Sunday, Sunday, Sunday....Yes, it's Sunday

  Hello all.. It is a freezing cold Sunday morning here in the Carolinas.  My paranoia is not at a high level this morning, which is a GOOD thing.  I came across a good question this morning.... How do you handle paranoia?  Well, there are many ways to try to get a grasp on paranoia.  First of all, paranoia is a very stressful emotion and feeling.  It is no fun being paranoid. Those of you who struggle with paranoia can relate, I am sure.   Constant worry about someone or something being "out to get you", wondering "who is that driving by", "why is everyone staring at me"..... all of these things swirling around in your brain.  There are also physical symptoms that happen, rapid heartbeat, tremors, sweating, and more.  When this happens, we think to ourselves, "how can I handle this?  why won't this feeling go away?" or, if you are having extreme paranoia, thoughts are more like "the phone is tapped", "the FBI is watching me", " I know that everyone is after me"......How stressful!  It can be crippling.  Some of us will not leave our homes, answer the phone, even avoid family and friends.  Alll because of paranoia.  Some of the best ways to handle paranoia, aside from medication, is to step outside your home, answer the phone, use positive self talk.  Ask yourself, " why would everyone be staring at ME?"....there is no reason, because everyone is not staring at you.  Analyzing rationally your thoughts can help you go a long way.  This is all easier than it sounds, believe me.  When I was in psychosis, there was no way to convince me that people were not after me, staring at me, the announcers on the radio were talking directly to me, even the television.... the newscasters were talking to me, about me.... I was Paranoid.  But, it was so real.  NO, this was really happening, I would say to myself.... Oh my god, please stop talking about me..... Have you ever felt or feel this way?  It is very stressful.  It is scary.  It consumes your thoughts, and it diminishes your trust in everyone and everything.  Time to seek help.... Well, it took a long time, a lot of therapy, and a lot of support and of course, medication.  Several hospitalizations were also required to get me to realize all of this was my Paranoid Schizophrenia.  I have been living with this for several years now, and thankfully, at this point, do not have those really paranoid thoughts anymore.  Sure, sometimes I feel that people are staring at me, or talking about me, but I am able now to just brush it off, most of the time.  Besides, what is so exciting about me that they would be talking about?  They don't know I am schizophrenic.  They don't even know me.  And yes, people do look at one another, it is natural.  Otherwise, everyone would be looking at the ground all the time.  So, if you are also experiencing or have experienced Paranoia, you can understand what I am saying here.  Just remember, tell yourself,  I knowI have an illness, I know I am paranoid, and I know that this is just part of my illness.  I am safe, I am secure, I am okay.