Bharti Singh Opens Up About Lifelong Fear of Solitude
Comedian Bharti Singh recently shared a deeply personal struggle on a popular podcast. She confessed to feeling intense fear when alone, whether at home, work, or while traveling. Many people dismiss such fears as mere emotional dependence, but Bharti's story reveals how childhood experiences can create lasting anxiety around solitude.
The Root of the Fear Lies in Childhood
Bharti Singh traced her fear back to specific moments from her early years. She described sitting outside her home in Punjab as a child, unable to reach the light switch inside. The house remained dark while street lights glowed outside. These experiences left a permanent mark on her psyche.
"I really feel scared of being alone," Bharti admitted during the podcast interview. She explained how this fear affects her daily life even today. When her husband Haarsh works late, she stays awake until he returns home. She cannot imagine living alone and always prefers to be surrounded by people.
How Childhood Fears Shape Adult Anxiety
Psychologist Neha Cadabam from Cadabam's Hospitals explains why early experiences create such powerful reactions in adulthood. "Early childhood fears are rarely about darkness or being alone in a literal sense," she notes. "They are usually about safety and attachment."
When children experience fear without proper emotional reassurance, their nervous systems learn to associate solitude with danger. This learning happens at a fundamental level, not through conscious thought. Decades later, the body may still react to being alone with heightened alertness and racing thoughts, even when the adult mind knows there's no real threat.
"The nervous system remembers what the mind has long forgotten," Cadabam emphasizes. This explains why otherwise rational adults can feel intense anxiety in situations that seem harmless to others.
Distinguishing Normal Discomfort from Problematic Fear
Feeling uneasy or bored while alone represents a normal human experience according to mental health experts. However, a deeper fear of loneliness becomes concerning when solitude triggers:
- Intense anxiety or panic attacks
- A sense of emotional collapse
- Constant need for noise, company, or distraction
- Avoidance of being alone at home
- Difficulty with solo travel
- Distress when separated from familiar people
"The key difference is impairment," Cadabam explains. "When the fear starts shaping daily choices, relationships, or self-worth, it moves beyond discomfort into an anxiety pattern that deserves attention and care."
Retraining the Nervous System to Feel Safe Alone
The goal isn't to force oneself into uncomfortable solitude but to build safety through gradual, compassionate steps. Cadabam suggests several approaches:
- Start with short, intentional moments alone while engaging in grounding activities like listening to music or journaling
- Create predictability and comfort in your environment to help the nervous system relax
- Acknowledge the fear without judgment - self-compassion proves crucial in this process
- Consider professional therapy to process original emotional memories that shaped the fear
"Therapy can play a key role," Cadabam adds. "It helps individuals process the original emotional memories, allowing the body to slowly learn that being alone no longer equals being unsafe."
Bharti Singh's openness about her fear helps normalize conversations around mental health. Her experience reminds us that childhood impressions can shape adult lives in profound ways. With proper understanding and support, individuals can learn to feel safer in their own company, transforming fear into comfort over time.
