[pandabear0927]

Hey everyone! Maybe you can help me? I definitely suffer from anxiety, but I’m wondering at what point does it turn to paranoia. Do you think it’s the same? Does anyone else have the issue of dealing with either or?

[Skeezyks]

Well... I honestly don't know the answer to your question. However I experience a lot of generalized anxiety & also some paranoia. I'm an older person & I don't recall ever feeling particularly paranoid when I was younger even though I struggled with a lot of anxiety back then too. Nowadays, though, paranoia is something that does come upon me particularly later at night.

Perhaps the paranoia I experience is simply a sign that, over time, the constant anxiety I have dealt with has "worn away" whatever layers of resistance I had when I was younger? Or perhaps it's a matter of my generalized anxiety just worsening? I don't really know. Actually, nowadays, I no longer even have anything in particular to be anxious about. But I think after so many years of running on my nerves, so to speak, my body just no longer knows how to function any other way.

[pandabear0927]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Well... I honestly don't know the answer to your question. However I experience a lot of generalized anxiety & also some paranoia. I'm an older person & I don't recall ever feeling particularly paranoid when I was younger even though I struggled with a lot of anxiety back then too. Nowadays, though, paranoia is something that does come upon me particularly later at night.



Perhaps the paranoia I experience is simply a sign that, over time, the constant anxiety I have dealt with has "worn away" whatever layers of resistance I had when I was younger? Or perhaps it's a matter of my generalized anxiety just worsening? I don't really know. Actually, nowadays, I no longer even have anything in particular to be anxious about. But I think after so many years of running on my nerves, so to speak, my body just no longer knows how to function any other way.

Awe I pretty much find myself worrying about just about everything. I’ve always had an anxiety issue but only recently got genuinely diagnosed. If it’s possible, it’s even taken a toll on my memory. Ill be so caught up worrying about my next move, what i have to do in my day, etc etc that I have to double sometimes triple check basic tasks before i leave a room . Like “ did I lock that door? Did i take the garbage out? Did i turn out the light?” And even though i know i checked before i left the house, ill so much as get out of my car, go back inside and do my checklist all over, but I’m wondering if being scared of bad things happening makes it worse. I find myself asking “ what if” all day.... “ what if my car breaks down? I need water maybe some snacks and a travel bag?” “What if i get my clothes dirty at work? Guess i should have some back up” ...” what if my cat gets into the garbage while I’m away? Should i leave work a little early to check on him?”

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry, pandabear0927 The line between anxiety and paranoia is very thin, but I think paranoia becomes a problem when it deals with bigger issues (for example if you're convinced someone is out there to get you) and you become almost delusional. From what you wrote, it just sounds like normal anxiety, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, but it is something to keep in check. Just try your best to cope with it. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

[WishfulThinker66]

Originally Posted by pandabear0927

Awe I pretty much find myself worrying about just about everything. I’ve always had an anxiety issue but only recently got genuinely diagnosed. If it’s possible, it’s even taken a toll on my memory. Ill be so caught up worrying about my next move, what i have to do in my day, etc etc that I have to double sometimes triple check basic tasks before i leave a room . Like “ did I lock that door? Did i take the garbage out? Did i turn out the light?” And even though i know i checked before i left the house, ill so much as get out of my car, go back inside and do my checklist all over, but I’m wondering if being scared of bad things happening makes it worse. I find myself asking “ what if” all day.... “ what if my car breaks down? I need water maybe some snacks and a travel bag?” “What if i get my clothes dirty at work? Guess i should have some back up” ...” what if my cat gets into the garbage while I’m away? Should i leave work a little early to check on him?”

Yep. I have check marked off for myself each and every example. I would only add in there supersticious behaviour that I suppose is OCD. I find I do things the same way changing the routine if I have a spell of bad luck. Something happened that was difficult or negative? Then I scrutinise what may have been done differently - like putting on the wrong sock first or applying make-up in a different order. And it works the other way too if good luck happened to fall in my lap.

I understand your anxiety and fear of bad things happening. Add to that my panic that I will in turn humiliate myself. It has robbed me of enjoying the good things in my life.

And yes, there is a voice in my head (in my case the voice of my mother) that runs a constant commentary on the very questions you have indicated. Is this paranoia? Is this being delusional? I have never thought of it that way. I simply think it is behaviour that has been caused by childhood experience that has been reinforced by those undergone as we have continued to grow up.

I am really interested to see other people's take on this.

I've no answers to stop this. I hope someone here does.

[pandabear0927]

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

Yep. I have check marked off for myself each and every example. I would only add in there supersticious behaviour that I suppose is OCD. I find I do things the same way changing the routine if I have a spell of bad luck. Something happened that was difficult or negative? Then I scrutinise what may have been done differently - like putting on the wrong sock first or applying make-up in a different order. And it works the other way too if good luck happened to fall in my lap.



I understand your anxiety and fear of bad things happening. Add to that my panic that I will in turn humiliate myself. It has robbed me of enjoying the good things in my life.



And yes, there is a voice in my head (in my case the voice of my mother) that runs a constant commentary on the very questions you have indicated. Is this paranoia? Is this being delusional? I have never thought of it that way. I simply think it is behaviour that has been caused by childhood experience that has been reinforced by those undergone as we have continued to grow up.



I am really interested to see other people's take on this.



I've no answers to stop this. I hope someone here does.

Yessss!! You get it!! And I’m the same way! Like “ damn I hate a particularly bad day at work... mustve been because I forgot to put on the necklace I always wear.” Happens a lot when I’m driving too *goes the backroads for whatever reason to a familiar spot and hits traffic* “ see I knew I shouldve went the other way!!!”.... but yeah as a child my dad would always tell me not to touch things in public because of germs... “ keep your hands of the grocery belt in a store” “ always wipe the cart down with a moistened wipe first!” “ don’t stand like that, people are watching you!” “ you cant go outside today, you went out yesterday and people will look !” “ you arent allowed to watch tv unless it’s during the day when I’m home * unplugs cable from his room to my tv in my room*... at 16 i had to fight my parents to get a phone.. i did extra curricular activities at school and didnt get home until 5-11... they didnt understand why i needed a phone and when i finally did get one, it could only text... because “who are you going to call?? “ and it didnt stop with just my parents or just in early childhood...my grandmother didnt even want me getting the mail and I was 14.... and it was a safe neighborhood for just retirees.....at 20 if we’d go out for lunch, shed come by my apartment afterwards and watch me take my dog outside to make sure no one would take me.....so now because of that it stops me from doing so much.. right now I’d love to go out for a few dif jobs but I’m thinking “ what if i screw up and something happens? What if the people don’t like me? Will they judge me? What if the job is too hard, is it okay to quit? “ all these questions that make my heart race and my palms sweat and I didnt even submit a job application yet..... ive actually cancelled interviews because i was too afraid to go inside. Social situations are the worst... if i dont have detailed instructions on where im meeting a person I’ll either have them come find me or ill get there early enough that i dont have to go in a public space alone and idk do something dumb like trip and fall or look lost when the person im looking for is directly in front of me...

[avlady]

In my case, I have high anxiety when I go out of the house. I think I am am agoraphobic to a certain degree. I am afraid of traffic and have to put my whole effort in prayer to just to get in the car and besides that my husband drives too fast for me. I never learned to drive because I had too many head injuries and cannot think right. I had 3 concussion in my life already which may cause the anxiety too.

[pandabear0927]

Originally Posted by avlady

In my case, I have high anxiety when I go out of the house. I think I am am agoraphobic to a certain degree. I am afraid of traffic and have to put my whole effort in prayer to just to get in the car and besides that my husband drives too fast for me. I never learned to drive because I had too many head injuries and cannot think right. I had 3 concussion in my life already which may cause the anxiety too.

Thats terrible, I’m sorry

[sarahsweets]

I think part of the difference is in how impairing it is for you. Not that anxiety isnt impairing but sometimes the paranoia is like anxiety on steroids and goes beyond being distressing to actually trying to control the way you think or act.

[pandabear0927]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I think part of the difference is in how impairing it is for you. Not that anxiety isnt impairing but sometimes the paranoia is like anxiety on steroids and goes beyond being distressing to actually trying to control the way you think or act.

That’s pretty much when i blast music or tv to drown out the worrying