Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
anxiety and paranoia, or something else???
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
anxiety and paranoia, or something else???
by imcrazy2, Nov 14, 2006 12:00AM
I have posted before, and I have panic disorder with severe free-floating anxiety, coupled with some moderate depression. I am wondering if a normal component of anxiety is paranoia, or if it means something else. I have a huge fear of schizophrenia (I am a 30 y/o female with family members on both sides suffering from schizophrenia, in addition to other mental illnesses). I have moments when I have trouble convincing myself that nobody has drugged my food or drink, or that I am not going to dive into psychosis. Most of my fears relating to this stem from long-ago LSD use, and the HORRID detatched, depersonalization sensations that accompany hallucinogens. Is it possible to have side effects from drug use that pops up many years later, or would I have been immediately affected? Did I damage my brain chemistry?? (I'm referring to the stories about people being thrust into permanent psychosis from LSD use). I should mention that I did it about 10 times, and the last time was over 10 years ago, and the panic attacks and anxiety didn't start until 7 years ago. The sensations of panic attacks are SO remniscent of a "trip", that it makes them even worse.
I also had terrible postpartum issues that were diagnosed as "possible postpartum psychosis", even though I was on prozac (since switched to paxil, and now effexor).
These paranoid moments are much better with the medication I'm on, but I would like to hear that paranoia is not unusual with anxiety. Plus, how would I know if I was becoming schizophrenic, or if I am suffering long-term effects of drugs??--everything I read about psychosis or schizophrenia has to do with family members noticing strange behavior, but would I actually FEEL myself "losing it"?
Sorry about the random, rambling tone, but I'm having a rough night. Thanks!
I also had terrible postpartum issues that were diagnosed as "possible postpartum psychosis", even though I was on prozac (since switched to paxil, and now effexor).
These paranoid moments are much better with the medication I'm on, but I would like to hear that paranoia is not unusual with anxiety. Plus, how would I know if I was becoming schizophrenic, or if I am suffering long-term effects of drugs??--everything I read about psychosis or schizophrenia has to do with family members noticing strange behavior, but would I actually FEEL myself "losing it"?
Sorry about the random, rambling tone, but I'm having a rough night. Thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 17, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 17, 2006 12:00AM
The answer is yes, you could feel yourself slipping, but from what you have said, it is very likely that your paranoia is coming from a combination of factors, that include current anxiety actually recruiting old bad experiences, leading you into an endless loop of old worries that helps you avoid the real and current source of your anxiety...that is something you should explore in therapy.
Write yourself a letter. Tell your self that there is nothing wrong in your life that your completly happy. Tell yourself that you control your life and you cannot control the world. Give yourself confidence.Even if you dont believe it. Just read it out loud over and over and over. Praying works wonders. Ever sence i started writting myself those letters and reading them aloud over and over I got better but once i started praying that God would make me better I got better over a couple of days cuz i kept praying and givving my self confidence. Hey email me and we can talk. I still get panic attacks sometimes. My address is
destinys_angel_17***@****