I have a fear of burglars. I am often awake until three in the morning because I am shaking and have a rapid heartbeat from feeling so terrified. I live in a good part of town, but it’s in the country. I feel so paranoid. Even though this has never happened to me, I'm just sure it will. What can I do to get a restful night of sleep?

Your fear is based both in what you know and what you don't know. It sounds like you know what could happen if a burglar broke in, but you don't know how likely that is or what to do if it did happen.

Don't be so quick to jump on what you do know (burglars break into houses) or so quick to dismiss the other thing you know (that it's never happened to you). Do be quick to use what you know (burglars break into houses) to resolve what you don't know (what you can do to prevent it and what you would do if it happened).

While arming yourself with knowledge won't literally arm you, it's worth considering given how much sleep you've lost over something that hasn't happened. In this, knowledge would be the first place to start. If knowledge, coupled with whatever security measures you could reasonably afford, doesn't make you feel better, looking into counseling might be the answer. The counselor might suggest medication that would help you sleep in addition to working through your fears.

Sleep medication is a slippery slope. A good rule of thumb is that if you need it for more than a three to five nights, you’re not effectively addressing what left you sleepless in the first place.

Ask your local law enforcement agency about the crime rate. You might be surprised to find out how infrequently these things happen or you’ll learn how the police were able to foil a burglar every time they even got so far as in town, much less in someone's house or business. Too, they can tell you how they are able to catch suspected persons — with dogs, motion sensors, night workers at local businesses — and suggest ways you can protect yourself.