Paranoia

[Buttons.]

Ok so I don't quite know how to put this and also don't really like posting it so please be gentle with me and if you need me to clarify the meaning behind my ramblings feel free.

Basically I just want some general opinion on whether I am paranoid to the level of it being a problem (if I'm even paranoid at all). I think that I'm accurate in my worries about people however they obviously disagree and say I'm paranoid and also these worries are so so frequent and cause me so much distress I don't know...and the people I mistrust seem so nice and honest...I don't know. Anywho. Reasons why people think I'm too paranoid and that makes me think I Might be.

-I worry constantly in almost every single social situation (the level and frequency of this worry has increased over time) because I Know that people are thinking badly of me/that I'm not acting right and that even though people act like they like me/think I'm funny/whatever they really secretly hate me and talk about me/laugh at me behind my back.

-That everywhere I go people are staring at me/whispering about me/laughing at me. I know this sounds really self centered but I can't shake the certainty off and it really causes me so much distress and agitation it's unreal.

-I am absolutely convinced that the people I ask for/recieve help from are sick of me and want me to go away and laugh about me/take the mick when I'm gone. It's making me not want to recieve the support anymore, not because it's not helpful or the people aren't lovely but because I'm so sure they are sick of me and/or taking the mick when I leave and the being sick of me thing is making them mad at me anyway when I mention it which I think proves it's true.

-I get frequently convinced I'm being followed (I have without a doubt been followed on at least one occasion but this feeling occurred way before this)

All of these things cause me considerable distress and most if not all of them have caused me panic attacks.

Do people think this stuff is real or just paranoia and if it Is paranoia is it just like normal paranoia everybody has or is it a problem?

[Shenanigans]

I'm sorry you feel this way hun. It sounds to me (and I could be wrong so I apologizes if I am) that what you're going through is quite paranoid, but also very self critical as well. So rather than being paranoid in a sense it's like throwing your personal insecurities onto other people. Rather than saying "I am a waste of time" you're thinking "THEY think I'm a waste of time" sort of thing. I hope I explained that ok =S
Whether or not it's a problem really is up to you hun, is this causing a problem in your life? Is it holding you back from things you'd like to do or is it causing you distress in any way?
Have you spoken to anyone about this? Gotten any support at all?
I'm sorry if that's not a very good reply, feeling a bit tired right now. I hope someone can give you a better one =)
Take care and I hope you get it sorted hun
xxxxx

[Stellata]

I agree pretty much with what _Tormented_ says. I suffer from similar stuff, and it's pretty common in abuse survivors. The hyper-vigilance from PTSD can appear very much like paranoia, as can severe anxiety and insecurity. So, I'd go as to say that, from my experience, it isn't paranoia as a separate diagnosis. It's not paranoia that's overly psychotic/out of touch with reality in a huge way. It's your internal insecure reality manifesting outwardly.
Do you feel able to speak with your treatment team about this?

[roiben]

This sounds more like the paranoia that forms part of another diagnosis or anxiety (as stated above) and as my experience is with social anxiety, it rings true of that.

I do not think you are Paranoid in the sense that it is an entirely seperate diagnosis/part of a psychosis.

I do, however, think it worth discussing with a Dr or cmht treatment team. As you say it is causing you a large amount of distress and so would be interupting your ability to cope with day to day tasks.

[Sunshine]

I feel like that a lot too, so i dont personaly think it is paronia because it seems pretty natural to me, but if you are worried about it then you could always talk to your doctor and see what they suggest.
I have been told that what when i think "they hate me, im sure of it" its just me putting my own opinions of myself onto other people because thats how i see myself and i just cant see anyone else thinking any differently, but i know people telling me that doesnt help i still dont believe them
*hugs* i hope you find the answers you need

[Buttons.]

Thankyou so much for your responses. To be honest I wouldn't be overly worried about it except that it's causing panic attacks and making me really agitated and so on.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD Katie, I will look up the hyper viligance that you were talking about as I've never really looked into many aspects of it except the flashbacks as they were the pressing point at the time.

Unfortunately for a long, long time CAMHS have been ignoring me (they are very disorganised and have been unhelpful for a long time) and they have said they only want to see me once more purely for the purpose of discharging me so *shrugs*

I'll manage, it's just hard.

[Maybe I'm Amazed.]

I completely understand what you are saying - I feel the same way too.
I don't know either what it is, I wondered if it was being paranoid to.

I don't know what to say, but you are not alone.
I hope you're okay x