This is a serious question.
I know I for sure have general anxiety, which includes paranoia, hypercondria, some dizzy spells of dis-attachment.. I am anti social & definitely introverted. I really don't care to talk to many people outside my family or immediate friends. Which is fine, I prefer it that way.
For some reason, I lack an adequate self esteem, I am attractive and incredibly fit, I eat like a nutritionist, sleep like a baby and train like an athlete 6x/week, have a decent job.. But yet, I still have low self esteem. I have a loving boyfriend who is supportive and faithful. He is older so he has experienced a LOT of these anxiety disorders when he was my age, so it's great to have him for his valuable wisdom and support (aside from his other wonderful qualities)
But this is getting out of control. ANY time I see anything, I instantly think it's related to something negative. I can give you come examples, but you will probably think I am crazy so please don't judge me:
This morning for example, I seen my boyfriend grab a baggy from the drawer, a zip lock bag and my INSTANT thought was, he must be using it for drugs! Yesterday for example, I seen a random number in my bf phone (no I don't typically look in his phone, but, yes, I did yesterday) and I INSTANTLY thought it was an ex and was having this full blown internal panic attack. Well - after a $9.99 reverse phone number look up, it confirmed I was WRONG! And please don't think I am some pain in the *** g/f .Most of these illogical & irrational paranoid toughest I internalize until they pass. I don't get in his face and instantly accuse him. If I did, I would probably be on the curb by now.
But I clearly need help! At my job, if someone looks at me, I think they are either A) mad at me, or B) talking about me.
Over the past 2 years I have more less convinced myself I have MS, Multiple Sclerosis. I DO have legit symptoms but my brain scan came back negative and I am going to a neurologist on Wednesday for a second opinion. I have read that parainod "cybercondrias" can manifest symptoms of terrible diseases, such as MS.
Ugh, someone, please help me.. I need some good advice or testimonials from people who have or do experience this high paranoia.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Actually the best way to handle paranoia is to test your questions and find out , like your reverse expensive call . YOu are handling it, by doing this, by finding out if any of your fears are what is going on or if it is innocent.
The underlying issues seem to be fear, fear of all kinds, and hypersensativity to all the possible things that could go wrong.
It is also underlying , a real desire to avoid problems, to see the truth about what is going on around you and to deal with that. I think that is a good thing in intention.
I think your fears in general, cause your hypocondrism, and so I thnk you need help with quelling your fears, but still being able to discern any problems that might arise , and peoples intent.
That requires some help , and the best , quickest , easiest method that will do that is EFT.
garythink.com, just apply it to all your fears and concerns and it will bring them down to the level where your mind is still optimally observing and working , but won['t be over the top all the time with fears. Then if something really does come up , you will recognize it as real and be able to take the right action. Here are the pros, eftmasters.com , they can help you clear out the excessive fears in a few sessions . Here is an informative site and examples of others, eftuniverse.com click o n'get started free'.
Here is a free heaing list for healing energy, jodunning.com, here is a free video, for healing, vimeo.com/7866488
the whole point of 'therapy' is to find something tha actually works and not settle for less than healing.
The resouces i gave you actually work.
best wishes in your healing , find what works for you.
I don't need your life story of sex. So please keep that to yourself. Get up, go buy a preg. test & find out. No money for a preg. test? Why would you do something that coud produce another child if you can't afford a simple test? Go to talk to your mom or dad and get a test. Remember the fear and worry and next time say NO! Also people online can not do a pregnancy test and tell if you are preg. or not. Just because some kids type "NO" doesn't mean you are not preg. get a test and find out
Write down those paranoid thoughts and rank, on a scale of 1-100, how certain you are of them. Write down alternate thoughts or explanations and rate those 1-100. Go back to your paranoid thoughts and re-evaluate your convictions, 1-100. This is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy technique. Employ the Technique For Reprogramming Negative Thoughts: Negative thoughts often occur before negative emotions *. It's important to regularly monitor, and deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, images, impulses, etc., by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately. Use the "Technique For Re-Programming Negative Thoughts" - When you notice something negative, such as: "I can't do this/ am never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so useless/such a loser?" or even an image, emotion, or a memory; recognise that it is being generated from the negative part of your mind. After identifying and labelling it, visualise a large, red, flashing, "STOP!" sign, and/or possibly a stern faced person wagging an index finger at you in a negative manner, then say to yourself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!" You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick". In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version.
Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method. Try replacing a negative thought with a positive affirmation of your choice, like: "I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside" - Dr. Wayne Dyer. Check out: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-... such as: The Paranoia Switch: How Terror Rewires Our Brains and Reshapes Our Behavior--and How We Can Reclaim Our Courage by Martha Stout, & The Paranoia of Everyday Life: Escaping the Enemy Within by Gerald Alper, &
Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques by Daniel Freeman. Hypnosis is merely a heightened state of suggestibility, in which you are better able to communicate with your subconscious mind; view http://myfavoriteinterests.com/hypnosis/ about what it is, and isn't. 85% of people are suggestible to some degree; 15% - 20% highly so, and 15% - 20% aren't much at all, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy, or, if not an option, hypnosisdownloads.com has ones about stopping paranoid thoughts, & overcoming fear and anxiety, and instant-hypnosis.com has: Put an End to Paranoia. Professional advice is to use preferably only 1, or a maximum of 2 at any one time.
* "Even if we have some vague idea that we are not our feelings or our thoughts, when we are experiencing painful feelings or painful thoughts, we believe we have to feel them or think them just because of the fact that they are occurring to us. But painful feelings can be indirectly controlled by physical action, and changing our present thoughts for different thoughts (since feeling occurs as a result of thinking.) Painful thoughts can be directly controlled by choosing replacement thoughts for the ones that are troubling us. Sure, it takes some practice to change a lifetime habit of suffering. But it can be done. Of course it can't be done if we choose to believe that it can't be done. But, since the choice is ours, why not choose to believe it can be done, and do it?"
View my previous answer about hypochondria/health anxiety at http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/answer?qid=20... and see my answer about anxiety at http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201...
Learn and employ the relaxation techniques (begin with Progressive Muscle Relaxation) and the EFT variant for use in public places, in case it is needed there.