The Creepy Truth About Stalkers (And How To STOP Them)

The sound of a phone ringing awakened me as I tried to collect my thoughts. The heavy fog of sleep clouded my mind. The clock glowed 2:00 AM in the darkness of my room.

Who would call me at this time of the night? I thought nervously, reaching for the persistent phone.

“Hello?” I hoarsely whispered into the receiver. Heavy breathing on the other end echoed back at me. I repeated, “Hello?” once more, loudly this time. Eerie heavy breathing seemed magnified in the still of the dark night.

I hung up the phone and a chill ran down my spine and the small hairs stood up on my neck as I wondered who was on the other end of the deafening breathing. I checked my caller ID, and it registered as an unknown caller. Not again. Why was this person harassing me with this emotional abuse? Why was I getting these crazy calls at all hours of the night and day with never a word spoken — just deafening stillness.

Suddenly my phone rang again, the same “unknown caller” ID flashed across my phone.

“Who is this?” I demanded curtly.

I received the same lack of response just a heavy breathing on the other end.

“Do not call me any more, I will not answer. I am calling the phone company and the authorities!” I shouted as I turned the power off my phone, wishing I could slam it down for emphasis.

My sleep was now destroyed as I laid there, my mind racing with scenarios of this faceless monster carrying out all kinds of horrible abusive acts.

An Estimated 3.4 Million People Report That They Are Victims Of Stalking Each Year 

That's according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics from 2014. The Bureau of Justice found that for half of these victims, the stalker contacted them every week, and at least 11 percent of the victims' stalkers harassed them for 5 years or more. They also found the following:

• Approximately 1/3 of stalkers are repeat offenders.
• 76 percent of the victims' stalkers are someone they know or were intimate with.
• Former intimate partners’ stalk 46 percent of male victims and 66 percent of female victims.
• 54 percent of the victims reported stalking to police before their stalkers killed them.

What Is the Definition Of Stalking?

Stalking is conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Individuals must have feared for their safety or that of a family member as a result of the course of conduct, or have experienced additional threatening behaviors. Most of these people believe the stalker will harm physically or kill them.

Victims of stalking behavior will normally experience the following:

• Receiving unwanted phone calls
• Receiving unsolicited letters or emails
• Having rumors spread about them
• Being followed or having someone show up at their home/job
• Being spied on with a listening device, camera or GPS

The Justice Bureau reports that about 130,000 victims in 2014 reported that their employers asked them to leave their job because of the stalking. About one in eight of all employed stalking victims lost time from work because of fear for their safety or to pursue activities such as getting a restraining order or testifying in court.

The Justice Bureau suggests that stalking victims go to the following groups for assistance:

• The support network in your community, which may include hotlines, counseling services and support groups
• Trained victim advocates who can provide information and a full range of support services, like assistance through the criminal justice process or help finding out about your rights as a stalking victim
• The clerk of court to obtain a restraining order or a "no-contact" order

Remember you do not have to allow this behavior or live with it because stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and the Federal government.

Learning to gain self empowerment see Deni at Lovinglife.us.