Louis, UK
I'm 20,but ever since I was really young I would always make sure that I'm fully covered in bed, my hands under my pillow and I was curled up in a ball. Now I'm older, but this won't go away. I don't curl up,but I'm always afraid of my hands being chopped off,or someone pulling me out of bed. When I walk around, I always have to hide my thumbs in my hand, in fear of someone chopping them off. I can't sleep without it being dark,but when I get up to turn the light off,I run to bed,and don't dare move until its safe.I constantly think that if there's a bump in the night that someone's in the house,about to pounce on me and if I don't stay completely still and hold my breath they will find me. I also hate watching horror movies! I once watched a kid movie,it was about witches,and that is what I believe caused my paranoia.I was scared of all that after I watched the movie. Another thing,I can't go out alone,with out someone my age I refuse to go! My mum used get angry cause I wouldnt go to the shop for her,and when she sent my younger sister to go I was scared that someone would kidnap her. Luckily they didn't. Also,unlike most peoples experiences,I can't check under the bed or in the wardrobe,cause if the attackers are in there,they will kill me. Also,recently I was walking downstairs at night,and I didn't turn the light on. I could of sworn I saw a figure,and I was scared.I ran downstairs,and when I had to go back up,I brang one of my friends with me just invade.
Dan, UK
After doing a lot of ecstasy over the course of a few months it got to the point where as id think paranormal entities are everywhere. It's been 5-6 months since i last done it and still the thoughts are there, like running up stairs at night, seeing stuff in the dark, hearing noises. It's almost impossible to walk through a bushy park at night as i think there is demons hiding in places...
Kay, UK
Paranoia is something that I've been dealing with for my entire life. I always feel as if everyone is laughing at me and talking about me behind my back. I feel as if I can't trust anyone in my life, including my own family. For a while I couldn't even leave my own home. It's also made me lose a lot of friends and I am constantly feeling depressed. I have attempted suicide multiple times just because of my mind running wild. First time ever that I've felt as if I can share and after reading about all these other people who are suffering from what I am suffering, it has helped a little. And all the advise to help deal with it that people have suggested HOPEFULLY will make me get rid of this god forsaken disease.
Alice, US
Hi, I am 25 years old and my paranoia started after I was sexually assaulted. I feel self-conscious when people are laughing as if they are personally laughing at me. I feel that people attempt to send subliminal hints to me out of spite within conversations to make me feel inferior and like nothing and make themselves feel powerful and genius. When I ask them if the way that I heard things is what they meant they deny it. I want to trust them but my mind keeps telling me that that is the game that is being played and I have to keep my guard up because I am not stupid and people are attempting to out smart me. As if I can be controlled or kept at a certain level by someone saying something without them directly saying it. As if the game was that someone says something, and I can't get mad and insult them back because they say that they are just having normal conversation and I am just hearing things the wrong way. I am trying so hard to ignore the impulse to assume and dwell that everything is said to embarrass and or insult me.
Betty, Ireland
I find i'm paranoid all the time, be it in work,or at home theres never a let up of negative thoughts even in my sleep - i have bad dreams. I have a lovely partner who would never do anything to hurt me but i've found myself doing unnecessary things to check that hes not cheating or lying to me.I find myself even more frustrated after I do these things as I know its not right. Another problem I have is that I regularly walk through shopping centres thinking that everyone that walks by is judging me and doesn't like me, even though i know i'm just very insecure about myself and no one could care less how i look etc. ...I feel like the rational side of my brain is constantly fighting negative thoughts and paranoia and its very hard to prevent as i've felt like this since i could first remember. I find I can cope most the time but sometimes i have anxiety attacks and I feel like i'm losing the plot totally. Just knowing that i'm not the only one who suffers with these thoughts is comforting as I felt very abnormal growing up with such unusual thoughts.