Social anxiety can cause paranoid/suspicious thoughts?

[itgetsbetter5]

I just remembered when my paranoid thoughts of being followed and monitored by the government all felt so real so I bought this book. I used to feel so much distress thinking that everytime a stranger asks me for directions is that its because they wanted to intimidate me, this happened everywhere I go that it seemed odd that it was all coincidental, I travel alot in London, does anyone experience this or relate to this? By the way this is the book I’m currently reading and it explains how social anxiety and depression can cause suspicious/paranoid thoughts.