Paranoia or aniexty? Is there a difference?

[Shaina499]

Im 22 years old, i have 2 children (a 2 year old daughter and a 4 year old son)
I have always had a bit on aniexty around other people, mostly in groups. Recently i am getting more and more aniexty about people, more specificly that people want to hurt me or hurt my children or try to rob us. My aniexty is at its highest level while im in the shower. I put a movie on for my kids and give them a snack. I tell them to be nice to eachother and sit and watch the movie while i shower. While i am in the shower i hear sounds (probly just my kids jumping or playing around) and i think someone is trying to brake in my home and kidnap my children or rob my home. My heart starts to pound really fast and i start shaking and i feel the need to hurry up and get out of the shower to make sure they are alright... As for being around other people, i fear that i will say something that will embaress myself or my husband or just fear that i will say something wrong and the other person will get mad. I also get the same fear while talking on the phone to my husbands family (sometimes my own), i just go blank and dont know what to say.
I have not talked to any doctor about any of this and i am greatful for any advice on how to control this. I talked to a friend and she told me its a paranoia aniexty.. Ive never heard of that, ive always thought its just one or the other?.. Thanks for listening!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Anxiety is just a form of fear in the fear and pain at someone is going to hurt you or somebody else.  That's when people talk about paranoia which is an exaggeration of the normal fear.  You also are afraid that you are going to make a mistake.  It seems to me that you are describing your struggle with perfection and that you are trying to prove that you are a perfect mother and a perfect wife and you have to be always alert to make sure that nothing ever happens to contradict that.  This is not an uncommon struggle for a young person like yourself with a lot of responsibilities.  You might get all the help you need just by talking to your friends about this and trying to get a perspective and deal with the fact that you can't be perfect in all you can do is minimize risks and mistakes.

[Jaquta]

My advice would be to consult your doctor and discuss this with them.

I never know about labels either.  Sometimes I think some people just make them up.  I was diagnosed with depression but then some other health professional said I had agitated, anxious depression.  Who knows?  Who cares?  Apparently it is only of importance so that we get appropriate treatment.

I haven't heard of paranoid anxiety per se but I do know that sometimes under extreme pressure or stress people can become paranoid (usually only for a short period).

I use to get quite anxious in the shower too.  I guess it is a place where we feel quite vulnerable and in some respects, trapped.

It sounds like you may have social anxiety.
Going blank can be a result of stress and/ or anxiety.

Relaxation techniques and stress management to reduce your stress/ anxiety may help.

Other people may have more helpful suggestions but I would definitely follow-up with a doctors appointment.  Maybe even a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist.

J