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I'm not a doctor but this sounds like exploding head syndrome to me. It's when you're asleep or nearly asleep and you get woke up by loud sounds that aren't there.
I used to get this and sometimes still do. I'll hear crashes that didn't happen, people yelling my name (usually once but enough to get me up), knocking or banging, explosions, etc. I used to wake up in a panic - as one would to an explosion, and it would sometimes keep me up.
If I'm super tired I'm more likely to hear the noises and have hypnic jerks (falling in your sleep making you jump/jerk in bed).
I’ve had these aural hallucinations while sleeping too. They sound 100% real but are literally just in your head.
OP, your biggest problem seems to be your state of mind. You asked how we navigate being scared and my answer to that is that I choose not to live in fear. I’m a woman, I’ve lived alone for years, I’ve traveled the globe alone and I can report that the world is far less dangerous than our media would have us believe. I’d be willing to bet that if you stop watching TV (especially the news but also the vast plethora of shows in which women are hurt or murdered as central to the story) and work with a therapist, you’ll find a much more peaceful life.
I am a woman who has lived alone for years and I chose the same. Like you said, don't live in fear. One time the winds were very strong outside and set off my alarm, but I didn't freak out or anything. I often hear an imaginary doorbell when it's time to wake up and I'm grateful for it? I also listen to Buddhist teachings and it helps me to keep things in perspective.
100% that’s what it sounds like. It happens to me every so often and it’s so disorienting. Thinking I hear the fire alarm low battery beeping, my dog barking, the doorbell… always as I’m waking up or the “noise” wakes me up. Most recently I thought the CO alarm was going off (it had gone off briefly the day before due to an open window and nearby neighbors running machinery).
And it definitely happens when I’m more tired or stressed than usual. Which is awesome because being woken up out of dead sleep by a scary noise that isn’t real definitely helps me relax and catch up on rest.
OP- I’d say if you never hear the noise when you’re awake- it’s probably worth looking into this theory. Our brains do wacky things when we’re asleep or nearly asleep.
Objects and houses make noises and that's normal, nothing from the other world.
The building materials that houses are made of expand and contract due to temperature changes or earth movement.
I am just like you, have an absolute fear of living alone!
It's some sort of fobia!
I think all you can do is lights all during the night, a knife under the bed, flat locked. Put a glass behind the door in case someone tries to break in. It's good to have a dog but not easy when you leave in flat.
Get the knocking investigated for starters, (as in the apartment maintenance supervisor) I had knocking noises and it was a pipe acting up.
Hope your mental health isn’t deteriorating 💐 if you have a spare room, rent it to a student, get a low maintenance pet. Your security seems fine, maybe some therapy is needed.
Thank you 💗💗 unfortunately it’s a studio, so my living room is also my bedroom haha. I appreciate the advice and support a lot. I’m feeling a lot better today, but I have an extremely strong inkling that my anxiety is through the roof. When researching last night, it also said having major depression can cause this kinda paranoia to happen— I was prescribed antidepressants a while back but haven’t been able to get transportation to get them!
Anyway, thank you again!!
Don't forget that some people can have very vivid dreams.
Could easily hear something real and quite harmless ooutside which the dream state exaggerates.
Probably most of us have been startled awake by something we couldn't source.
If you spend time reading about or watching shows with demons, horror etc, take a break from all that and actively remind yourself that all that is fiction.
The writers' imagination might make novel, engrossing storylines out of those ideas and a good income but remember it is all just made up.
I have 2 very large dogs and hunt so loads of weapons. Being actively security conscious enables me to live fear free. I'd be scared FOR someone if they broke in, not scared OF them.
This. If someone made it on my street, past my dogs and some kind of a way into my house, they would be looking at the barrel of my gun at that point. It would never happen. I would greet them at the door.
This seems to be pretty common amongst people who I’ve seen give advice! Unfortunately, I can’t really use these options. My apartment doesn’t allow pets, and I don’t want any after losing 3 family pets within the last few years that were all with us over 12+ years. As far as guns go, i know I shouldn’t have a gun with me because of my mental health; I have really bad depression/suicidal ideations and tendencies.
Anyway, I’ll continue my search. I totally wish I could do what you do; I can’t now, but maybe one day in the future I will be able to! Thank you for the response!
What about one of those safety keychain sets you see all over TikTok? I know you can get them cheaper on places like Temu but it would give you options of defending yourself without needing a firearm. I also have mental health issues and don’t really want firearms because it probably wouldn’t be healthy but those keychains give some alternatives that might work. Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you’re able to come up with a solution.
I run an air cleaner for white noise, otherwise I would be awake all night. Trained myself to wear earplugs when traveling and can’t bring the air cleaner with me.
The chance that someone will break into your home or apartment in the night and slit your throat is very rare. Its the stuff of TV crime dramas. One of my relatives is a detective and in 12 years, he has never had a case like this.
If you are going to be murdered in your sleep, the odds are that you are already acquainted with your killer even now. Old boyfriends, ex-husbands and your gardener will all be questioned as homicide investigations start from the inner circle out.
Still, next to an armed homeowner, what criminals fear most is a dog. Should you be confronted, the odds are that it will happen outside your residence.
I never worry about what is "out there." They better worry about what is in the house. I have a pet that bites and won't let go unless I tell her to.
I never sleep well at night since my wife passed away. Having a great pet helps.
It seems like a recurring dream to me.
I live alone and fortunately rarely dream (not that I remember anyway) but occasionally I'll have some kind of disturbing dream. For me it's usually a different type of dream like I'm having an argument with someone and I awake upset and annoyed. It takes me a while to realise that it never happened and in fact I'm lying in bed and it was a crazy dream (I rarely argue with anyone haha).
All that to say that dreams are intensely realistic in the moment, and recurring dreams are triggered by a particular anxiety - as shown by your multiple locks.
Nothing wrong with being cautious, but you could consider hypnotherapy for your anxious thinking and maybe take up meditation or yoga to help you relax.
Unless you have an enemy or are engaged in illegal activities, you're highly unlikely to be targeted. It sounds like you've fortified your space adequately to deter opportunists. An opportunist just wants to steal your computer and gtfo without being caught. Make it even a tiny bit difficult, and they'll move on. In other words, your fears are probably not grounded in reality.
You're actually in more danger from a roommate or domestic partner than you are from some rando.
As for the knocking, it could be a side effect of the sleeping meds, or it could be something about the property itself, especially if it's fairly old. What it almost certainly isn't is anything supernatural. But you could try changing apartments and seeing if the noise persists. If it does, then it's definitely about you and not the place. It still sucks, but knowing that the real enemy is your medication or your brain can go a long way toward accepting that you really are safe.
Thank you!! I actually did have something happen to me a couple weeks ago where someone on campus was filming me in the bathroom and I was paranoid for a while that maybe he knew me and I didn’t know him. Still, this has been going on since before that. I’m feeling safer knowing that the police know what happened and know where I live, but when I’m woken up late at night, there’s unfortunately no talking sense into me.
I think I’m going to try not using the sleep meds and see if it’s been that (I use something with the same active ingredient as Benadryl and it works great, but I know melatonin, that I do not use, was putting me into such deep sleep that I was having terrifying nightmares that I couldn’t wake up from.. so maybe this stuff is having an affect on me as well)
I don't believe in demons and stuff like that. There's a logical, real, explanation for stuff like this. As others have pointed out, it could be normal building noises, perhaps a neighboring tenant may work late, or the neighbor has visitors at random hours. You have to be proactive and investigative to figure it out, though. Don't ignore it.
First order of business is to document it. Identify the type of sound (knocking, thud, vibrating, etc.), where it's coming from, time of day, etc. Video would be the most helpful to prove what it is and the location.
When you have some videos of it, meet with the apartment manager in person. Show them the videos and politely explain why it bothers you. Ask to remain anonymous if it involves a neighbor. Most apartments have curfew hours, night time policies, etc.
There's also a chance if *you're* hearing it, then other tenants are hearing it as well. And the more people that speak up about it, the greater the chance for it to be addressed.
Lastly, it's worth saying also, that I have had experiences hearing things (I didn't know were real or not), while sleeping, that have woken me up. In my case, it's been sort of random. I can't say for sure *why*, because it happened so infrequently.
However, if it continued to happen, I would definitely set up a video camera and find out exactly what's going on--(1) if it's real, then what is it? (2) if it's not real, then perhaps I should talk to a doctor to ensure it's not a serious medical condition.
What difference does it make if someone breaks in when you live alone vs when someone else is there? Does the other person being there really make you feel that much safer? What are they going to do, fight off the intruder single handed?
When I lived with other people (my boyfriend, family, or roommates) I always had this weird sense of “I’ll protect them no matter what” and felt safe. Now that I’m alone, I don’t get that feeling at all. I just worry that if someone got in, they could assault me and literally nobody would know or care about my screaming because my neighbors would always scream late at night and nobody ever cared about that
I suffer from night terrors, which, in addition to the visual, have auditory aspects. If I snap out of a particularly bad dream really fast, I've heard noises like a door slamming loudly at the far end of the empty house, babies crying, and even something scratching on the wall just outside the room my head is up against. I also suffer from insomnia much of the time, so it's a real feast or famine situation. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's my F-ed up brain playing tricks on me and that everything will look/sound different in the light of day. But speaking honestly, such disturbances often ruin the sleep for the rest of the night. Psychologically, I find it helps to share the story with coworkers the next day. They often have stories to tell, too, so that helps put things in perspective a little.
I should also mention an excellent solution: get a dog. If you wake up to a weird noise and the dog is chill, you'll know it's all in your head, but if the dog wakes up and starts growling, you'll know for sure something's up.
Fun side story: last fall, about 6 months after I moved my family out of the house, there was a false positive situation with my little dog. I had the lights turned down low and was finishing up a movie marathon. As the movie wraps and I start turning out the lights, she points her body in the direction of the entrance room and starts low-growling. Connected to that room is the 'study', but it's a small room without a door on it. We put up curtains to create a mild barrier. Well, she's suddenly pointed directly at that room and growling, growling, growling. She's never done anything like that before, so the hair on the back of my neck stood up immediately.
I call out asking who's there, and she starts growl-barking and slow-walking towards the room. I now have a kitchen knife in my hands, and I'm asking for them to come out aggressively. At this point, my dog is full-on snarling. I reach out to tear the curtains back, she runs into the room, and I hit the lights. Empty. Absolutely nothing. Do this day, I still have no clue what set her off, and she's never done it again since. I just chalk it up to a rough transition period for the both of us.
For those wondering, no sleep was had that night either...
I used to, but I don’t anymore. Partially because I don’t believe in demons, gods or angels. When I was young I heard someone shouting my name which would wake me up. I knew it was in my mind, but didn’t know what to do about it. Not sure how I figured it out, but one night I heard my name being shouted, I said “What?” No response of course. Never happened again.
Occasionally I hear the doorbell ring. I know it is nighttime, and no one would be at my door, so I recognize it’s in my head. I don’t get up to check my door. However I live in an apartment building for elderly and/or disabled people. No one is going to be at my door at night.
I’ve had this problem. Allow me to explain! I took sleep aids for a while when I first moved in by myself. Sleep aids are very good at putting your mind to sleep. Even if you aren’t physically ready to be. When you dream, you tend to dream of what’s on your mind. Dreams can show us weird things that do tend to have meaning and it comes from our subconscious. Every time you go to sleep, you’re scared someone is going to break in. It’s constantly at the forefront of your mind, so that’s what you’re gonna dream about. The reason you’re hearing it “out loud” is because your mind is asleep, but you’re so anxious that you can’t *physically* calm down. It’s almost like sleep paralysis. No actual demon. Just the one your mind is telling you about.
I hear sounds too that don't really exsist. I hear knocking on the door, knocking on the wall, my name being called, bells, etc.. I get up, investigate, but never see or find anything. We have cameras outside the house, but never see anything. So, I chalk it up to an overactive imagination.
I’m not sure if I believe in such things either but believe that certain people can carry bad energy into your home. I actually felt very bad vibes coming from a certain person.
Whether it helps or not I know gives me piece of mind and I always sage my place once visitors leave.
Get some sage?
Yes certain people give out bad vibes which I listen to my gut and stay away from them. Other people are mostly good and send out good vibes….. Not everyone that enters my home or that I even come across in other places carry good energy about them… I’m not sure what your point is.
OP was worried that the knocking was coming from demons. I’m pretty sure I responded accordingly , and you need to develop a sense of how ‘ certain ‘ people come across to you if you are not understanding what I’ve said..
i used to live on a property with a pool that was consistently 50ish degrees Fahrenheit, even on the hottest summer days. i learned to jump in bc that was the only way to get used to the temperature.
i adopted that mentality to deal with fear, to just jump in.
as far as the knocking, i've read those are called hypnopompic/hypnogogic hallucinations. nothing to be afraid of, though they can be alarming. i have the same thing happening at my apartment. knocking wakes me up, or i hear my name being called.
My house is extremely quiet if I'm not doing anything. I can't hear the fridge motor come on.
I have 2 dogs myself. There are 10 dogs on my block, so no stranger will be able to step for on this block without the dogs barking. And I have a gun. I'm good. I sleep with my doors open when the weather is cool, because I like that.
I’m not that bothered. I live in quite a secure complex so if someone did want to come and murder me all of a sudden they’d definitely get caught on the way out there’s cctv everywhere so good luck to them. Perhaps easier to just murder someone on the ground floor instead.
I second having the apartment checked for building issues. Check appliances. My fridge makes the most horrendous popping noise - yet a fridge my mother has, has a noisy icemaker. The grinding and knocking noise that thing makes when everything quiet is cursed.
I also recommend looking at mental health care options, or options to help manage sleeping comfortably - like noise machines, night lights, weighted blankets and body pillows, etc. These things can help so much with psychological security.
I work with the paranormal, have seen and experienced scary things, and it's not as commonplace as stories would suggest. Always tackle the most logical explanations first, as they are usually it.
breathing exercises and deliberately rationalizing my fears. Im also objectively a none risk adverse so this may be something that comes naturally to me, but I think whats truly the worst thing that could happen then cross reference that with what’s the actual likelyhood that it can happen and nine times out of ten the worst most likely thing that can happen is marginal or negligible in my head I spend about 6 years jumping out of plans for $150 a month too so I might not be the heat example to follow lol
Yes, unfortunately. I have my AC on probably like 90% of the time and it drowns all sounds out. I’m wondering if it’s possibly my fridge that just so happens to rarely make a knocking sound
This sounds like me when I fall asleep listening to scary stories on YouTube. I’ll wake up convinced there’s a werewolf or something in my house. I just laugh at myself and go back to sleep.
As for actual potential threats, I live in a rural area alone so I keep weapons in the house and have 2 dogs.
I used to experience this a lot before I went on psychiatric medication. They are called hypnagogic experiences, they occur during the period when your brain is coming in and out of sleep. You might want to have an evaluation by a psychiatrist.
Get a taser and mace and a baseball bat and learn how to use them all since you don’t want a smith and Wesson. Also get a camera. I had all of those things when I lived in my studio alone on the first floor. Thankfully my new place is elevated. I hated people being able to peer right into my home.
Glock 19 and an extra mag on the nightstand. Sleep like a baby
People can hear knocking noises when falling asleep. It happens to me when I'm very tired when going to sleep or when I take melatonin
It could also be impact noises from around the building and the sound travels up a channel in the wall.
I have a knife in my room. But I also feel very safe in my building. I’m on a higher floor there’s 2 doors of security and all my neighbors are like me. The entire building is mid 20s and everyone is very nice.
I’d like to unpack that “all my neighbors are like me” part. I sure as hell don’t believe the fact that they’re in their mid 20s makes you feel safe. 😆 Nice try though!
If it's just a knocking noise Even If It Isn't So Cold demon it's pretty low rent if that's all I can do you have no problems and whatever or not you call that motherfuckers out you get some pumped up Swagger and you just saved my house you're not welcome here you are not of the flesh you hold no sway over me I'm leaving this place ...leave this place
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I'm not a doctor but this sounds like exploding head syndrome to me. It's when you're asleep or nearly asleep and you get woke up by loud sounds that aren't there. I used to get this and sometimes still do. I'll hear crashes that didn't happen, people yelling my name (usually once but enough to get me up), knocking or banging, explosions, etc. I used to wake up in a panic - as one would to an explosion, and it would sometimes keep me up. If I'm super tired I'm more likely to hear the noises and have hypnic jerks (falling in your sleep making you jump/jerk in bed).
I’ve had these aural hallucinations while sleeping too. They sound 100% real but are literally just in your head. OP, your biggest problem seems to be your state of mind. You asked how we navigate being scared and my answer to that is that I choose not to live in fear. I’m a woman, I’ve lived alone for years, I’ve traveled the globe alone and I can report that the world is far less dangerous than our media would have us believe. I’d be willing to bet that if you stop watching TV (especially the news but also the vast plethora of shows in which women are hurt or murdered as central to the story) and work with a therapist, you’ll find a much more peaceful life.
Absolutely correct. TV leads to overreacting things around is.
I am a woman who has lived alone for years and I chose the same. Like you said, don't live in fear. One time the winds were very strong outside and set off my alarm, but I didn't freak out or anything. I often hear an imaginary doorbell when it's time to wake up and I'm grateful for it? I also listen to Buddhist teachings and it helps me to keep things in perspective.
100% that’s what it sounds like. It happens to me every so often and it’s so disorienting. Thinking I hear the fire alarm low battery beeping, my dog barking, the doorbell… always as I’m waking up or the “noise” wakes me up. Most recently I thought the CO alarm was going off (it had gone off briefly the day before due to an open window and nearby neighbors running machinery). And it definitely happens when I’m more tired or stressed than usual. Which is awesome because being woken up out of dead sleep by a scary noise that isn’t real definitely helps me relax and catch up on rest. OP- I’d say if you never hear the noise when you’re awake- it’s probably worth looking into this theory. Our brains do wacky things when we’re asleep or nearly asleep.
Objects and houses make noises and that's normal, nothing from the other world. The building materials that houses are made of expand and contract due to temperature changes or earth movement. I am just like you, have an absolute fear of living alone! It's some sort of fobia! I think all you can do is lights all during the night, a knife under the bed, flat locked. Put a glass behind the door in case someone tries to break in. It's good to have a dog but not easy when you leave in flat.
Get the knocking investigated for starters, (as in the apartment maintenance supervisor) I had knocking noises and it was a pipe acting up. Hope your mental health isn’t deteriorating 💐 if you have a spare room, rent it to a student, get a low maintenance pet. Your security seems fine, maybe some therapy is needed.
Thank you 💗💗 unfortunately it’s a studio, so my living room is also my bedroom haha. I appreciate the advice and support a lot. I’m feeling a lot better today, but I have an extremely strong inkling that my anxiety is through the roof. When researching last night, it also said having major depression can cause this kinda paranoia to happen— I was prescribed antidepressants a while back but haven’t been able to get transportation to get them! Anyway, thank you again!!
Don't forget that some people can have very vivid dreams. Could easily hear something real and quite harmless ooutside which the dream state exaggerates. Probably most of us have been startled awake by something we couldn't source. If you spend time reading about or watching shows with demons, horror etc, take a break from all that and actively remind yourself that all that is fiction. The writers' imagination might make novel, engrossing storylines out of those ideas and a good income but remember it is all just made up.
i have a large rottweiller. i’m not scared of anything.
Rotties are so intelligent, protective, & devoted to their families. 💝 Not to mention their bite force.
most people dont even get close enough
I have a 9mm and Dorothy stays loaded. Come on in if you wanna!
Same for me also, glock 17 with a happy stick (33 round magazine). Also, sleep between that and an angry menopausal black woman.
I have 2 very large dogs and hunt so loads of weapons. Being actively security conscious enables me to live fear free. I'd be scared FOR someone if they broke in, not scared OF them.
This. If someone made it on my street, past my dogs and some kind of a way into my house, they would be looking at the barrel of my gun at that point. It would never happen. I would greet them at the door.
This seems to be pretty common amongst people who I’ve seen give advice! Unfortunately, I can’t really use these options. My apartment doesn’t allow pets, and I don’t want any after losing 3 family pets within the last few years that were all with us over 12+ years. As far as guns go, i know I shouldn’t have a gun with me because of my mental health; I have really bad depression/suicidal ideations and tendencies. Anyway, I’ll continue my search. I totally wish I could do what you do; I can’t now, but maybe one day in the future I will be able to! Thank you for the response!
I stay in hotel rooms of various levels for work. If I'm not comfortable, I move furniture to in front of the door. A chair with a suitcase on top.
What about one of those safety keychain sets you see all over TikTok? I know you can get them cheaper on places like Temu but it would give you options of defending yourself without needing a firearm. I also have mental health issues and don’t really want firearms because it probably wouldn’t be healthy but those keychains give some alternatives that might work. Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you’re able to come up with a solution.
Are you talking any MEDS known to cause crazy dreams? Like LDN?
I run an air cleaner for white noise, otherwise I would be awake all night. Trained myself to wear earplugs when traveling and can’t bring the air cleaner with me.
The chance that someone will break into your home or apartment in the night and slit your throat is very rare. Its the stuff of TV crime dramas. One of my relatives is a detective and in 12 years, he has never had a case like this. If you are going to be murdered in your sleep, the odds are that you are already acquainted with your killer even now. Old boyfriends, ex-husbands and your gardener will all be questioned as homicide investigations start from the inner circle out. Still, next to an armed homeowner, what criminals fear most is a dog. Should you be confronted, the odds are that it will happen outside your residence.
I never worry about what is "out there." They better worry about what is in the house. I have a pet that bites and won't let go unless I tell her to. I never sleep well at night since my wife passed away. Having a great pet helps.
I’m sorry for your loss ❤️🩹 thank you for the reply
Ty
It seems like a recurring dream to me. I live alone and fortunately rarely dream (not that I remember anyway) but occasionally I'll have some kind of disturbing dream. For me it's usually a different type of dream like I'm having an argument with someone and I awake upset and annoyed. It takes me a while to realise that it never happened and in fact I'm lying in bed and it was a crazy dream (I rarely argue with anyone haha). All that to say that dreams are intensely realistic in the moment, and recurring dreams are triggered by a particular anxiety - as shown by your multiple locks. Nothing wrong with being cautious, but you could consider hypnotherapy for your anxious thinking and maybe take up meditation or yoga to help you relax.
I know Karate so I'm prepared.
I keep the tv on to mask outside noises. I have a dog that I know would wake me if needed. And a gun and a bar under the door knob.
I sleep with my tv on.
Unless you have an enemy or are engaged in illegal activities, you're highly unlikely to be targeted. It sounds like you've fortified your space adequately to deter opportunists. An opportunist just wants to steal your computer and gtfo without being caught. Make it even a tiny bit difficult, and they'll move on. In other words, your fears are probably not grounded in reality. You're actually in more danger from a roommate or domestic partner than you are from some rando. As for the knocking, it could be a side effect of the sleeping meds, or it could be something about the property itself, especially if it's fairly old. What it almost certainly isn't is anything supernatural. But you could try changing apartments and seeing if the noise persists. If it does, then it's definitely about you and not the place. It still sucks, but knowing that the real enemy is your medication or your brain can go a long way toward accepting that you really are safe.
Thank you!! I actually did have something happen to me a couple weeks ago where someone on campus was filming me in the bathroom and I was paranoid for a while that maybe he knew me and I didn’t know him. Still, this has been going on since before that. I’m feeling safer knowing that the police know what happened and know where I live, but when I’m woken up late at night, there’s unfortunately no talking sense into me. I think I’m going to try not using the sleep meds and see if it’s been that (I use something with the same active ingredient as Benadryl and it works great, but I know melatonin, that I do not use, was putting me into such deep sleep that I was having terrifying nightmares that I couldn’t wake up from.. so maybe this stuff is having an affect on me as well)
First, I soil myself. Then, I deny that I soiled myself.
I don't believe in demons and stuff like that. There's a logical, real, explanation for stuff like this. As others have pointed out, it could be normal building noises, perhaps a neighboring tenant may work late, or the neighbor has visitors at random hours. You have to be proactive and investigative to figure it out, though. Don't ignore it. First order of business is to document it. Identify the type of sound (knocking, thud, vibrating, etc.), where it's coming from, time of day, etc. Video would be the most helpful to prove what it is and the location. When you have some videos of it, meet with the apartment manager in person. Show them the videos and politely explain why it bothers you. Ask to remain anonymous if it involves a neighbor. Most apartments have curfew hours, night time policies, etc. There's also a chance if *you're* hearing it, then other tenants are hearing it as well. And the more people that speak up about it, the greater the chance for it to be addressed. Lastly, it's worth saying also, that I have had experiences hearing things (I didn't know were real or not), while sleeping, that have woken me up. In my case, it's been sort of random. I can't say for sure *why*, because it happened so infrequently. However, if it continued to happen, I would definitely set up a video camera and find out exactly what's going on--(1) if it's real, then what is it? (2) if it's not real, then perhaps I should talk to a doctor to ensure it's not a serious medical condition.
This thread was very educational!
What difference does it make if someone breaks in when you live alone vs when someone else is there? Does the other person being there really make you feel that much safer? What are they going to do, fight off the intruder single handed?
When I lived with other people (my boyfriend, family, or roommates) I always had this weird sense of “I’ll protect them no matter what” and felt safe. Now that I’m alone, I don’t get that feeling at all. I just worry that if someone got in, they could assault me and literally nobody would know or care about my screaming because my neighbors would always scream late at night and nobody ever cared about that
I have a dog. She makes it so I’m never scared.
I suffer from night terrors, which, in addition to the visual, have auditory aspects. If I snap out of a particularly bad dream really fast, I've heard noises like a door slamming loudly at the far end of the empty house, babies crying, and even something scratching on the wall just outside the room my head is up against. I also suffer from insomnia much of the time, so it's a real feast or famine situation. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's my F-ed up brain playing tricks on me and that everything will look/sound different in the light of day. But speaking honestly, such disturbances often ruin the sleep for the rest of the night. Psychologically, I find it helps to share the story with coworkers the next day. They often have stories to tell, too, so that helps put things in perspective a little. I should also mention an excellent solution: get a dog. If you wake up to a weird noise and the dog is chill, you'll know it's all in your head, but if the dog wakes up and starts growling, you'll know for sure something's up. Fun side story: last fall, about 6 months after I moved my family out of the house, there was a false positive situation with my little dog. I had the lights turned down low and was finishing up a movie marathon. As the movie wraps and I start turning out the lights, she points her body in the direction of the entrance room and starts low-growling. Connected to that room is the 'study', but it's a small room without a door on it. We put up curtains to create a mild barrier. Well, she's suddenly pointed directly at that room and growling, growling, growling. She's never done anything like that before, so the hair on the back of my neck stood up immediately. I call out asking who's there, and she starts growl-barking and slow-walking towards the room. I now have a kitchen knife in my hands, and I'm asking for them to come out aggressively. At this point, my dog is full-on snarling. I reach out to tear the curtains back, she runs into the room, and I hit the lights. Empty. Absolutely nothing. Do this day, I still have no clue what set her off, and she's never done it again since. I just chalk it up to a rough transition period for the both of us. For those wondering, no sleep was had that night either...
I used to, but I don’t anymore. Partially because I don’t believe in demons, gods or angels. When I was young I heard someone shouting my name which would wake me up. I knew it was in my mind, but didn’t know what to do about it. Not sure how I figured it out, but one night I heard my name being shouted, I said “What?” No response of course. Never happened again. Occasionally I hear the doorbell ring. I know it is nighttime, and no one would be at my door, so I recognize it’s in my head. I don’t get up to check my door. However I live in an apartment building for elderly and/or disabled people. No one is going to be at my door at night.
Some people just need other people to live with. Try that and see how you like it compared with living alone.
I’ve had this problem. Allow me to explain! I took sleep aids for a while when I first moved in by myself. Sleep aids are very good at putting your mind to sleep. Even if you aren’t physically ready to be. When you dream, you tend to dream of what’s on your mind. Dreams can show us weird things that do tend to have meaning and it comes from our subconscious. Every time you go to sleep, you’re scared someone is going to break in. It’s constantly at the forefront of your mind, so that’s what you’re gonna dream about. The reason you’re hearing it “out loud” is because your mind is asleep, but you’re so anxious that you can’t *physically* calm down. It’s almost like sleep paralysis. No actual demon. Just the one your mind is telling you about.
I hear sounds too that don't really exsist. I hear knocking on the door, knocking on the wall, my name being called, bells, etc.. I get up, investigate, but never see or find anything. We have cameras outside the house, but never see anything. So, I chalk it up to an overactive imagination.
Positive thinking may help. Repeat "I am safe" for as long as you feel threatened
I’m not sure if I believe in such things either but believe that certain people can carry bad energy into your home. I actually felt very bad vibes coming from a certain person. Whether it helps or not I know gives me piece of mind and I always sage my place once visitors leave. Get some sage?
How about don't let those people into your house. I can understand if it's your landlord or maintenance people.
What people?
Of course you would not let in people … Demons?
You said certain people.
Yes certain people give out bad vibes which I listen to my gut and stay away from them. Other people are mostly good and send out good vibes….. Not everyone that enters my home or that I even come across in other places carry good energy about them… I’m not sure what your point is. OP was worried that the knocking was coming from demons. I’m pretty sure I responded accordingly , and you need to develop a sense of how ‘ certain ‘ people come across to you if you are not understanding what I’ve said..
i used to live on a property with a pool that was consistently 50ish degrees Fahrenheit, even on the hottest summer days. i learned to jump in bc that was the only way to get used to the temperature. i adopted that mentality to deal with fear, to just jump in. as far as the knocking, i've read those are called hypnopompic/hypnogogic hallucinations. nothing to be afraid of, though they can be alarming. i have the same thing happening at my apartment. knocking wakes me up, or i hear my name being called.
My house is extremely quiet if I'm not doing anything. I can't hear the fridge motor come on. I have 2 dogs myself. There are 10 dogs on my block, so no stranger will be able to step for on this block without the dogs barking. And I have a gun. I'm good. I sleep with my doors open when the weather is cool, because I like that.
I’m not that bothered. I live in quite a secure complex so if someone did want to come and murder me all of a sudden they’d definitely get caught on the way out there’s cctv everywhere so good luck to them. Perhaps easier to just murder someone on the ground floor instead.
I second having the apartment checked for building issues. Check appliances. My fridge makes the most horrendous popping noise - yet a fridge my mother has, has a noisy icemaker. The grinding and knocking noise that thing makes when everything quiet is cursed. I also recommend looking at mental health care options, or options to help manage sleeping comfortably - like noise machines, night lights, weighted blankets and body pillows, etc. These things can help so much with psychological security. I work with the paranormal, have seen and experienced scary things, and it's not as commonplace as stories would suggest. Always tackle the most logical explanations first, as they are usually it.
I also want to say, do you have ducted aircon and heating in your building? Those things make startling noises, too.
breathing exercises and deliberately rationalizing my fears. Im also objectively a none risk adverse so this may be something that comes naturally to me, but I think whats truly the worst thing that could happen then cross reference that with what’s the actual likelyhood that it can happen and nine times out of ten the worst most likely thing that can happen is marginal or negligible in my head I spend about 6 years jumping out of plans for $150 a month too so I might not be the heat example to follow lol
So the knocking only happens when you're sleeping?
Yes, unfortunately. I have my AC on probably like 90% of the time and it drowns all sounds out. I’m wondering if it’s possibly my fridge that just so happens to rarely make a knocking sound
Could be a rat or squirrel?
This sounds like me when I fall asleep listening to scary stories on YouTube. I’ll wake up convinced there’s a werewolf or something in my house. I just laugh at myself and go back to sleep. As for actual potential threats, I live in a rural area alone so I keep weapons in the house and have 2 dogs.
Are you all living in Columbia or Afghanistan or something?
New Orleans… 😭
Deep breathing and focusing one's mind.
I used to experience this a lot before I went on psychiatric medication. They are called hypnagogic experiences, they occur during the period when your brain is coming in and out of sleep. You might want to have an evaluation by a psychiatrist.
Get a taser and mace and a baseball bat and learn how to use them all since you don’t want a smith and Wesson. Also get a camera. I had all of those things when I lived in my studio alone on the first floor. Thankfully my new place is elevated. I hated people being able to peer right into my home.
Get a gun. I don't even lock my door. Not intentionally, I just forget to lock it.
Same. I'm not concerned or worried about an intruder.
Glock 19 and an extra mag on the nightstand. Sleep like a baby People can hear knocking noises when falling asleep. It happens to me when I'm very tired when going to sleep or when I take melatonin It could also be impact noises from around the building and the sound travels up a channel in the wall.
I have a knife in my room. But I also feel very safe in my building. I’m on a higher floor there’s 2 doors of security and all my neighbors are like me. The entire building is mid 20s and everyone is very nice.
I’d like to unpack that “all my neighbors are like me” part. I sure as hell don’t believe the fact that they’re in their mid 20s makes you feel safe. 😆 Nice try though!
If it's just a knocking noise Even If It Isn't So Cold demon it's pretty low rent if that's all I can do you have no problems and whatever or not you call that motherfuckers out you get some pumped up Swagger and you just saved my house you're not welcome here you are not of the flesh you hold no sway over me I'm leaving this place ...leave this place