Paranoia

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In the past year or so I've come to realize how bad my paranoia affects my life. I try not to let it show, but it always manages to - not to acquaintances, but anyone I'm close to. It's ruined friendships and romantic relationships, because I'm so uneasy about everything.

It can just be over silly things. Like today. I'm going to a concert later this month, and a girl from work had talked about wanting to go, but tickets were sold out. I read on the band website that more tickets are going on sale tomorrow, so I thought I would let her know. I'm not working with her again 'til after they'll probably be sold out again, so I thought I would send her a text message letting her know. I was very hesitant, because we never text each other or anything. We really just have eachother's numbers for professional reasons. I don't want her to think I'm weird for texting her.

After HOURS of contemplation, I finally texted her, just saying that I heard more tickets were going on sale and they aren't sold out after all. She never texted back, which could be for a variety of reasons, but it still doesn't put me at ease.

I even find myself getting paranoid about posting on here. I don't want people to think I'm revealing too much, not get my jokes, catch incorrect grammar, or take offense to anything somehow. It usually takes at least 10 minutes of proofreading my post before I submit it - if I even decide to.

Is anyone else paranoid to this extent? I honestly think I may have PPD.

hey there.. this sounds familiar, although i worry less about posts on WP as long as they're polite as people here seem pretty understanding..
i've been known to write whole posts & then obsess over them & delete it, keeping quiet..
but like "they" say, just because i'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get me

I am extremely "paranoid." But sadly I have been diagnosed with something I don't agree on, schizoaffective disorder. I think both the aliens and the gov is after me. I am not going to go into details though, its just too well, "weird" to outsiders and the gov might be reading this. I know I mentioned it before but I can't think straight right now anyways, I have insomnia and can barely type. Eye tracking problems. Half the time I don't even know what I am saying!! Well, that's been true for only a few weeks. It must be my old age (at 26...going on 90). All I will say is it has to do with a robot, a war, and confusion. Well, technically not the confusion part. Sorry that you are having problems.

You sound insecure to me....when I hear people talk about paranoia, I think of people thinking there neighbors are watching them and are going to kidnap them or something like that. You sound insecure and anxious and yes paranoid, but not scary paranoid.

^ Yeah, insecurity is a big issue with me. I do get paranoid about being watched though.

As for the posting-on-here-issue; this website has really been nothing but helpful. On the other forum I'm a part of, I stick to one particular section because I've only ever received rude comments or judgment from other posters. That's really why I'm so cautious about what I say on here - though I've never encountered it on WP.

Your one example (concert tickets) does not seem unreasonable to me. You were hesitant (call it "paranoia" if you like) but your better judgment got the best of you, and you sent it anyway. It was a friendly gesture, and if someone reads something bad into it, that's their problem. That tells me that you are still in control and rational, just a little gun shy, most likely from experience.

As for posting on WP, I hesitate once in a while, depending on the subject. More often, I'm fussing over spelling and such nonsense. And then I go back and edit it three or four times for dumb little things. You're allowed to do that here.

And like the paranoid packman ghost said,

Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get me

^ I can relate, but it's not so much that people know something about me, it's that they know what I'm thinking. I actually find myself attempting to control my thoughts when around certain people. I was pretty convinced that my most recent boyfriend could read my mind - I'd swear on several occasions when thoughts came through that I was trying to suppress, he had some sort of reaction.


& Tahitiii, thanks for the troll warning. I've been lucky enough not to encounter any yet.

I used to be like that. I think it's most likely related to anxiety, the AS issue of not being able to read others' intentions, and negative past experiences.

yes, your gig ticket example is a normal reaction- you were being really thoughful. she was rude not to reply, though perhaps her phone was off etc....

being sensative like this, and insecure, is just part of being a.s, annoyingly. it can be good, as it means- as you hvae exemplified- taht you are thoughtful and kind.

i have had periods where ive been realy concerned about being watched- it was when i was really ovreloaded with stress, and it sort of leaked out into weird thinking.....

i realised it is UNLIKELY that my brainwaves WERE being scanned to see if i was awake or sleeping- but- what was weird housemate doing in that cupboard all that time each day (just above my bedroom)???

if you work out what else is stressing you- being with people too much, too much daylight, not enough sleep?- you might be able to calm down a little.
it doesnt mean you have a PD- it is just a stress manifestation (sounds like an mouse infestation!). its a reaction to extreme stess.

I used to have fairly severe bouts of paranoid-delusional thinking.

Paranoid because I'd think someone was out to get me (or life in general).

Delusional because I'd start imagining all kinds off potential threats that had no basis in fact.

It took some time, but I came to learn.

1. Sometimes when I was being paranoid, I was right to be so.

2. The key was to carefully evaluate WHY I felt paranoid and if I could articulate what was the source of my paranoia.

This helped me get the issue under wraps rather than let my imagination run away with me.

I am paranoid in MANY different ways.

I always proofread my posts (and emails, etc) over 9000 times before sending. Mostly for spelling, etc, but I don't know why I worry so much about that because it's almost always correct anyway (I am very good at spelling, luckily).

I am VERY paranoid about people (ie. my parents) reading my emails. I have encryptions, passwords, etc, but my mum's boyfriend knows how to hack things, so if he wanted he could get into them. He thinks he's funny when he messes about pretending to have read them and stuff (WHY do NTs think it's funny to screw about with people's feelings????????! !! !!). If I think anyone might have read them, I feel physically nauseous.

I'm also paranoid about the government/Illuminati spying on us. The new UK proposals for actually doing that REALLY don't help.

I am really paranoid so I have been told.