What do I do about my paranoid thoughts?

[EricJones]

I keep thinking about my paranoid thoughts. I keep assuming the worst. I keep assuming that others are looking at me with the window wide open. I keep assuming my roommate and housemates are watching me and critiquing me in a harsh way. What can I do to negate these feelings and thoughts?

[Doglove24]

I’ve been able to get out some recently - not for a really long time - but I saw others but I didn’t look at them . I concentrated on walking. As long as I was thinking about something else - getting where I was going and finding what I went for , I wasn’t anxious about other people . If I had not kept my mind busy with other thoughts , I likely would have gotten really anxious . It was hard to sit by others when I got lab - I don’t like germs but they moved people through fast. I know this much, you are not alone in your thinking. Keep trying to focus on everything else but you or others - nature , your phone, books , anything to help divert your attention. Best wishes, Eric!! I know it’s not an easy road.

[EricJones in reply to Doglove24]

What advice to do you give me to stop being so paranoid?

[Doglove24 in reply to EricJones]

It helps me to focus on anything else but people - do something else - look elsewhere at nature , your phone or even at the ground . If the sight of strangers and the thoughts that come with that triggers you - you have to figure out a way to find out why it triggers you so much so you can work on it or talk to someone about it - or you have to find out how to divert yourself as much as you can from looking at others - it seems like when you see others you start thinking this certain way.

I think trying to get to the core reason why seeing others causes this thinking or maybe it is a trauma response. If we are hurt or upset badly and don’t talk about it /work through it it can cause reactive behavior and thoughts . If you have a counselor you might should say you’d like to try to go back to a time when you didn’t feel and think like this and then see if you can figure out what happened that might have changed how you perceive others and your thinking maybe you can work on it and it will help you overcome these feelings/thoughts. I know there is help and you can get better, Eric. Don’t stop believing in yourself! Also, know most people are kinder than what you fear about them, many don’t notice or care . Can you remember a time or several times when someone said or did something that made you feel paranoid , overly self aware, worried or upset? If so that could be part of the reason you feel the way you do about others and assume you know what they are thinking. It’s just a thought - I’m no expert - but I know you can get and feel better.

[CLB1125]

I don'tknow if this will be of any help to you but, My mother gave my daughter a worry stone years ago. My daughter was very shy and whenever she had to talk in public she would get a stutter block. She knew the words she wanted to say but they wouldn't come out and made her think people thought she was stupid. My daughter carried her worry stone with her everywhere and whenever she got into a stressful situation where she thought people would judge her, she would hold her stone and concentrate on the feel of it in her hand. It helped her tremendiously. She is now an adult working as a case worker for the state and deals with people all day long. She still has her worry stone, though she doesn't need it anymore, she keeps it as a reminder.

[EricJones in reply to CLB1125]

So, buy a worry stone?

[CLB1125 in reply to EricJones]

It might be a good diversion for you. You don’t have to buy one. It can be a rock outside or bead or anything you like. The point is to concentrate on that thing and not on what is stressing you out.