Even though I am 14, I am scared to be home alone, even if
it is during the day. I am fine when I am babysitting kids at other peoples
houses, but if I am at home alone for more than 5 minutes, I start to freak out
and get really scared and stressed. How can I overcome my fear of being home
alone?
Hey there, hunnie! I’m sorry to hear about your sitch. It’s
totally understandable to be nervous about staying home alone, but if it’s got
ya stressed, something needs to be switched up. Here are some tips to help you
keep your head and stay calm.
Facts first
Here’s the thing – you’re incredibly safe in your own home.
With the windows and doors locked, day or night, you are most likely going to
be fine. Risky actions like staying out late in a sketchy part of town or
ignoring safety precautions like crosswalks are what’ll get you in trouble, not
reading in your bed. If you’ve taken all the safety measures you can, there is
very little chance of anything going wrong. Although these facts might be hard
to stomach, the truth is that you aren’t in any danger.
Keep your cool
Since the real issue here is your anxiety and not your
actual safety, the most important thing is to not freak out. Once the fear
starts, it can be difficult to stay calm. Take deep breaths and try to focus on
doing other activities. Practice piano or study some Spanish – anything to keep
your mind busy. Watch a funny movie or call up a friend to pass the time with
some pseudo-company. If you can enjoy your relaxing time at home, you’ll forget
about your phobias and just have a good time.
And if you can’t get over it…
Talk to a parent or even a therapist about why staying home
alone scares you so much. Your mom or pop might be able to switch around some
scheduling to minimize your time at your house, or be able to calm you down.
Just remember, you have nothing to be scared of. Good luck, chica!
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BY SARAH GOLDBERG ON 8/27/2011 12:00:00 AM
POSTED IN self-esteem, fear