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Article created by: wifeofweasley

Before going on vacation alone, I'm always a bit of an anxious extrovert. I really love trying new stuff, meeting new people and being outside in the world but I'm anxious just before that. I have to warm up to the situation.

What's something you always wanted to try but are too anxious about doing all by yourself? For me, it's going to a bar and having a cocktail. I do that with my friends but I've never been alone.

#1

Close-up of a couple holding hands with wedding rings and a bouquet, symbolizing support and facing fears together. Been happily married for decades. My biggest fear is dying last and spending the last years of my life without him. Can't imagine remarrying anyone else. I don't want to spend my golden years alone and without sharing it with him.

Photos by Lanty Report

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    #2

    Spiral staircase in darkness, illustrating fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. going downstairs after turning off the lights! this is kind of a joke but it’s not 🥲

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    #3

    Dimly lit bar interior with people sitting alone or in groups, evoking the fear of going downstairs after lights go off. Solo female world traveler here, absolutely adore going to a pub in England, will never go to an American bar. I'm American. Roofies, being sexually harassed/assaulted, being around volatile, unpredictable drunk people, NO.

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    #4

    Close-up of a white goose near water, illustrating the fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. Confronting that goose

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    #5

    Person sitting alone on a couch in a dark room near a window, illustrating fear of going downstairs after turning off lights. I was afraid for 27 years of living by myself, supporting myself and facing who I'd become as a result of capitulating to my narcissistic husband for so long. Then he forced a divorce on me and after almost four years on my own, I've realized how stupid I was for being afraid. I'm finally free.

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    #6

    Person checking phone while eating a meal alone in a restaurant, illustrating fear of doing things alone like going downstairs after lights off. As a bigger woman it's 100% eating out alone. Doesn't matter if its something unhealthy or just a salad I always feel like everyone around me judges me. That's why I always order food in and eat at home when I don't want to cook.

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    #7

    Large orange moon rising behind dark tree silhouettes in night sky, evoking fears of going downstairs after lights off. Probably going outside in the night by myself. Like I step one step and I think Slenderman, some kidnapper, or a wild animal is gonna get me

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    #8

    Camera, maps, Field Notes, and backpack laid out on a detailed map highlighting exploration and going downstairs after lights off fears. Travel - I'd love to explore new cities and places all by myself, but as a young woman it just seems too dangerous.

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    #9

    Crowded city street at sunset with pedestrians crossing and brightly lit billboards, capturing urban life and community fears. I would love to go to New York City (never been there) but definitely not by myself. I would be completely overwhelmed by a city that large and crowded.

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    #10

    A white house with a red door surrounded by autumn trees and fallen leaves in a quiet neighborhood. Leaving the house. I'm disabled, and cannot take more than a few steps before I need to rest.

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    #11

    Cars parked in a dimly lit underground parking garage, illustrating fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights. Parallel parking in a tight spot with the work van.

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    #12

    Silhouetted person against bright circular light symbolizing fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. Well... I am petrified of being the centre of attention (like making a speech or preforming) but it kinda helps if my friend is there, not a lot but a bit.

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    #13

    Entering a room full of people (even if I know some of them). Approaching a group of acquaintances alone is scary too.

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    #14

    How about watching a horror movie, and then lying in bed waiting for the zombies to come?

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    #15

    Car driving alone on dark forest road at night, illustrating fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights. It worries me to drive on my own at night.

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    #16

    Crowd of people in a dark room with raised hands, illustrating fear and hesitation in a low-light setting. Going to a place with big crowds without a group I’m specifically going with. Take a recent school dance. Even when I went with a group, they left for 20 minutes to chat with other friends and I couldn’t find them anywhere. I have pretty bad anxiety in social situations and when it flares up I unconsciously scratch my arm. By the time I found other friends, my arm was raw :( luckily my friends I went with found me again after a little while, but man I don’t like being by myself in big crowds.

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    #17

    Something I'm afraid of doing alone... I'm scared of existing alone. If you understand, you understand, if you don't, you don't.

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    #18

    Adult and child wearing boots standing close together on a dirt path, illustrating fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights. Parenting. I've always wanted to have kids but I've witnessed loads of great relationships completely fall apart after kids. I've seen so many men who start out excited to be dads just walk away when things get tough and either barely put in any effort to see their kids or never bother with them at all. My 4 sisters have all struggled as single parents with nonexistent dads and it affects every aspect of their lives as well as their kids' lives. One of my sisters had 2 kids 11 months apart and her ex left her when she was pregnant with the second, they're 3 and 4 now and my sister is a mess. Mentally she can't cope, she's permanently exhausted and overwhelmed and her kids are extremely anxious and run circles around her. I've been with my partner for 12yrs and known him for 19yrs but as much as we both desperately want children and I think he'd be a great dad, the fear of him changing or walking away when things get tough, leaving me to do it all alone, terrifies me. We've been trying to get pregnant for years with no luck and the idea that it might never happen breaks my heart, but I'd rather never have kids than have them and end up struggling to do it alone.

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    #19

    Assembly instructions and hardware for building a BILLY shelf, highlighting common fears like going downstairs after turning off lights. Putting together IKEA furniture

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    #20

    Three people sitting near a calm lake at dusk, reflecting on things our community is afraid of doing alone. Talking to older kids/people who aren’t someone that I know. The only exception is asking to pet other people's dogs.

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    #21

    This was actually hard for me to answer because I really like doing most everything alone. I've lived a very adventurous life and been extremely independent, I even intentionally became a single parent which has been awesome. But I think something I might be intimidated to do on my own is travel to countries where I don't speak the language. I'll still do it alone, for sure, that's my plan actually, but yeah, it's something I'm a little afraid of. Fears are meant to be either faced or respected and we each decide which it is every time. Usually, if I'm afraid to do something alone, I take some time to plan and prep, then I go for it. It's worked out well for me so far.

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    #22

    Having a seizure

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    #23

    Driver navigating through traffic at dusk, highlighting common fears such as going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. More dread and social phobia which is fear-adjacent, but taking an Uber or Lyft alone and the awkwardness of feeling like I am a princess for sitting in back seat while I am driven around. But the real phobia here kicks in if so am going solo and the driver opens the front passenger door or motions for me to sit in the front seat. So damned either way.

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    #25

    Calm ocean waves under soft sky, evoking feelings similar to going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. Swimming in the ocean.

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    #26

    Dimly lit room with a red lamp glowing softly, illustrating the fear of going downstairs after turning off the lights alone. Going to the toilet in the middle of the night... what if the bogeyman comes and raids your secret candy stash when you're in the bathroom?

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