Sam, UK
Having had a very abusive childhood I have suffered from severe depression for years. I think that people can read my thoughts, that people are talking about me and will harm me. I get very frightened in the house as the walls whisper things to me that the neighbours can read my thoughts and will get me. Life most of the time is hell.
Jake, UK
Well when i am walking places and there are people walking behind me i think they are talking about me and laughing at me even if they dont know me and when i see people in front of me i have to walk a different way coz im scared that they will kill me and i cant sleep facing the wall in my room i have to sleep facing the door and i hate being home alone i feel like somebody is watching me.
Paul, UK
It feels good to know that I am not alone. As I have got older - I am 23 now, the problem seems to have grown. It probably stems from the life I have had. I always expect and plan for the worst, and it seems that the worst is always realised. This is with both people and situations. With people, I always expect them to disappoint me in someway or another i.e. I always expect the worst in people. With situations, I always expect them to conspire against me so I end up the loser. This problem is having a real impact on my life in that I spend an undue amount of time deliberating events, instances, outcomes, and solutions. This causes me a great deal of anxiety and stress. The problem seems to have got worse over the past six months, in which I have been unemployed - after graduating. They say idle time is the devil’s workshop, and for me it's tumultuous. I am hoping this will improve over the next year as I have decided to go back to university complete a master's degree, although I fear it won't. I have not told anyone about my problem out of fear that I might be branded mad. I still think there is a stigma attached to any form metal problem. If it does not improve, I hope to get help, although I don't know how yet.
Lara, UK
I have had constant paranoid fears since I was a child. The earliest I can remember would be since I was about 7 or 8, and I hope that Jack, USA reads this because I am in every way the same as he is. I used to lie in bed at night, frightened that someone would come in, kill my family and then stab me repeatedly in the back. It is always my back for some reason, and I have a problem with people touching my back even now, which I think is related to my fear. I have always, always been paranoid about people hiding behind doors that are left slightly open. The initial fear is that someone is there, who intends to harm me, but my second thought is always that they have a knife. My main fear is of someone coming into my house. When I wake up in the morning, I tip toe around each room cautiously checking to see if someone is there, and only relax and once I am certain they are not. The next problem I face, every day, is showering. I always think every sound I hear when I'm in the shower is someone in my house. It takes me about five minutes to pluck up the courage to actually leave my bathroom once I shower, and sometimes I have to check all the rooms again to be certain. I have always had fears I was being watched or followed, even since I was a little child. And I now fear that I am going to be shot from a passing car when I'm walking down the street. I am completely aware my fears are irrational, but I can't shake them. I also have really bad nightmares quite often, usually involving people harming me, and I suffer quite badly from sleep paralysis. It's really getting me down. But it's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one out there who feels this way.
Mark, Newcastle
I have thought people are stalking me round Tesco, talking about aspects of my private life in earshot. I have then thought a few weeks later I have seen the same people park their car near work and stare at me while I am on a break. I have thought people are moving things round in my flat.