Fear of anything strange

[Silmarwen18]

Hello

I am scared of anything that is unfamilar or strange.
I dont like crowds, I hate meeting new people because im scraed to be judged and I hate being surrounded by people who are total strangers to me. Even if im with my boyfriend, the absolute love of my life whom i totally trust to protect me, I am nervous as f**** around strangers and being in unfamiliar places. I love the surroundings of my house and the lake near by but sometimes im even uneasy in my own home. I almost constantly feel like someone is going to try and break in and hurt me, or rape or something and at night I cant sleep with the door shut in the pitch black darkness because Im afraid someone/thing will try to hurt me. Im always chekcing corners, doors and in wardrobes and under beds incase theres something there. I cant ever have any doors or windows open when im home alone and I refuse to have earphones in or have any noise louder then my ability to hear over it because im constantly scared something is going to harm me. I have nightmares and always wake up feeling like I havent slept at all.

And whats worst about all of it.... Im still at home with my parents and even at night when they are home, if they go to bed before me Im terrified of what might come out to haunt/hurt me now that they are sleeping.

I aometimes even feel like im being stalked.... I dont know what to do!!!


Help!!!

[TheEditor]

I agree with Kev.

It sounds like he's done some CBT!

What scares you? Why? Is it real, or is it something you're blowing out of proportion?

I work for a newspaper and for a week every year when I have to write about the flu I scrub my hands constantly with anti-bacterial gel. I get my flu shot and I'm otherwise healthy, so chances of me getting the flu are actually quite low. But that bug (haha) gets in my head and I can't get it out (OCDish).

Learn how to breathe, how to accept the natural beauty of things - a busy street, a calm lake, whatever it may be.

[alankay]

Hi, it's pretty clear your having anxiety of a variation unique to you as I did/do. I'd visit your dr. and talk it over. CBT is great but takes time and work so as you doing that I'd ask him about maybe a 6 month trail of say, zoloft, celexa or other ssri. I say this because at the core it's alllllll anxiety. The form does matter so much, the treatment is more similar that different. An important part if that you know it's irrational fear and not real/justified. FEAR/WORRY that someone might hurt/stalk you is different from actually believing they are and you and your doc need to know which is the case. In any case a visit to your GP and an honest talk with him will be the best first step.