[wachiki92]

Lately. I've been feeling like I'm becoming hypomanic. I've been more social and talkative as well as quick to snap at people easily. I've also been sleeping less- going to bed later and waking up before my alarm goes off ready to start my day. When I'm hypomania I tend to get a little paranoid. ill think my friends hate me and don't want to be friends anymore. I confront them and make accusations that they're just using me for something. yesterday at work I was on edge over someone no dumping their mop water and they did it on purpose just to annoy me. and several more things like that that I think are intentional. then today I was waiting to pick a friend up so I was just walking and looking at things around target and every time I turned a corner there were 2 employees. the same employees even several rows over. I'm still convinced they were following me because they saw me as suspicious and wanted to make sure I wasn't stealing anything
Also back when I was in college I was convinced there were cameras in the vents and I went searching for them.

do these thing fall under normal paranoia could it be something more?

[Wander]

To me it seems to fall under the clinical definition of paranoia. Do you have any meds prescribed for it? Does your pdoc know. Considering you are also hypomanic you would be best to get on top of it soon or it might get worse. I have had symptoms like that in the past and it really impacted on my relationships. Take care

[Sinking Feeling]

There's different levels of paranoia, all the way up to delusional. I meet a lot of people that get paranoid, it's pretty common. For example, while camera's in vents is not probable, it is certainly possible! There lies the difference. It's normal to feel a little paranoid and if the subject is possible, it's ok. It can get to be a problm if it interferes with your life or routine. Sort of like OCD, a little is ok, too much is not.

Red flags are when you stop wondering and become convinced the unportable is happening. Your being watched and followed by the FBI, your friends are plotting against you. These are still possible just not very probable. A break from reality or delusional is when you believe the impossible, aliens, your god, satan, or can read peoples minds, or they can read yours. Then it's time for meds

[Mrs. Mania]

I've had some serious episodes of paranoia. Just recently, my husband has called me out on it. I tell him exactly what I'm thinking, he shakes his head, he tells me that's some crazy **** and then we laugh heartily. I kinda like bouncing stuff off of him to differentiate acceptable paranoia vs. bat **** crazy paranoia!

[Darvula]

The recent stuff sounds like pretty typical paranoia to me. I wouldn't worry about it. I get days/weeks like that, when I am suspicious of everyone. I've learned to keep away from other people, friends and strangers, as much as possible until it subsides. In the past, I'd have furious, crazy altercations with people, but now I can avoid that by staying away from them, thank god. And with email, if I read it and think someone is attacking me, or plotting against me, I don't answer it till the paranoia has gone. Then when I read it I can see all the suspicions were in my imagination.

The stuff from your college days about cameras in vents is more serious, though. Sounds like you were heading towards psychosis there. I had bad episodes like that when I was still drinking/drugged. Used to imagine all kinds of weird s***. I don't get that bad now that I don't drink or take any kind of drugs or smoke. Cutting out all mood changers/ stimulants has done a lot of good. I still start to get a bit psycho if I drink caffeine, so I try not to. Hope you feel more stable soon.

Darvula

[Sprite22]

In my manic state I do that too.

[wachiki92]

Thanks everyone. no my pdoc doesn't know about it. I always thought if paranoia as thinking the FBI is watching you or the CIA is plotting against you. when I become paranoid and start reading into things people do and say it can blow up. I've had friendships fall apart because of it. later I realize that they never had bad intentions and weren't just using me. I'm on wellbutrin so and lamictal which has helped a good bit but its still there.

[Sinking Feeling]

We are more prong to paranoia, and often we confuse it with a special awareness we have. Since I know I am prong to serious paranoia I don't smoke a lot of weed cuz that stuff can turn me into a certified schizo! I was with my girlfriend and another couple, we were smoking some weed in their car at nit in a parking lot. I see a car approach us and for no reason whatsoever was convinced my girlfriend and the other couple was plotting to kill me! I insisted we go back in the bar or go home, they refuse, I jumped out of the car and started walking I don't know where! It's really scary when you are totally convinced some thing is wrong for no good reason or probable cause.

[Blitter2014]

I'm not sure if its just me or something to do with my bipolar, but I am hopeless at working out the dynamics of situations, especially to do with people at work where there is so much politics. I can't work out when people are genuine and when they are not. I know this lead me to be suspicious bordering paranoid that others are laughing at me, taking advantage of me, or otherwise plotting against me It makes me withdraw from most people and friendships as a form of protection. I am suspicious of everything, am I being spied on, am I going to walk into a trap, what are they being nice for? etc. Call it paranoid or a protection but I have learned that If I don't let people in then I wont get hurt by them.

It is something that both my psych and therapist know about and I would recommend you share it with yours, as they are in a position to help you and know what is normal and what should be tackled with medication.