Irrational fears

[2muchworry]

Could this be Paranoid Personality Disorder or just my Generalized Anxiety Disorder? I have been diagnosed with GAD 10 years ago but am doing pretty well except for my fears. I have these easily provoked fears that I sometime think I am delusional but my doctors have assured me it has nothing to do with delusions.

I;ll put a few examples. For instance, if I found a wallet with lots of money in it, I would be afraid to take it because it is same as stealing, even though if no one saw me taking it, I would die from fear that police would find out. But if I took that wallet to police station and if some money was missing or just simply they could think I stole it and changed my mind and returned it.

Another one. If I was in fight with someone whom I dont know and if he threatened me that he would kill me or something, my fears would be much higher than a normal person would fear it and longer lasting.

Or, I received an email in some foreign language and have no idea what it says.(probably advertisement) My thoughts were "what if this letter was something criminally or illegal oriented and now that it was sent to my email, i could get in trouble".

Some person on a forum needed help about something and I gave him an advice. later I thought what if my advice does more bad than good to that person so I might be blamed, so I went and deleted my post, LOL. It wasnt big deal at all but my fears were too strong.

I also fear publicly speaking about BAD things (not that i like to) because I simply fear bad things such as crime etc.

Also long time ago I saw my neighbour selling weed. I feared him because I thought he might do something to me so I do not report him to police.

The list goes on and I realize my fears are nonsense but they are all based on possibility even though the possibility is next to none.

So is this normal with GAD or is it more like PPD?

Thank you

[tbfl]

If I were you, I'd go to the doctor and get an "anxiety evaluation" I did last Thursday. I'm now on some medication to treat me for anxiety and OCD. I'm not saying you sound like have OCD though, cuz I just think you may very likely suffer from Paranoia which an SSRI anxiety medication might help. But before you just go to doctor and ask to be put on medication for anxiety or Paranoia, get an anxiety evaluation.

[Autumnx1003]

As a counselor (not licensed yet, so don't take this as professional advice!), any personality disorder is much more severe than our GAD.  And, oftentimes, people with personality disorders do not necessarily recognize that they have a disordered way of thinking at all.  So..the very fact that you question yourself probably means that you do not have this.  Also...NEVER try to self-diagnose.  You can't be objective, so you should leave this to a professional.  With that said, I can assure that you GAD can make you have all kinds of worries that "normal people" would not.  Here are some of mine...if it makes you feel better:  I'm terrified that people I love are going to leave someday and just disappear.  I willl even get worked up if my hubby is in a store too long, because i'm afraid I will go in there to find him and he won't be there.  I'm also afraid that I'm going crazy sometimes.  Another one, I'm afraid that my heart will beat too fast and it might explode.  Then there is the classic fear that a snake is going to crawl in my bed at night...even though I live in a two story apartment in the middle of a city.  So..see...we all have those thoughts.  No, they are not fun. But, we have them just the same, and we just have to learn how to let our rational minds overcome them enough so that we can function everyday.

Also, probably what's most important is that in my line of work, I have YET to meet an actual "NORMAL" person.  I've heard they exist out there, but they haven't crossed my path yet! HAHA  Every single person I meet has something...some kind of quirk...some kind of flaw...something.  I guess that is what makes us all unique.  

I don't know if any of this helps, but rest assured...you are not alone :)

[Paxiled]

Don't get hung up on these definitions -- they're just for insurance purposes or for pharmaceutical companies to get patents.  Anxiety is anxiety, obsessive thinking is common to all mental dysfunction, it's just what we obsess about that is different.  You're not hallucinating from your description, you're just obsessing.  Not that I know how to fix it, or I wouldn't be on this board.  Also, sometimes we make decisions, but when you are obsessive, the decision is never made.  I wouldn't turn in anyone for selling weed because I think it should be legal, but I would pick up the wallet and turn it in to the police or look for a phone number to call the person to come get it.  I would turn anyone who committed an act of violence, but being anxious like you, I probably would be afraid.  But so are people who don't suffer anxiety diseases, which is why most people don't turn people in for anything.  You know, just do what the rest of us do, get into therapy, and use your knowledge that worrying just makes things worse to try and improve.  It's worth a try.