I'm sorry, Pandora! I know how embarrassing that can be. Before I was diagnosed PTSD, I called 911 to my house twice for what seemed to me to be very suspicious, dangerous circumstances. In retrospect, it was probably the hypervigilance and fear freaking me out.

But I know exactly what you mean, the terrified, frozen, pulsing fear. SO many nights I hear a noise and I just stand in my hallway, frozen and vibrating, waiting for whatever awful thing might happen next. I wish I knew how to make it stop. But I do feel better knowing I'm not the only person who does this.

I recently left my house in the middle of the night because I swore I heard someone bumping into things on the back deck. Turned out to be my neighbor, sorting recyclables! I laughed and cried at the same time, relieved and embarrassed and annoyed.