I'm trying to work out if what I'm feeling is normal, I'm not requesting any sort of diagnosis, just want to get a baseline for if what I'm feeling lately is a sign of something that I need to bring up with my doctor. 

I live alone. Have done for many years before my recently ended relationship, in which I shared a house with my partner for about three years. I was fine for a while after he moved out but lately I've been so, so frightened at night. I keep having really intense thoughts that someone is going to break into my house, or already has and is hiding somewhere, and it's only a matter of time before they murder me. It's like the thoughts just pop into my head from nowhere and I can't dispel them.

It's almost to the point where I feel like someone can hear every noise I make, every word I say to the cats, is watching me from around every corner, and if I mention these feelings out loud or think about it too much then it'll happen. Last night I just shut myself in my bedroom and didn't come out, my bedroom feels almost like the safe zone, or at least, safer than the rest of the house. 

I get so lost in these thoughts and they feel so real. It almost feels inevitable that something is going to happen. Logically, I know I live in a very middle class, relatively safe, quiet town, but I also know that murders happen anywhere. I'm just tired of never feeling *safe* at night. And it's only ever at night. It's impacting my sleep because I feel like I can't relax. I've even taken to sleeping with a big wrench under my bed in case I need a weapon. 

Does anyone else live alone and struggle with this?