Paranoid and Anxious?

Question

I fear almost everything. I hate to drive, call people, make appointments, talk to anyone. I also feel like everyone is watching me, or plotting against me. I know that I am just paranoid, but why do I fear everything so much that it controls me? Does anyone know of a good medication I could recommend to my doctor to prescribe me for this anxiety and paranoia?

Answer 1

Sounds to me like you have Social Phobia / Social Anxiety. A lot of people suffer from this, so you're not alone. It also sounds like you are suffering from Paranoia caused from the underlying SP/SA.

How old are you and how long have you been feeling like this?

The usual approach to dealing with SP/SA is a combination of Immersion Therapy (placing yourself in the very situations you find difficult) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (changing how you view yourself and the world around you).

There is further information on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy here....

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinf...

Here are a couple of websites you may find useful....

http://www.socialphobia.org/
http://www.socialphobiaworld.com/...

You should contact your doctor or mental health center who should be able to assist you further and may prescribe medication such as an antipsychotic like Risperidone if required.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotic

There are also a couple of books I would recommend.....

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Paperback)
by Susan Jeffers $10.78

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0449902...

The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Fourth Edition (Paperback)
by Edmund J. Bourne $12.97

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572244...

Hope this helps! E-mail me if you need more information or help!! :)

Answer 2

I would have to agree the doctor should prescribe the medication not you. But there are many different things you could do while you are waiting for that to happen. Do you journal? Journaling is a good way of releasing emotional stress and anxiety. Your journal can say anything that you are feeling and the great part is no one gets to see it unless you want them too. I would recommend that you put your self out of your comfort zone a little more, make a phone call to a family member or friend so that you get used to calling and this will also confront your anxiety of the phone. If you feel that someone is watching try to think about something else.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

--First off, while it is the doctor who writes the perscription, you are on the right track in terms of wanting to be an *active* participant in your recovery. :) Good call. And while you can't just tell the doctor what to give you, doing your own homework and sharing your best ideas with your doctor can't hurt (unless you are stuck with a doctor like mine--someone doing his job on a 24-second shot clock like it's basketball becaause folks want to be *cheap* about it). You want to actually be an active partner in getting better because no matter *what* some misguided case manager would have you believe, at the end of the day it *is* your mind, and your life....

--And that is the other thing. Not that I doubt you don't have an anxiety problem or two--I do as well and know plenty of folks in my building who do too--but I don't really think it is *all* about you or the pills lately.

You have watched the news right? You have taken a good look around you, right? There is a lot going on out there that would make *any* rational person anxious, if not a little bit paranoid. I mean, phones *are* really being tapped on American soil lately, no lie, it is in the news, has been for some time....

And if you don't look perfectly preppy, well, I think you know this one....you can't go shopping. Doesn't matter if you have money or not, you can't look without being watched. If you aren't "pretty people" meaning preppy and perky, you get judged to be a thief without either cause or evidence...

And that is just two small examples. Truth is, society is a lot more harsh, mean and brutal than it was even five years ago. There is a lot less to hope for, and a lot more in the way of people both under attack and *doing* the attacking.....

In short....while folks like you and I might have a diagnosis, and be on meds, and see doctors and counselors and case mangler....erm, case managers, that is, *lol*, we are also still thinking people too. There is such a thing as being aware that we are in a *hostile and unsafe environment* you know?

There is such a thing as having a sane reaction to an insane situation. :)

Try to remember that as you work on your own anxiety. It isn't all your fault, even if the world around you is packed to the gills with meanies and idiots who just say "well, you're 'crazy' so everything is *always* your fault and is *always* about your being 'crazy', so shut up...." I know, I've had to deal with so-called friends acting that way lately, and it hurts because it *isn't* always our fault and *isn't* always the anxiety or mood disorder, and it's offensive when folks *say it is* in open spite of reality, when they know better and *know* it isn't our fault. People need to stop *psychologizing* all of our problems and abusing our diagnoses by using them as an *excuse* to attack, dismiss and ignore us...

But I digress, sorry. :) Point is, it isn't all your fault, it isn't all the mood disorder. Society really is messed up lately. America really is FUBAR lately. It isn't just you or me.

So try to give yourself a little slack, and a little pat on the back for coping as well as you are--coming to Yahoo Answers and being open and brave enough to ask folks is a big and *good* first step, really it is....thank you.

Answer 4

I am going through the same short term help is available from medications, however, I have been taking xanax for 8 years and it has made things worse in the long run. Better to avoid meds, i can recommend a site that has a program through Monash Medical its called paniconline.www.med.monash.edu.au/mentalhealth/paniconline. This site has supported modules in reducing panic, it is helping. Good luck
Nasty condition to get control of but can be done. Also website beyond blue has info on doctors specialising in this area.

Answer 5

breathe deep, friend. I feel part of your pain at least. I strongly believe that drugs are not the answer but in your situation I can understand.....just try not to stay on the meds forever maybe look up some alternative treatments i.e massage, tea, hot bubble baths, vitamins (extra B's/stress tabs) there are other things too. Uummm, you have to accept that you aren't perfect and that you can't please everyone. if you feel like everyone is watching you realize it doesn't really matter. Remember life is short and as far as I know we only get one. We've got to make the most of what we have right now. Who knows if we will live tomorrow. You are not alone. Best of luck with your life.....and remember we are only as sick as the secrets we keep.

Answer 6

Zoloft can be good for generalized anxiety. Xanax can be good for situations, but be careful about taking it every day because it is soooo addictive!

Make yourself do the things you fear, and surround yourself with positive people, positive books, positive music...you get the picture. Exercise helps with this stuff too.

Answer 7

Tell your doctor exactly what you've said here and he'll be able to prescribe something -- he may have a few more questions for you about your nerves and anything that's happened to you recently.

There are several medications --leave it to him, though, and don't guess and self-medicate for your nerves.

Answer 8

You need to find a good psychiatrist who will diagnose the problem and prescribe what you need. It may take a few tries to find the right medication. Please get help so you can stop suffering so much. God bless.

Answer 9

its the doctor that picks the med , not you, you have a brain chemistry imbalance and it can take quite a while to figure out what you should take and how much , however a lot of things can be helped by not being alone.

Answer 10

Prozac