I don’t know how you react when something goes bump in the night, but if it is fear instead of a tingle of excitement, then you should look into a combat shooting course geared for women.
In general, when women grab a knife or a gun at home they see themselves as fearfully and desperately protecting themselves, instead of visualizing themselves as the dominate force taking control of the house, rather than feel sorry for the poor slob who doesn’t realize who’s house he just broke into, they tend to see the intruder as the expert in violence, they see him as the tough guy.
Seeking out the right course in house clearing and defending the home, could help to instill a more masculine type confidence into a woman living alone.
I can shoot and love doing so, but not too many women are excited when something goes bump in the night. Friends of mine have taken those courses and they made the courses and instructors sound great. I’d like to do that. (Though the chances of needing that are far far lower out in the sticks than in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.)