There is no way I can answer the door.

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Someone has been ringing my doorbell and knocking for ten minutes and of course I've gone into a panic and can't go answer it. I sneaked to the window overlooking the door where I can see who's out there without them seeing me. It was a lady in a purple parka who I've never seen. I looked around to see if maybe my dog had escaped out of the back yard and she was some neighbour returning her, but no dog. I can't think of any other reason why a stranger would stand there knocking insistently. Meanwhile, it has triggered so much panic that it will probably ruin the rest of my day with rampant anxiety.

She might be trying to sell something. She might be collecting donations. She might be collecting signatures. She might be trying to convert you. These are all reasons a stranger might be at your door. Hiding from them is completely normal. You don't need to feel anxious though.*

*And I'm sure that just because I said that, all your anxiety just melted away and you were filled with the sort of calm usually reserved for Buddhist monks and devoted practitioners of Yoga. Right. I'm going to go turn a pumpkin into a carriage now.

Don't let it ruin your day. I have been in this situation a few times before what i usually do is just ask myself what is the worst that can happen from answering the door? And if it gets me pulled into a social situation that starts to become too much then i just explain my social difficulties and they usually understand.

Like BetwixtBetween said though it was probably just someone selling something or trying to get you to sign up for something, nothing to feel bad over.

Years ago, there was a wasp nest above my front door. Several times I saw someone coming up the walk but when they saw the wasp nest, they always turned around and left without getting anywhere near close enough to even knock.

The nest was up there about three years before they started getting very aggressive and I had to obliterate the wasps.

You didn't invite her, so no obligation to talk to her. She can go ring someone else's door.

thats the worst. i panic too. had a ice cream salesman who would come every week and do that despite having been told we can't afford it. and how much ice cream do I need. mean boxes of 50 last a while dude. :S

did she go away after a while?

hugs

10 minutes is a long time to be ringing the door bell and knocking on the door. Anything over 30 seconds is excessive. More than 2 minutes is really pushing it. I don't think you would have been unjustified in calling the police at that point. If they have a problem and need help, the responding police officer will be happy and able to assist, so getting a police officer there is the right call. Otherwise they are harassing, and need to be dealt with.
Good luck and stay safe.