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SmokenBabyJesus
Smoker of Religious Figures


Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 1,217
Loc: Maryland
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Paranoia
#7603278 - 11/06/07 03:43 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I am becoming increasingly paranoid. I don't feel safe, though I know I am. I don't live in a bad area, I just fear police(I barely do anything illegal) and people.. I can think clearly but my thoughts won't replace the feelings I have. I was wondering if there was anything I can do to alleviate these unwarranted feelings? or any good reading on the subject??
-------------------- "Where?
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Majawala
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/06
Posts: 61
Last seen: 13 years, 2 months
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stop watching the news. maybe take up some martial art. I used to feel that to and I watched this TED talk that said violence has declined significantly over the past 100 years. that helped.
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Chemy
Jesus is Lord

Registered: 10/05/07
Posts: 6,276
Loc: A Church
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Paranoia *DELETED* [Re: Majawala]
#7604037 - 11/06/07 06:33 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Post deleted by ChemyReason for deletion: Reason for deletion:
-------------------- Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Get help, help is free and available 24/7/365. God bless you all and I hope you receive the help you need to turn away from your lives of sin. Mushrooms and drugs make you gay, you can reverse this homosexual condition with rehab, get help! Stop being gay!
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mushroomplume
Stranger

Registered: 10/16/06
Posts: 1,395
Last seen: 14 years, 19 days
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Re: Paranoia [Re: Chemy]
#7604116 - 11/06/07 06:58 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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i have a hard time relating on this one, but next time you feel paranoid, ask yourself why.
maybe the truth will diminish it over time.
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Booby
Agent Mulder

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 3,781
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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I think someone mentioned that there is a medication for Agoraphobia, a related illness.
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SmokenBabyJesus
Smoker of Religious Figures


Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 1,217
Loc: Maryland
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Re: Paranoia [Re: Booby]
#7605210 - 11/06/07 11:03 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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responding in order...
I don't watch the news. I've been looking at an AR-15 I try to ask myself why I feel that way but still no luck. I don't want to take pills....
I'm hoping it will pass.. but thanks
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SheerTerror
ST


Registered: 11/28/03
Posts: 2,348
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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yea i cant ever stop being tormented by paranoia and insecurity, i usually carry something to feel safer. ive got more to learn about it all, people hear my thoughts alot wherever i go and i get tormented by it all and it just turns into a headache.
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fake estate
didgin it out



Registered: 10/13/07
Posts: 264
Loc: NC
Last seen: 8 months, 4 days
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just because youre paranoid doesnt mean theyre after you
-------------------- eat more algae.
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Tangerines




Registered: 04/17/05
Posts: 17,918
Loc: woodwork
Last seen: 4 years, 23 days
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yea many times during the day I will play out scenarios in my head as to how I could hurt/kill random people around me in case I need to. And I scream at them in my head.
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Mike_yy


Registered: 10/28/05
Posts: 7,253
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Passion flower pills might help any anxiety associated with it, get decent quality/strength tabs, i found them really useful.
A trick for losing paranoia is learning to let go of thoughts.
When you're telling yourself there's nothing to be paranoid about make an effort to register it as truth and reason. Once you believe, you need to do your best to let go of the thoughts you were having.
It takes practice, but just practicing clearing your mind at any time will help.
If you find your doing things that support the paranoia, stop them. For example you mentioned the police, if you feel like you need to sit with the window open so you can hear whatever's going on outside, and you're reacting to every movement,, close the window and try watching TV or do whatever you do in peace.
At first it'll still creep up on you a lot, but you'll get better and better at controlling it. Eventually you should be able to use the same 'tek' in any situation.
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Querjek
Friend


Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 339
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Re: Paranoia [Re: Mike_yy]
#7614247 - 11/09/07 09:28 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Do you exercise at all?
Some people find that running for a bit each day can help push them through worry, odd as that may sound.
-------------------- tripping eyes and flooded lungs northern downpour sends its love
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Quake3
Total Carbohydrate




Registered: 08/31/06
Posts: 924
Loc: Relatively New York
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Howdy. I suffered from anxiety for a decade and I still do a little, but now it's mainly just related to drugs, particularly stimulants in high doses and their withdrawals. I want you to read this site, its explanation of panic and anxiety is very simple and short:
http://www.paniccure.com/Approaches/CBT/Intro_Understandg_P.htm
Very important tips:
DO NOT make rituals and rely on them. Don't check your window whenever you hear a cop car because you're afraid they're coming to raid your house. You eventually become accustomed and dependent on these rituals to calm you down. Every time you do them makes you weaker.
Don't put suppress yourself or remain home-bound from your anxiety. This is the worst thing you can do, as it begins eating into itself and exponentially getting worse. Obviously, don't smoke weed at home if you don't want the cops to come by - that's a GOOD reason to stop for example. But don't be afraid of leaving your house, and when you're out, trust that you DID lock the door and etc..
Remind yourself that the future does not exist (fact) and that nearly 100% of everything you've ever been anxious about has never happened, and will likely never happen. No matter how anxious you are, if something does happen, you will be just as surprised and just as ill-prepared as if it happens right now, so chill and 'accept' it.
It *might* happen, but it might not, and it's better to just not worry about it because you're more likely to be harmed by stress and anxiety than you are by the thing you're stressing over. Think statistics. Chance of getting hit by lightening, etc..
Remain in the present moment. Focus on what you're doing RIGHT NOW.
Understand that this is VERY hard and takes weeks, months, years to become natural and routine. It's lots of practice and starting out with benzos on the side wouldn't hurt. Professional CBT is even better (they basically tell you what I told you and give you exercises that you have to do daily, these help!).
Good luck!
Edit: mikeyyork summarized my main point in his post. I don't want to come off as stealing credit - so I'll come off as somebody who replied before reading the current replies cheers.
Edited by Quake3 (11/09/07 12:03 PM)
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SmokenBabyJesus
Smoker of Religious Figures


Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 1,217
Loc: Maryland
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Re: Paranoia [Re: Quake3]
#7622244 - 11/11/07 02:35 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Breaking the habits does seem to be a logical starting point.
thanks
-------------------- "Where?
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TheLightIsOn
In the worst ofall your fears


Registered: 08/10/05
Posts: 358
Last seen: 12 years, 2 months
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I don't know what your daily diet consists of. Maybe start eating more healthier(fruits and vegetables). Also, how many hours do you sleep at night? A lack of sleep can be the culprit of your paranoia/anxiety.
-Peace
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SmokenBabyJesus
Smoker of Religious Figures


Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 1,217
Loc: Maryland
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I can hardly sleep at night, or during the day. I have trouble quieting my mind, I tried meditating but I couldn't sleep afterwards. I don't know...
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badreligion2good
Uncertain


Registered: 02/21/06
Posts: 888
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Doing too many drugs too often could also be ta problem. Along with not getting enough daylight.
I don't think you gave everyone the full picture. Theres more to your anxiety then you are admitting to.
-------------------- All I know is that I dont know. Row, row, row, you boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
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SmokenBabyJesus
Smoker of Religious Figures


Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 1,217
Loc: Maryland
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yes, if I was by my own opinion doing too many. but it doesn't seem like that since I haven't been doing as much as before. (well maybe smoking too much pot) but I think I'm paranoid because I think I'm paranoid....
-------------------- "Where?
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Land_Crab
NeuroticPsychonaut


Registered: 08/29/04
Posts: 2,194
Loc: U.S.
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Firstly, paranoia/anxiety is probably the most common negative potential side effect from smoking pot so you should try and monitor whether or not this is triggering or contributing to it.
Quote:
SmokenBabyJesus said:I can think clearly but my thoughts won't replace the feelings I have.
I really understand what you mean. The thinking part of you can logically understand that your paranoia is unfounded/excessive, but that by no means will eliminate or even diminish the feeling, or sense, of paranoia in your cognition. In fact it may make things worse, or certainly more confusing because you can't understand why the paranoia isn't going away.
Paranoia is just another manifestation of anxiety, and anxiety can come from anywhere and everywhere; (plus it is part of being human because without it our species never would have survived real threats). I tend to become pathologically anxious though it's gotten better over the years. One way I deal with it in the short-term is to almost let it become so overwhelming that it turns into a sick sort of joke. I'm not recommending this but it's just something that helps me personally. I try to embrace the paranoia and just run with that feeling far past the point of simply being uncomfortable or feeling threatened. By diving head first into the "theater of horrors" in innocuous situations it just seems to release some of the tension because the feelings become so distorted and out of touch with reality that I start to see them that way. As I say this is not to be taken as general advice, but at least try to monitor (step back from) yourself when you feel this way instead of staying locked inside and simply reacting.
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