Irrational fear of being robbed?

[tmacklin]

I think we are in danger of going way off topic here, probably into something that will get the thread locked.

Don't worry. As long as long as I stay out of this, you're home free! :lol:

 

[tightwad]

In this day & age you can take self-defense classes/shooting , held by police & NAR across the country.

NAR? Yes! rockets and weapons...now that's home security!

Here is a thought. Find a friend with a shutgun. Record the shotgun being chambered on to your cell phone. When you hear something or someone in your house, yell, "Who's there!" Play back your recording at the loudest volume! If you hear the sound of foot steps running away, then it was a burglar. If the sound continues, then it is just the house settling and you can go back to sleep.

 

[shrox]

So the Cowardly Lion goes to a therapist. The therapist says, "Flying monkeys, witches, death, these are all reasonable concerns."

The Lion goes back to Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Tin Man and says. "Frak you guys! I am the Rational Lion!"

 

[ksaves2]

Arm yourself and learn how to shoot!

[Snip for brevity's sake]

Then IT happened.
I was eating dinner and heard noises in the garage out back.[detached & broad daylight again] Grabbed my pistol and headed out there. There were 2 of them, and I was not in a mood for a peaceful capture. They both saw me, froze for a moment and I began to fire. You have never seen anyone run as fast as when they are dodging bullets. I chased them for 1/2 a block, unloading 6 shots, and let them go, not wanting to hit any bystanders. One thing for sure...I'm a hell of shot, but when adrenaline kicks in, you have a hard time keeping steady aim, probably lucky for them.

The moral of this story:

You can do everything possible to protect your home, but if someone wants your stuff bad enough, they will try to get it.
You cannot control when or how this will happen.
But if you are armed & dangerous it will increase your chance of success 100 fold & sleep peacefully at night.
You must learn how to use a weapon and NOT hesitate for a moment to use it. If you pull it out, you better be prepared to pull the trigger.

Ummmm, Shoot somebody who's running away in the back, even a crook, can land one in hot water in some states. It's one thing to blow away somebody inside
your house another thing if running away. In one's domicile, dead perps can tell no lies so shoot to kill. Just make sure it's not "junior" coming home late from college and not calling ahead. I do like the bit about getting the cops off their asses to get the job done by saying you're armed and going to do a citizen's arrest. I've heard of similar situations where that's done the trick. Kurt

 

[RKeller]

This is the curse of the creative mind. Mine too will mess with me now and then. One thing that works well is to do a walkthrough and make sure everything is secure. Then go back to bed pray to God and ask for peace of mind.

 

[mrichhcirm]

.....aaaaand back to the topic. Living with anxiety is no fun. Find a counselor and invest in making yourself feel better. Good luck!

 

[tmacklin]

We should all keep in mind that Cody is a Junior Level 1 rocketeer and is thus probably unable to legally own or possess firearms. I must assume that he lives at home with his parents. He most certainly is not Chuck Norris, Dirty Harry or Chris Kyle.

Hang in there Cody. It's going to be alright!

 

[codysmith]

You know... this is one of the reasons I love this forum... Getting to hear CJ's stories is always awesome...

Don't worry guys, I'm not going to buy a gun, chase crooks, or hold them at gunpoint. I may however invest in some equipment to put myself at ease. I really don't think it's to the point of therapy, I just need something like a camera that is linked to my laptop (always next to me) so when Ihear a noise downstairs, I can do a quick check and Settle my nerves... Thanks for all the help guys!

BTW... I want to go to a NAR shooting class

 

[shrox]

You know... this is one of the reasons I love this forum... Getting to hear CJ's stories is always awesome...

Don't worry guys, I'm not going to buy a gun, chase crooks, or hold them at gunpoint. I may however invest in some equipment to put myself at ease. I really don't think it's to the point of therapy, I just need something like a camera that is linked to my laptop (always next to me) so when Ihear a noise downstairs, I can do a quick check and Settle my nerves... Thanks for all the help guys!

BTW... I want to go to a NAR shooting class

Read my joke, then get the camera, it's a rational solution.

 

[cbrarick]

Don't get a gun.
If you know you have an irrational fear, then get help, not a gun.
Chances are that you will either hurt yourself or someone you know (and maybe even love).
Therapy (and sometimes meds) can do wonders for you.
If you don't make a connection with the first therapist, find another.
Knowing you have a irrational fear is the first step.


Trust me. It's my day job.

 

[jd2cylman]

You know... this is one of the reasons I love this forum... Getting to hear CJ's stories is always awesome...
Thanks for all the help guys!

BTW... I want to go to a NAR shooting class

The NAR shooting class should be easy. I believe the proper aim is up... oint: oint:
On a serious note; when I was in 5th or 6th grade my teacher told us stories about the planetary alignment and how the resulting gravitational pull (His science, not mine) could pull the earth out of orbit and other cataclysmic bad things resulting in a really bad day :kill:
I remember having nightmares about this for weeks, waking my mom up at night each time. I don't remember how I got over this, but eventually I did. So even though I don't have a good answer for your problem, as you get older, things might get better. Eventually you'll get more and more things going on in your life and this fear might get pushed further and further down in your mind, allowing you to worry about other things like college and a career and marriage(really scary!! :y: )
So talk to your parents, a good friend, even religious leader (priest, reverend, father, nun, whatever sort of thing fits the category) and see if this helps you cope for a time.
In the meantime, build some awesome rockets and fly the fins off those suckers!

Adrian
When

 

[shrox]

Don't get a gun.
If you know you have an irrational fear, then get help, not a gun.
Chances are that you will either hurt yourself or someone you know (and maybe even love).
Therapy (and sometimes meds) can do wonders for you.
If you don't make a connection with the first therapist, find another.
Knowing you have a irrational fear is the first step.


Trust me. It's my day job.

^ Get the camera too.

 

[RocketT.Coyote]

We had strange sounds in the house. Mice. What the cat didn't get, I finished off with carefully set traps. Got a total of five one Winter. They got in through the garage.

As per using shotguns as a deterrent, however, avoid following what some police agencies have referred to as The Biden Protocol.

 

[dave carver]

I have made good money welding up bars on windows and wrought iron door gates. The gates could be locked from the inside as well as outside and to prevent pranks, the locking mechanism moved to lock on either side so you couldn't be locked in. I have a machinist friend I watch on youtube that just had his shop burgled. They added some alarms but here soon when I travel back east to Virginia to pick-up my Freightliner Sprinter it's in the plans to swing down by his place and weld bars for his windows. Many of his youtube friends replaced expensive tools stolen but I said I could do the windows with bars, we're working out the details on that.

Secure bars on the windows and a barred gate on the doors would go a long way to relieving your anxiety.

 

[tmacklin]

On the other hand.....

 

[codysmith]

I have made good money welding up bars on windows and wrought iron door gates. The gates could be locked from the inside as well as outside and to prevent pranks, the locking mechanism moved to lock on either side so you couldn't be locked in. I have a machinist friend I watch on youtube that just had his shop burgled. They added some alarms but here soon when I travel back east to Virginia to pick-up my Freightliner Sprinter it's in the plans to swing down by his place and weld bars for his windows. Many of his youtube friends replaced expensive tools stolen but I said I could do the windows with bars, we're working out the details on that.

Secure bars on the windows and a barred gate on the doors would go a long way to relieving your anxiety.

As cool as that would be, I doubt my parents would think so...

 

[codysmith]

On the other hand.....

Now that's just plain creepy...

 

[shrox]

Get the camera you mentioned, being able to see will go a long way towards alleviating your concerns.

 

[codysmith]

Get the camera you mentioned, being able to see will go a long way towards alleviating your concerns.

That's what I'm thinking!

 

[Igotnothing]

I e never slept better than when having two large teenage sons in the house. When the last one gets out of the house I'll get a dog.

 

[K'Tesh]

Why not....

Ya know you gotta be pretty tired when you don't realize that a response like this was done by the OP, and not someone being silly.

So, longpig is on the menu? Thanks, no... I think I'll pass.

Truth be told, I know a guy really named "Dragon". Dragon Dronet is a Hollywood effects friend of mine (he's Michael Dorn's stunt double in Star Trek, designed all kinds of things (such as the robots in "Robot Jox", the helmets in "Armageddon", etc)). Nice guy, but I wouldn't want to be on his bad side, he's a black belt in a couple of disciplines, and he made (and owns) the Sword of Kahless (Yes, the exact same one you saw on screen with Dax, Worf, and Kor).

 

[swatkat]

I have four children, they leave their toys, balls, etc everywhere. No way any burglar is getting close without tripping on one of the forgotten toys. Beyond that, there is the typical motion detector lights, cameras and lasers.

 

[zanfar]

I'm going to offer some slightly different advice.

You mention that your fear is "irrational." This may or may not be true, but I would trust that self diagnosis, not that you are irrational, but that this is a mental problem, not a home security one.

(If I am incorrect, feel free to ignore me and follow some of the good, and slightly crazy, advice in the rest of this thread).

I've found myself with some irrational fears at times, and what has helped me is to develop information or habits that put my mind at ease. In your case, make a habit of walking your house right before going to sleep; check the locks, the windows, and alarms (if you have them). Most importantly, while doing this, make a note of something that will allow you to remember that you did this today. I have found that when lying in bed I can convince myself of almost anything; it helps if you can remember "I checked the windows because I saw the neighbors football in my backyard that I need to throw back tomorrow" or some such. Remembering habits can easily be discounted because you do the same thing everyday.

Also, if you are being kept awake by something, get up and fix it. Lying in bed almost never solves the problem. Make your rounds again and when you return you will be assured that everything is at peace.

Just my 2¢, plus a little experience

 

[tmacklin]

As cool as that would be, I doubt my parents would think so...

Cody,

You mentioned your parents. Have you discussed your fears with them?

 

[DizWolf]

I'm with Jim. I sleep like a baby.

Good locks and Cameras are good too.

 

[Crash-n-Burn]

I'm with CBRARICK and ZANFAR on this one. Both are indicating that knowledge is power. It will not be easy, but forcing yourself to get out of bed - even once - and exploring the sound will do wonders for your confidence. You will feel more in control. Have a flashlight by your bed so that you can see. Have your shoes near by so that you can put them on. Put whatever support items (not a gun or other deadly weapon) near your bed so that you feel empowered and in control. Knowing that you can put on a light may be all the security you need to overcome your imagination. For all we know it could be your pops getting a glass of water.

I had some challenges akin to what you shared. When I was a kid (high school age) I woke in the middle of the night to a sound. There was just enough streetlight to make out two shapes that I was sure were burglars in my room. I laid dead still for hours sweating and in a panic. By morning light those burglars were found to be the design on an IPCO copy paper box and my younger brothers stuffed animal. It is no fun living in fear. Get counciling, talking things through will help. I'm impressed by your willingness to put yourself out there in front of us, and you have our support.

 

[PropellantHead]

I would suggest you stop watching teevee news or reading the newspaper. The media has everyone whipped into a frenzy about crime, but it has actually been decreasing over the last few decades.

Here's a paper on home burglaries.

View attachment 249915

YES! +1000!

I was reading this thread and wondering why no one had suggested that the OP just quit reading or tuning into the crime reports on the news. For the sake of ratings, the televised news programs have amp'd up their coverage over the last few decades to the point that they *want* you to think you are always about to be the victim of some massively violent crime. They *want* you to be paranoid so that you'll stay glued to their newscasts! If you want to feel safe in your own home, step 1 is to quit the TV and radio news broadcasts. And don't think that avoiding local broadcasts will be enough - it won't be. Just because the mayhem stories are not from your area doesn't mean they won't have an effect on your subconscious. This doesn't mean you have to be a hermit; just find some news sources that don't hype the crime reports and stories of violence.

And, yes, seek counseling. I suspect most any good shrink will give you the same advice about avoiding the news.

As for getting a gun, that is something that may or may not be a good thing for you. It works for Jim because he's been around guns all his life and he apparently has no qualms about causing bodily harm to others when defending himself. I'm like him in that respect. However, before following this course of action, you have to ask the deepest part of yourself one question first: "Would I hesitate to pull the trigger if someone was coming to do me harm?"

Think long and hard about that one. If you find the answer is "yes", then do NOT get a gun just for protection. Get a gun, if you want, for recreational purposes or hunting or whatever, and keep it locked well away, but do NOT pull it to use it for self defense. Hesitating will almost always backfire and get could very well get you killed.

Full Disclosure: As an adult, I have been robbed at gunpoint (with a 9mm six inches from my face), my home has been robbed, and I have had my car burglarized 3 times. As such, many would think that I would have a good reason to be constantly vigilant and paranoid and afraid of being robbed again. The reality, however, is that while I *am* constantly vigilant, I am at ease and I do not have any issues with paranoia nor do have panic reactions when I hear strange noises. I do have a gun (several, actually) for defense purposes. I sought counseling a few years ago for reasons not related to this discussion and I can speak to it's benefits.

 

[ckjohnson]

Honestly, I can understand what you're feeling. After being a soldier for 13 years, I had a "heightened sense of security" they told me. I would check every door and every window, every night!

I got my concealed carry, and have my LC9 on me all the time. I keep my Beretta hidden close to my bedside (mind you, I don't have any kids in my house). I have two chihuahuas and a yorkie.

People have teased me about having my little dogs, saying they can't protect me. I simply reply that they aren't there to protect me, just to wake me up.

There is a clear decline in home invasions, and a decline in crime. The media has everyone feeling like we're in a war zone. The anti-gun crowd is telling everyone that there's a thousand shootings every day by 2nd Amendment loonies. The pro-gun crowd is pointing out every single home invasion in the US to support the home defense and responsible gun side. Truth is, the amount of shootings is also declining, but social media is making everyone aware of it more and more.

The bottom line, is do what makes you feel safe. I would highly recommend getting a gun and getting training with it. Don't just go buy some hand cannon and think you're good to go. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SAFETY AND TRAINING WITH IT!

Another option is the multitude of inexpensive home security systems out there. I have an IRIS system from Lowes. I can check into my house all the time, control my thermostat, and get notifications if any of my sensors are tripped shot straight to my phone.

 

[ckjohnson]

As far as cameras, you can get Foscam 8910W cameras that are wireless IP cameras. They are easy to set up, and just need a power connection. I can see what's happening in my house at any time from my cell phone. They 8910Ws are on Amazon for like $60.

I have one that looks down my hallway. I always joke that if someone breaks in, I'll see them coming down the hall on the camera, and shoot them through the wall.

Back to serious though, the cameras do also give a little peace of mind.

 

[H_Rocket]

But if you are armed & dangerous it will increase your chance of success 100 fold & sleep peacefully at night.
You must learn how to use a weapon and NOT hesitate for a moment to use it. If you pull it out, you better be prepared to pull the trigger.

<dons Nomex body armor>

That leads to the lesson my dad taught me:

• If you are going to own a weapon for defending your home, keep it loaded and accessible unloaded and/or in a safe serves you no purpose.
• If you are going to keep a loaded readily accessible weapon, have it in your head that you may need to use it.
• If you are prepared to use a loaded weapon in defense of your home, understand you are planning to shoot at another human being.
• If you are OK with firing on another human being, understand one thing - you shoot to kill. The stuff about shooting to wound, or warn, or whatever is nonsense. Two shots center mass. You want the person dead at your feet.

So in the end, my dad told me - If you are not willing and ready to kill another person, find some other way to assure your personal security. Then he taught me how to shoot to kill.

Oh yeah, one irritating detail - you shoot someone in your house and you have to clean up the mess.