Question:
I always feel unsafe. I’m always on guard, carefully checking my surroundings when I’m out in public, watching and listening for anything suspicious. I have non-lethal weapons at home, in my car, and when I’m out walking. I live in a low crime neighborhood, but still don’t feel safe at all. Becoming a martial arts expert takes a long time, and not everybody can reach a high level of proficiency. I think I need to try, though. As a last resort, I’m also considering having firearms at home (perhaps a shotgun). To be effective, I’d have to become highly proficient in the basic use of my gun, and would probably also need to receive advanced training in the tactical use of it. Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia? — Marty
Response:
:Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering :if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to :regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. :But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia? Dear Marty, I don`t believe social anxiety is where you perceive others to be a physical threat. It has more to do with fearing others will judge you or that you will embarass or humiliate yourself in front of others. In my humble opinion, this sounds like paranoia. Please seek professional help for this as soon as possible. It concerns me that you are thinking of arming yourself when you regard strangers as a threat. Jackie ~*~I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing~*~
Response:
:that I :emotionally/instinctively regard everyone that I don’t know very well as a :potential threat. What do you fear they would do? Have you ever been a victim of a crime? I was…….and because of that, in certain situations I become very fearful that someone will try to hurt me again. Jackie ~*~I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing~*~
Response:
:that I :emotionally/instinctively regard everyone that I don’t know very well as a :potential threat. What do you fear they would do? Have you ever been a victim of a crime? I was…….and because of that, in certain situations I become very fearful that someone will try to hurt me again.
Yes. For example, every day in fourth to sixth grade I was physically assaulted by the other boys in my class. That might have something to do with my present day fears.
Response:
:Yes. For example, every day in fourth to sixth grade I was physically :assaulted by the other boys in my class. That might have something to do :with my present day fears. Next time you start feeling this mistrust of strangers, try to pay close attention to your thoughts and surroundings. See if you can pick up some situations, and what you are telling yourself about it. I`m really sorry you were abused like that. Jackie ~*~I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing~*~
Response:
:Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering :if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to :regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. :But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia? Dear Marty, I don`t believe social anxiety is where you perceive others to be a physical threat.
Intellectually, I don’t believe that most people are out to hurt me, physically or otherwise. I have come to realize, however, that I emotionally/instinctively regard everyone that I don’t know very well as a potential threat. It has more to do with fearing others will judge you or that you will embarass or humiliate yourself in front of others.
I have that kind of fear as well. In my humble opinion, this sounds like paranoia. Please seek professional help for this as soon as possible. It concerns me that you are thinking of arming yourself when you regard strangers as a threat.
Undoubtedly, there are some people out there who are real threats. I realize that most people probably aren’t, but isn’t taking precautions the rational thing to do given the real risks that exist?
Response:
Next time you start feeling this mistrust of strangers, try to pay close attention to your thoughts and surroundings. See if you can pick up some or situations, and what you are telling yourself about it.
Ok. It seems to happen in any crowded place, like the grocery store, shopping mall, airport, airplane, subway train, congested traffic. It happens with people I don’t know well or I don’t like or trust. I’ll try to sense if there are other patterns. I`m really sorry you were abused like that.
Thanks. I try to focus on the future, on how I can change my attitudes, reactions and behavior in a constructive way, instead of dwelling on the past (which I cannot change).
Response:
My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to regard that person as a potential threat. Marty
My reaction would be neutral. I wouldn’t regard him as a friend or foe. Just someone I don’t know. Chip
Response:
Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia?
I have social anxiety and what you describe doesn’t sound like SA to me. I fear people, but my fear is that they will think badly of me. I have no fear that they will physically attack me. You mention being beat up at school. It kind of sounds like it could be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Response:
Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia? I have social anxiety and what you describe doesn’t sound like SA to me. I fear people, but my fear is that they will think badly of me.
I have that kind of fear as well. I have no fear that they will physically attack me. You mention being beat up at school. It kind of sounds like it could be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Perhaps. I don’t really care what label to put on it, though. The important issue is how I can change.
Response:
I don’t really care what label to put on it, though. The important issue is how I can change.
I would see a psychiatrist and find out. Would you consider him a potential threat? Chip
Response:
Marty, When I read your first post I thought, yep, this guy is paranoid. (I do suffer from paranoia and no amount of anxiety meds helped it) Then reading your replies I thought well, maybe it isn’t paranoia. Anyway, all I can say is that you should talk to a psychiatrist about it. AND DON’T HIDE ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE DR.! Sorry to yell but it is SO important to be 100% open and honest with your Dr. It’s not like 50 years ago where if I told some one my symptoms back then, they may have thrown me in a padded cell! Things are different now, many new meds to help out. I found some of my thoughts so embarrassing that it took me a long time to tell a Dr. about them. Boy of boy was I scared to tell everything! Scared and crying like a baby, but I got it out, and now I’m doing much better thanks to an anti psychotic I’m on. Tono
Response:
Marty, When I read your first post I thought, yep, this guy is paranoid. (I do suffer from paranoia and no amount of anxiety meds helped it) Then reading your replies I thought well, maybe it isn’t paranoia.
I don’t think it is. Anyway, all I can say is that you should talk to a psychiatrist about it. AND DON’T HIDE ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE DR.!
I neither like nor trust my psychiatrist. All he is good for is suggesting and prescribing meds for me to try. It’s a trial and error process anyway – he has no clue which drugs might work for me. Still, I have not hidden any important thoughts (except for what I think of him) from my pdoc.
Response:
Marty , I guess two reasons although , unutilized anxiety (energy)can turn into any compulsion.I was addicted to gambling and smoking and mental hospitals before I realized what anxiety and a dysfunctional family could do to you.Obsessive compulsive in yet another anxiety condition .So my guess , in all seriousness, is you had parents who bothered the hell out of you, because I always am checking to see what people are doing to my car and I like to be left alone , unless I want something.My parents I believe tried to mess with my head cause they were very mental themselves.I , to this day have to check my paranoia with reality .
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always feel unsafe. I’m always on guard, carefully checking my surroundings when I’m out in public, watching and listening for anything suspicious. I have non-lethal weapons at home, in my car, and when I’m out walking. I live in a low crime neighborhood, but still don’t feel safe at all. Becoming a martial arts expert takes a long time, and not everybody can reach a high level of proficiency. I think I need to try, though. As a last resort, I’m also considering having firearms at home (perhaps a shotgun). To be effective, I’d have to become highly proficient in the basic use of my gun, and would probably also need to receive advanced training in the tactical use of it. Will all these precautions make me less anxious? I doubt it. I’m wondering if I’m becoming paranoid. My instinctive reaction to any stranger is to regard that person as a potential threat. This is obviously social anxiety. But is it more than that? When does it become paranoia? — Marty
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