Sleepless nights..

SleeplessInKtown · ‎08-01-2017

So maybe 2 days ago my house got broken into.. Fairly common thing here in this neck of the woods. There was no sign of forced entry but a significant amount of money stolen. I called my other half who is away in another state to see if he'd come home early and not told me because he was the only person I knew who knew where the money lived and it was the only thing that got taken. He thought I was over tired (I get 3 hrs sleep on average a night when he goes away) he said maybe I took the money and forgot but I couldn't have lost that much money. Any way he's still away and I'm terrified at night. I sleep with the front light on (I live in a unit complex and my neighbours do the same) I only have a front door which is a deadbolt and flyscreen. I lock both and then wedge a chair under my bedroom door and usually sleep with the light on. I started trying to sleep without it on but I suffer from sleep inertia and I see all kinds of things in a half woken state. Any way for the last couple nights I've had horrible nightmares about people being in my room, I'm so anxious and scared that I can't sleep until well after midnight even with guided sleep meditation which normally has me out like a light. And I wake up every hour on the hour and stare at the door. I sweat all night even with the aircon on but I'm too scared to get out from my blanket. And the dreams are so bad I wake up screaming. Everything that goes bump in the night makes me jump. I'm too scared to put headphones in in case I don't hear someone come in. This leaves me exhausted during the day and I sleep all day on my days off. I start work again tomorrow and have 2 jobs to go between until my partner returns.. I can't afford to be this tired and don't know what to do.. At those hours I have no one to call or message..

pipsy · ‎08-01-2017

Hi SleeplessInKtown. You must be terrified and exhausted. Did you call the police? Perhaps a visit to your Dr and also contact the police liaison officer who may be able to suggest a support group, like victims of crime. You need someone to stay with you till your partner returns, is there anybody you could call for this purpose. Do you have a neighborhood watch system in your area? Try calling our helpline for some suggestions on getting assistance. I'm not surprised you feel so scared, it leaves a 'taste' in your mouth knowing someone has been in your home. Also lifeline can be pretty supportive.

Lynda

BballJ · ‎08-01-2017

Hi SleeplessInKtown,

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

Sorry to hear what you are going through, I am also afraid of being home alone for this reason so I understand your fear. Lynda gave some great advice on places you can contact which I highly suggest you take that advice. It isn't an easy thing to overcome either... I generally sleep with the TV on when I'm home alone where if i wake up, that's what I hear first and it calms me. The nightmares are the hardest one because that is your mind just playing tricks on you which is the most annoying. Maybe try putting some music on, not headphones but in the background?

My best for you,

Jay

SleeplessInKtown · ‎11-01-2017

I did contact the police. There's little they can do. I've contacted the real estate who won't change the locks until the police confirm that someone has been in the house. I'm now suffering chronic migraines which are making me literally be sick. Thanks for this advice. All of my friends are mums and can't really help. They're also too busy to even pick up the phone apparently. I've let the grass over grow a little and I can see a patch near the fence where its quite evident that someone jumped the fence... My partner cut his trip short just to come be with me.. I feel really lucky to have him but guilty he feels he had to do that. I'm sleeping OK now but still waking constantly which is waking him up also... I'm still only getting calm and deep sleep during the day 😕

SleeplessInKtown · ‎11-01-2017

Thank you, I'm feeling kind of OK now my partner is home but still scared. I did try the headphones thing but certain pitches or noises upped my anxiety. Like ocean waves were too much but a water trickle was OK, music I couldnt sleep to because of the constant change in tempo

pipsy · ‎11-01-2017

Dear SleeplessInKtown. Is there any reason why you can't change the locks yourself, then change them again if you decide to relocate. Waiting for the police to declare a 'crime scene' is time consuming and you are scared. You are paying to live there, the estate rep cannot enter your home without prior permission, so he wouldn't know if you changed the locks. I imagine as part of your rental agreement, the estate rep probably inspects the unit on a 3 to 6 month basis. He/she would have to contact you to arrange a date and time agreeable to you. You could change the locks when you knew he/she was coming, then re-change them after the inspection. The rep would never know unless, for some reason he/she checks the locks. Do you have a chain on your door? You are entitled to live without fear and this means if you feel it warrants it you can change the locks. Have a check on your agreement and see if you can change the locks if you deem it necessary for safety reasons. I'm sure, under circumstances the police would agree you have the right to feel safe in your home.

Lynda

BballJ · ‎11-01-2017

Hi SleeplessInKtown,

As Pipsy said above, try and maybe change the locks yourself. I asked my agent if I could change the locks personally and I agreed to pay for them too because I didn't feel the locks were good enough and when I am away from work I want my wife to feel safe, they agreed because end of the day the landlord wasn't paying and if its a better lock why would they say no. I made sure to tell them I have cut them a spare key for when they come for an inspection. Just a thought.

My best,

Jay