Paranoia

[lordalfredhenry]

I've been scoring quite high in terms of being "paranoid". I'm almost paranoid of the paranoia now. I really don't know that much about it. I just know that I'm not thinking that the CIA is tracking me per se. I remember watching "The Truman Show" with Jim Carrey (yah, I know, Jenny McCarthy and Autasm Spreks)...and sometimes entertaining the

Comments

[nimling]

as someone who is paranoid to the point of utter ridiculousness... no, i don't know how to deal with it

[lordalfredhenry]

No, it was fairly insightful so also useful. I'm taking the "context of the world vs just in my mind" stuff to heart. It may be the mere nature of living in the world and not wanting that much to do with its bad behavior.

[feebeeglee]

I have PTSD and I have found half-assed cognitive behavior stuff works. WHenever I have the thoughts I want to avoid I say to myself "That is not reality. My brain has a glitch that needs rewiring. This is irrational."

It's really helped over time.

[lordalfredhenry]

I tried some CBT but it was perhaps applied at the wrong problems for me. I think if it were applied to PTSD, it might be helpful. I just wonder how easy it will be to obtain. That's a cute picture btw. I sure wouldn't mind if this became a "post ourselves younger" thing. This makes me realize one other kind of psychologic thing...I might have some defense mechanism in some of my infantilism. (I don't like the word "regression" though) I have to say though, it works on me. I think your icon is adorable

[feebeeglee]

Aw, thanks. That's not me - it's my fifth kid at 12 months old. Of my six she looks the most like me as a child, almost my clone! This icon is her at about 2 weeks old.

(She also toe-walks, has overwhelming shyness and bashes her head on the floor when she gets stressed, so you know, another apple falling close to the tree! Which could lead me down a whole nother path about how great it is that autism is genetic because I know what it's like to feel that way and I "get it", but I'll save that for anotherday :-)

[spekkiomow]

I worry a lot about whether or not I'm paranoid, especially lately. I'm becoming more convinced by the day that humanity is heading down the drain - global warming, neoconservatives, unnecessary warfare, "intelligent design" proponents, spineless politicians, evil corporations, stupid groups like Autism Speaks, peak oil, recession, etc, etc, ad nauseum. And I'm also becoming more and more worried each day that I'm not going to "make it" - that I'm going to be in debt forever, that I'm never going to make anything of myself, that I'm never going to make any difference in the world at all.

And the real problem is that I'm never quite sure if it's paranoia or not. People will tell me that I'm being irrational and pessimistic, but it all seems to make sense - and isn't that a hallmark of paranoia?

Oh, and cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotive behavioral therapy don't work for me at all. I've tried.

[lordalfredhenry]

Interesting you mention that. It's been on my mind too and I've observed just how true "ignorant bliss" is. I don't like being punished for "knowing the hard truth" but so it is. The good thing is that something can be done about it in gestures/word of mouth even. Activism is good but so is organizing a project/taking some local steps/actions locally. The problem is, the paranoia sets in and leads to a lot of inaction there too. I guess facing fear is one step people tend to take and I wonder if there aren't some good programs for discovering and facing my phobias and paranoias. (The distinction is blurred to me like almost everything else)

[spekkiomow]

Totally agree on "ignorance is bliss." As for doing something about it - I'm just running out of hope.

[idiotgrrl]

I think some of the paranoia is from being halfway between being unaware of people's motivations and understanding them enough to predict their behavior. So it seems to you that they can blindside you at any moment with something totally unforeseen and irrational. (How do I know this? Hah

[okelay]

I'm pretty paranoid myself
I can never understand people's motives or what they're thinking or what they're hiding,etc
often I fear they are speaking about me
I also am unsure how to approach them.
it's really annoying,specially with my classmates
I just try to talk tothem and give them the benefit of the doubt.
but sometimes i do feel like i come one too strong and people may think i'm pushing my way into the group or something ( i have trouble fitting in...everywhere)

I always listen to my instincts cause they are always right.