Is this possible?

[EricJones]

How ridiculous is this idea? That I think strangers are looking at me through the window of my home and when I'm outside walking, while they're in their cars. Also, that my acquaintances are paying attention to my body language as well.

[Alpakka123]

Actually, I don't think it's ridiculous at all. The paranoia about people looking at you from their cars is one I have has well. I even think that people are looking at me when I'm on the bus. I know they aren't because I've checked, but wow! It's really annoying to have that paranoia! And then I think that others can somehow guess what's going on inside of me (and even care to know...). I know that logically people are most concerned with themselves and couldn't care less about those around them, but emotionally it's a very different story. It's really tiresome, tbh! Sometimes I wish that I had blinders I could put on.

[b1b1b1 in reply to Alpakka123]

If you are not seeing a psychiatrist, you should do so. I am not a doctor, but this seems to me to be a form of paranoid thinking. I believe a psychiatrist could treat you.

[EricJones in reply to b1b1b1]

I'm seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist. My psychiatrist sucks. She is just taking me off of meds now. Lower the dose of controlled substances.

[Alpakka123 in reply to b1b1b1]

It is a form of paranoid thinking, you are correct about that. I do know that some medications can have this as a side effect. I talked to my psychiatrist about this several years ago, but don't remember there being any suggestions on how to fix this. I do remember him telling me that people are mainly into themselves, which is why I know this logically. I also remember him suggesting that I test out my paranoia by looking to see if they are looking back at me, which is why I've been doing so.

[EricJones in reply to Alpakka123]

Yeah, I think the only way to solve this issue is to go out of our way and look at random strangers to test out our theories.

[b1b1b1 in reply to Alpakka123]

Again, I am not a doctor, however, if the problem is significant or serious I believe it can be treated with antipsychotics. A psychiatrist would need to be consulted for treatment.

[Alpakka123 in reply to b1b1b1]

I appreciate your concern. I was on an antipsychotic years ago, but needed to be taken off because of a bad side effect.

[Starrlight]

I’m on a med that helps with paranoia and my psychiatrist would up the dose if I was getting paranoid. I take zyprexa

I don’t know how most people think but I get curious of other people and the lives they lead. Because I am this way, I get thinking that others are trying to figure me out, too. But when my rational mind is clear, I believe that people really are into their own selves, their own lives, not mine.

[Turnipgirl]

I want to say thank you to you for putting up that post the other day about the workmen in your house and how you felt uncomfortable as it was nice to clarify a few things about my own situation with the feeling uncomfortable on weekdays when they are milling around feeling i am being spied on which I am aware was irrational and nice to know no I am not paranoid as if I really was paranoid I wouldn't know I was!

Going forward I will be out on weekdays unless I really really have to stay in and can't get out of it!

[worthytobeloved]

Hi Eric. No, it's not irrational to feel like that - who wants people looking at them when they are in the sanctuary of their home? When I was agorophobic I had to draw the curtains shut in whichever room I was in (even in daytime) in case someone saw me from outside.There are a few things you could try. Get someone to be in your room, and go out to where the cars are and see if you can see the person.

I think it would be too expensive, but you can get glass for a window where you can still look out, but from the outside it looks like a mirror.

You can also get opaque sticky see through plastic to put on the inside of your window, so you can see out, but people can't see in.

Are the cars driving past, or are they sometimes stuck in a traffic jam? If they are driving past, they won't have time to look in. If they are in a traffic jam, they are probably looking at their phones! Take care, lovely young man! xxx

[Turnipgirl in reply to worthytobeloved]

Thankfully with me I am in an upstairs apartment so it's nice and out of the way!

I did used to have a downstairs apartment and I would get annoyed when there were people outside the apartment in the garden near my window!

I'm glad I'm not there anymore!

Years ago there was a lady who lived nearby who would shut the living room curtains in the daytime and this was on a cul de sac probably because she was terrified!