My symptoms look like having to do things over and over until I get them \u201cright\u201d or horrific things will eventually happen to me or my loved ones. I always think people hate me or are talking about me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My anxiety hurts my chest and makes me hurt mentally and physically. I have trouble breathing. I sometimes feel like I\u2019m not myself, or that I\u2019m out of my body and don\u2019t know how to control it. Feeling like I can\u2019t control myself or my impulse feelings, self harming, talking myself out of suicide; it\u2019s very scary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What do you wish people knew about your diagnosis?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t know, I just want patience and understanding from my friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Share a story where your diagnosis\/symptoms significantly impacted your life. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
My symptoms started after I gave birth to my son. After that, I ruined everything I had with his father. The second I didn\u2019t feel love or reassurance, or the tiniest argument or negative situation, I left because I didn\u2019t know how to express what was going on in my head. I hardly remember years of our relationship because I wasn\u2019t taking care of myself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How have you seen yourself grow because (or in spite of) your mental illness? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found myself growing from my mistakes and learning how to cope better with everything that goes on in my head rather than contiplating suicide and self harm. It\u2019s a slow process, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Counselor reaction:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
General comments or reactions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paranoia is such a difficult diagnosis because it is almost always comorbid with another diagnosis. I can\u2019t imagine having paranoia and not having other diagnoses such as an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder. Constantly wanting to do things right, constantly worrying if people like you or not, that would most definitely trigger criteria for other disorders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can friends and family members support someone who suffers from paranoia? How does it affect their relationship? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paranoia as with any mental illness is going to be difficult for someone outside of the experience to understand. People can only try to imagine what it\u2019s like to suffer through a mental illness if they have never experienced it for themselves; because of this, it\u2019s hard for friends and family to connect to an invisible issue. This is frustrating for friends and family, but it is even more frustrating for the person suffering through the illness.

As if battling a mental illness is not enough on their plate, when you add in the mental illness being paranoia, it\u2019s an uphill battle that seems to have no peak. Remember when talking with someone who is battling paranoia to keep things simple, do not argue with them, and if you feel that someone is in immediate danger, call 911. It\u2019s also important to always remember to help the person in any way that you can. If their paranoia relates to a fear of dogs, keep them away from dogs. If having a light on fuels the paranoia, then keep the lights off. Keep it simple, and direct.<\/p>\n\n\n