Hello! I just joined this reddit today and I think I'll be able to really get some advice here. I'm not really that far into my spiritual journey but I'm trying to get there. I enjoy listening to people's experiences and I always want to try more meditation and astral projection, but I have problems involving a sort of fear and paranoia.

For perhaps a few years at this point I've been living with this paranoid feeling. It makes me constantly look over my shoulder when I'm alone, fear the dark, lock doors, and keep having thoughts that something is going to get me or try to attack me. I'm a very imaginative person so I can always see something in my head. The best way I can describe it is living in a horror movie that hasn't happened yet. Even though at this point I'm coming to accept there may be more to life than the fear of dying, I still get very stressed on the subject. Just seeing the trending doomsday clock is physically making me feel horrible. It's even to the point where I'm afraid to try and meditate because I can't close my eyes without feeling like something is gonna pounce even though I know I'm safe.

I rarely have nightmares or anything of the sort. Generally my dreams are pleasant, exciting, or relaxing. It's just in my waking life I feel this paranoia. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with fear, or stories of how they dealt with their fear? Any and all is appreciated!