I wouldn't worry about the label of psychosis one way or another. I recognize that my paranoia is logically stupid, but without the AP, I believe it anyway, and believe it in a way that distorts everything I think about. In fact, I think the hardest thing I ever did was showing up for that first appointment with a pdoc (because they are who my paranoia revolves around), I knew I was doomed by going, certain I'd be captured and locked away, but I also knew logically I could go no further without.

The difference with the abilify, even the modest 5mg dose, is that now the paranoia is mostly gone. It does seep through every now and then, but even if it made me skip a dose, the AP has such a long half life, I'd come back to my senses before it dropped too low.

The question I have now, is how often should I tolerate it nibbling at me, vs the annoying side effects of the AP (restlessness mostly); and is it legit to just ask the doc to bump up the AP to the 10mg setting, or should I even want such a thing?

40+ years of paranoia mostly gone, now I'm greedy.