Do I Have A Heightened Sense Of Paranoia?

Question

I just wanted to know if I had a problem or if this is normal. It's not exactly a life changing problem but here I go. I feel as though I get paranoid too much. Here are my symptoms.
1. When I am in class and sit in the front row, I get the feeling that I am so vulnerable to pranks and such and that people are making fun of me. Well this could mean that I'm insecure but continue reading 2. In the darkness I always get the feeling that someone or something is there. One night I woke up six or seven times because of the slightest sounds. 3. When I walk home in the dark, I sometime get paranoid of killers or muggers in a perfectly safe environment. 4. I feel as though a bug is on me when my shirt moves a little and can't help but to scratch the spot.

One reminder, I don't do drugs.

I also want to say that this used to torment me to the extremes when I was younger and I thought that as I got older I would grow out of it but it stills bother me so much. Of course, it bothers me to a lesser extent now. Even though I reasure myself that it is just my mind playing tricks on me, it still crowds my mind. When I get near windows at night I get kind of spooked of what is on the other side. I sometimes get goosebumps when I think about it. It's not like I don't do anything about it either. I try to understand what is wrong but it tortures me anyways. I don't know if this will help but here I go again. I am rather smart (was placed in advance classes) but I can't seem to get it through my head that homework actually raises my grades. Seriously, I want to do my homework so bad but the thought of doing it kills me. When I'm in class I think of other things and don't even notice that I'm missing the lesson. When i finally find out that i missed the lesson, go "not again"

Answer 1

The main symptom is permanent delusion. It should be kept in mind that there is delusion in schizophrenia also but in that case it is not permanent or organized. In paranoia the symptoms of delusion appear gradually, and the patient is sentimental, suspicious, irritable, introverted, depressed, obstinate, jealous, selfish, unsocial and bitter. Hence his social and family adjustment is not desirable, and while he has the highest desirable, the effort that he is prepared to expend is correspondingly little. Here the person does not acknowledge his own failures or faults, and by sometimes accepting certain qualities as belonging to himself, even when imaginary, he develops paranoia.

The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", fourth edition (DSM-IV), the US manual of the mental health professional; lists the following symptoms for paranoid personality disorder:

* preoccupied with unsupported doubts about friends or associates
* suspicious; unfounded suspicions; believes others are plotting against him/her
* perceives attacks on his/her reputation that are not clear to others, and is quick to counterattack
* maintains unfounded suspicions regarding the fidelity of a spouse or significant other
* reads negative meanings into innocuous remarks
* reluctant to confide in others due to a fear that information may be used against him/her

Kids of paranoia

1. Persecutory paranoia - This is the most prevalent type of paranoia, and in this patient makes himself believe that all those around him are his enemies, bent on harming him or even taking his life. In this delusion people of an aggressive temperament often turns dangerous killers.
2. Delusion of Grandeur - In this patient believes himself to be, a great individual, and according to Bleuler, this delusion of grandeur accompanies a persecutory delusion.
3. Religious paranoia - Here the patients suffer from a permanent delusion of a primarily religious nature. He for example believes, that he is the messenger of God who has been sent to the world to propagate some religion.
4. Reformatory paranoia - In this the patient turns to considering himself a great reformer. He accordingly looks upon all those around him. As suffering from dangerous disease, and believes that he is their reformer and curator.
5. Erotic paranoia - Here the patient often tends to believe that some members of the family of the opposite sex, belonging to an illustrious family, want to marry him. Such people even write love letters and there by, cause much botheration to other people.
6. Litigious paranoia - In this kind the patient takes to feeling meaningless cases against other people and feels that people are linked together to bother him. Sometimes he, even tries to murder.
7. Hypochondrical paranoia - In this kind the patients believes that he is suffering from all kind of ridiculous diseases, and also that some other people are to blame for his suffering.

Answer 2

Most definitely bring this up with a psychiatrist. Paranoia can be a really awful problem. You want to make sure that yours doesn't progress any further than it has. Currently, it makes you feel uncomfortable in many settings, but you are aware that you have paranoid ideas which is a positive thing.

When paranoia worsens, it can result in psychosis where you would have the same ideas as you have now, but you wouldn't realize that these ideas are delusions. You would think that your ideas are realistic.

I had a friend with a physical problem that led to delusional disorder - persecutory type and he left the country because he thought the FBI was going to kill him.

I think it would also help you to read about paranoia, delusional disorder, schizophrenia. By doing this you will store in your brain a picture of paranoia so that you when you have paranoid thoughts you will be able to recognize them as paranoid thoughts and you can tell yourself that these are paranoid thoughts and not real.

Answer 3

Make an appointment with a psychologist and request an MMPI-2 personality test or a MMPI-A if you are under 17.
This is an extremely accurate test and will determine how paranoid you really are.

Answer 4

I was like that, and they were out to get me. If you're an easy target, you will be targeted. Also, dont be vocal about your paranoia. When something does go down, no one will believe you and just say tha you're being paranoid.

Answer 5

im just as paranoid, if not more. at night, if i hear my own footsteps, i think theyre some killer on the loose and i freak out. im always thinkin someone is out to get me. maybe im overly paranoid too...

Answer 6

You sound like me. I'm not sure how to deal with it either, but my doctor (regular physician) picked up on me being a worrier at my yearly physical.

Answer 7

no I just think you think to much. Get a hobby.