I’ve never experienced so much paranoia in my life! How on earth do you get rid of it??!
I mean, I know I have reason to be scared, but it’s not like it helps anything… I just want to ease it a little, just so it’s bearable.
Good coping mechanisms, anyone?
Edit: I’m on antidepressants but no antipsychotics (yes I realise this is bad), and I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.
I’m diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia so being paranoid is part of the disease. The only treatment is antipsychotics (for me anyway).
that’s a real shame!
not really. I dont feel paranoid when on meds (99.9% of the time).
I actually find lexapro helps with the paranoia more than the antipsychotics but that’s just me.
Thanks, might mention that to my GP
When I’m paranoid I try to put it in the back of my mind and damp it down. Geodon and Seroquel make a big difference. It helps to not be alarmed by what you’re thinking. Tell yourself that the paranoia goes with the disease of sz, and it’s probably not real.
For me the meds don’t really get rid of the initial paranoid notion but they do mitigate my reaction to it.
What is your reaction on/off meds, if you don’t mind me asking?
I personally just tend to freeze and can’t always do or say much for a while…
Off meds I freak out. Really intense paranoia and desperate anxiety at the same time. On meds I am a lot more tranquil and no big reaction (overreaction).
it helps me to remember that everything is exagerated by your brain. You have a reason to be scared, but your fears are being multiplied. Time helps A LOT so distract yourself. Each day that passes by where nothing happens is another day that shows you you’re still safe. Not a day closer to something happening.
I don’t take any APs but find that anxiety meds help with my paranoia a lot. The only other solution I’ve found is doing my utmost to relax: baths, walks, quiet music, etc.
My paranoia centers around very irrational fears related to my delusion. Even though, logically, I know my fears are irrational, I still REALLY believe this horrible crap is going to happen to me. I get very scared.
For me, my AP (I think) helps it. I also use Vistaril for anxiety which can help it a little too. I keep meaning to try meditation also. can’t hurt.
I take meds for anxiety and paranoia. They take it all away as long as I stay cought up on my sleep. But I had a long recovery and had an older nurse in the hospital tell me she had never seen anyone so paranoid. So I would say there is hope. A few things that help is to not reacting to your paranoia, try not to do things because of your paranoia. Also I find it helpful to bring your paranoid thoughts up to someone that will honestly give you there opinion. Sometimes I would check into those things that I’m paranoid about pretty soon you will see that there is a pattern being that it’s usually always the paranoia. My problem would be I would get delusions with the paranoia and lots of fear. So what I found worked for me was that I would take it to God and trust in him for the out come, good or bad I put it in his hands and would be willing to accept the outcome whatever it may be.
I’m in an intensive outpatient program and onetime I got really paranoid. I thought one of the people attending group was going to shoot me. I went in a nice safe room with my therapist and talked to her for one hour. Going to a nice safe room and talking to someone sure helps and it doesn’t have to be a therapist it could be family or even a friend.