not-so-adorable neuroses

I am scared to be alone.  Not in the "I'll die a spinster!" kind of way, but in the "even a 4-year old would suffice to protect me against the boogie man!" kind of way.

I cannot sleep in a house alone, even with Sophie because she's as creeped out at the house noises as I am.

So, because I will have to spend quite a bit of time while my fiance is studying to become a big-time lawyer in a far-away state, I am quite nervous.

I made an appointment to see my doctor, who believes in alternative medicine over most other remedies, to see if I needed to get on some kind of mood-altering perscription.  I should also divulge that if he does not give me any sort of medication, I will go back to my old ways of drinking a bunch of cough syrup or taking Tylenol PM at 10pm.  The only problem is that I'm exhausted in the mornings.

My requirements for the magical pill is: allow me to go to sleep and not realize that I'm alone, allow me to wake up feeling refreshed, do not make me depressed, do not make me gain weight, and do not make me dependent on the pill.

That rules out cough syrup, Tylenol PM, bourbon, wine, sleeping pills and pot.

Anyone have any suggestions for just plain getting over the fear of being alone?  I probably should go to a psychiatrist, but that requires money and you, my internet friends are free!

Comments

[-R-]

I like to have some kind of background noise, like a fan, so that I don't hear all the little house settling noises. Maybe a white noise machine would help.

[Sailor]

I have one of those white noise machines, and it works great. It was like $20 from Target, so it is more expensive than your internet friends, though.

[Shannen]

I'm not afraid of being alone...I'm actually married w/3 daughters, but I have had major insomnia for most of my life. I hate sleeping pills because they make me really groggy and if one of my daughters wakes up in the night, I just plain don't hear them. So, to be honest with you, I take 1/2 a Xanax (bad bad me, I know, I've heard it all) each night before bed. I fall asleep almost immediately, but if I have to wake up in the night, I can. I also wake up the next morning refreshed and in a really good mood! People say they are so addicting but that's just not my personality...I've like never had the urge to take them in any other situation or to even increase the dosage (there also great for flying cuz I'm terrified of flying and I sleep right through it.) Just my 2 cents :) Congrats on your engagement, I've been following your blog for a long time!

[Boozie]

Now we're talking, Shannen! 1/2 of a pill sounds just fine and dandy to me and waking up refreshed is even better!

[Eden]

Listen to music, something quieting like classical, and when it shuts off, you'll be asleep.

[Heidi Flash]

Learn how to shoot a gun - then go out and buy one (or two)!

[blu]

Its just a matter of confidence--the more you sleep alone, the easier it will become. I remember when I bought my first house I didn't sleep for a week. Then I got used to the sounds and slept like a baby. Hang in there.

[blu]

Its just a matter of confidence--the more you sleep alone, the easier it will become. I remember when I bought my first house I didn't sleep for a week. Then I got used to the sounds and slept like a baby. Hang in there.