Paranoia and anxiety

[ella2b]

Anyone find paranoia making your anxiety worse? How do you deal with this?

[Hidden]

This is a very hard question to answer as it depends what you mean by paranoia.

My daughter who is now 45 yrs old suddenly turned up on our doorstep 5 years ago.

She had been married for 22 years and during that time had lived over 300 miles away from us.Her marriage had broken up and so she came back to mum and dad.

When she arrived she was in a terrible state.Yes she was depressed and had anxiety and panic attacks and nightmares.My wife and I took her to our doctor who gave her various medication.

She would not leave the house for 3 months but eventually I persuaded her to com e out with me.

Then I noticed what I can only assume to be paranoia.If we were out walking and a car pulled up behind us and parked partially on the pavement as they sometimes do,She was convinced the car was full of gangsters out to shoot her!If we went out for a drive and she noticed the same car behind us for more than one minute then she was convinced the mafia was following us.

If we went for a walk and a group of people were laughing and having fun..Then she thought they were laughing at her.That's what I call paranoia.

How did she deal with this?.Well I cannot truly say.She had our help and support and was hospitalised twice.

She had more medication...support from her GP and liason with social services.After 4 years she had recovered enough to get a flat of her own and although far from well she is positive and looking forward to a brighter future.

Hope this has been of some help

Grog

[grucio]

Good question. I had paranoia and anxiety but I didn't know that are connected.

The fact that you have asked this question means that you are already on the right road. Some years ago I had paranoia with anxiety and my relationship had been thrown away

With paranoia and anxiety I became self-destructive. Fortunately now it's over but I've ruined my life and my love.

G

[bonkerswoman]

I don't know if this is relevant, but I get anxious and that causes low self esteem and then that causes me to feel inferior and to feel that people don't like me. I don't think people are out to get me, but I do get scared about saying the wrong thing and alienating friends. I just feel that low self esteem is at the bottom of all these types of problems. xx

[ella2b]

Bonkerswman I think my self esteem could have a massive part to play in this, I always worry that iv done something wrong or think people are talking about me, laughing at me, making fun, calling me names, lying to me or think I am faking my illnesses.

Grucio, I used to have a lot more friends than I do know because as I mention above I often think people are lying to me or they think im fake etc. Luckily my current partner is really supportive.

grogboy1 I am glad your daughter is doing better