[Miss Laura]

I'm sitting at 11pm paranoid in my flat. The people upstairs from me are moving about. My senses are heightened. Do I sleep with the light on tonight? I have a dining room chair up against my living room door incase someone gets in so I can hear them. I'm freaking out tbh. Will this ever fade away this paranoia. It's been a week grrr!!!

[imaginethat]

Sorry you're not feeling well. Did something happen to trigger this paranoia? I can usually tie it back to a time I got angry. I get paranoid when I'm angry at someone or myself.

If you can make that association, it might help you deal with the paranoia.

[Miss Laura]

No nothing my Sister left and I got ready for bed at 9:30pm now I'm freaking out

[still_crazy]

hi. i go thru this, too. can you talk to somebody, even on the phone or online? doesn't have to be about...anything, really. just some chit chat to get out of your mind.

other than that, i dunno. i used to take klonopin for stuff like that. then i had to taper, and that was sheer hell. so i dont recommend a bzd, certainly not klonopin.

writing helps me. some people paint. music. a project. getting outside your head is key for me.

[xRavenx]

It is horrible when paranoia goes crazy.
Do what you find is comfortable, and if things get worse call 911/crisis. As far as things I would try when I have enough insight to know it's paranoia: before bed, I would sometimes play meditation music/guided imagery all night from youtube or a tape. That helped drown out a little bit of the noise in my head, along with all my meds (a benzo + high dose AP tends to work best for me, along with the other main mood stabilizers under the care of a pdoc....especially the AP). I know none of these are automatically quick fixes, but it provided me with a little more comfort, though the paranoia was still there. I would make an appointment with the pdoc asap. Is there anyone at all out there you trust who you can keep in mind to call as needed? A trusted friend/family member, etc. who can be there for you during this difficult time? I understand if during this time it is hard to identify anybody though. This state of mind will pass though with time and treatment. (((hugs)))

[Miss Laura]

Thanks guys I kept the light on until 3am. I eventually fell asleep and am now up waiting on the decorator coming in to finish my living room off its just after 8am. I'll tell my Psychologist on Mon when I see her. I'm not due to see Psychiatrist until July. So hopefully she has some more ideas I can try when paranoid. Thank you so much guys