going to break in. I feel like I am becoming delusional, I have terrible anxiety and this fear is starting to take over my life! Any suggestions?

[simoneaugie]

Lack of sleep can make everything seem worse.

Do you have secure bolts on the doors?
Are the windows held shut with sticks/dowels that prevent someone from opening them from the outside?
Is it possible to take a self-defense class?
Do you have a baseball bat near your bed?

Talk to your neighbors, get to know them if possible. Ask if they have ever had their homes broken into. Just because a city has a lot of crime, doesn't necessarily mean that you are targeted.

If you continue to feel scared, get some counselling. You are not crazy. Talk to someone about it in addition to your significant other and the doctor. Preferably someone unbiased. Get ideas.

[Clough]

I agree that sleep deprivation can make things seem a lot worse than they are. I remember when I moved into my present home. I used to leave all of the blinds down because I thought that everyone could see me and was looking...

I was wrong. No one was even looking...

I used to live in an old farm house that was somewhat isolated. Upon moving to my present location in a neighborhood with a lot of people, I was definitely paranoid. It did take me some time to get used to being in a neighborhood that was in much closer proximity than the type of neighborhood to which I had grown accustomed.

There are dangers anywhere. I think that once you have grown accustomed to where you are that your fears will grow to be less and less, just like mine did. I do live in a high crime rate area, by-the-way.

[starbuck8]

I also have reasons to fear for my safety sometimes... for reasons quite different than yours, but safety reasons all the same. I also understand the insomnia.

What measures have you taken to ensure your safety. There are a few things that I do when I feel afraid and I can't sleep.

I assume you don't have an alarm system? If not there are a few other things you can do if you feel like you are in any danger.

--Do you have an auto-remote for your vehicle? If so, press the panic button. (test it out ahead of time to make sure it works from areas in your house) The noise will usually scare someone away, and also alert neighbors. Get to know your neighbors, and ask if
You can have their phone #'s in case of emergency

--Keep a broomstick or some other long device near your smoke detector. You can push the button to set it off if you need to. (also to scare someone away, and alert neighbors)

--Keep your phone with you when you go to bed, and program 911

--Keep a bat or large stick by both front and back doors.

--You may want to consider getting a dog. (both for company and protection)

--Post "Beware of Dog" signs (even if you don't have a dog)

--Post "Crime Stoppers" stickers on your doors and windows (available at police depts)

--Post Stickers on your doors from an alarm company. Some co.'s will give them to
You for free... I printed mine right off the internet from an alarm co.

--Install Sensor Lights outside, and the timer lights inside that you can get for lamps.

--Install good deadbolt locks on your doors, and locks on your windows.

Some or all of these things might put your mind at ease so you can get a good nights sleep. Just think, you said the city in Canada with the "4th" largest crime rate. That means 1/4 of the crime than the other big cities have right?! So think of it as being 4 times safer. ;)

I've lived in Calg. And Edm. and believe me, it's scary for awhile especially if you're alone at night, but it's safer than you think. Just do everything you can to make sure you're safe, and you'll be fine.

[Nicole8778]

Thanks for your responses, I will try some of these --I literally thought I was going crazy!

[Clough]

I couldn't spread the love so soon without giving further reputation, starbuck8. But, I did want to say Excellent Answer!