[Little Jay]

Hello,

I just wanted to ask if this is a normal part of depression, because my diagnosis at the moment is depression and anxiety, but lately i've had problems with being paranoid. I don't have an appointment for a while so haven't told anyone about it yet, but it's quickly getting a lot worse and becoming quite scary for me.

Possible trigger:

I contantly think that someone is watching me or out to kill me. I can't sleep at night because I sit there thinking that someone is in the house, or going to come into the house so I don't dare sleep. When I'm in on my own I always walk around the house with some sort of object to protect myself with such as a knife. If I am not in alone, then I have placed objects like small vases around the house so if someone were to come for me I'd have something in every room to grab onto. I've become obsessed with checking that the door is locked, I even have become paranoid about if I can trust friends and family since I read online that more people get killed by the ones they know than by strangers. I have become terrified of the dark, and also feel like I need a light to be on in the house at all times so that anyone on the outside knows that someone is in. I've become terrified when I drive, the only time I drive now is to work and back and I am so scared the whole time. Every junction or turn I freak out that someone will pull out and crash into me or that my own brakes will fail. I get paranoid that people in other cars are following me, so often take turns not on my route as if to lose them.

I have always been slightly like this, but it's never been a problem like it is now, I feel like it's getting a bit out of hand, I feel like I'm not even safe in my own home! Is this a normal part of my depression or anxiety? In the 6 years since I first got diagnosed I've never had this! I'm terrified that I'm going to accidentally hurt my partner if he gets home and sneaks up on me or something! Should I just wait a few more weeks until my appointment or should I call the crisis team to tell them? I feel like it's not really a "crisis" but they did tell me I can call them 24/7.. I'd really appreciate some advice!

[pegasus]

Hello Little Jay,

I would call the crisis team and let them know about these feelings. Paranoia is often a worsening of anxiety but can be a worsening of any mental health condition. Sorry to be a bit vague but either way it would be a good idea for you to contact your mental health team sooner rather than later.

paranoia can be a feature of major depression or panic disorder/GAD. i would speak to someone. i know it's really scary.

when i have major depressive episodes i nearly always get psychoses symptoms like hallucinations and paranoia.

hang in there.

[TheOriginalMe]

Hi LittleJay

Call the crisis team. They can't help you if they don't know what is happening.

I get occasional episodes of paranoia, but as yours seems to be constant and getting worse you really need to get it checked out.

Take care

[JohnCrow]

My low end cycle involves paranoia

It starts out as a mild irritation at people and builds to actively thinking my friends are mocking me, doing things to hurt me and so on

When I am at the highs, I can recall my behaviour at the low but at the low everything seems so certain

It is the old monkey brain vs. logical brain. With depression the deeper, more rawly emotional, survival instinct rooted monkey brain dominates the logical

The only way I have survived to date is because I have created a logical stronghold. This operates much the same way as most coping mechanisms; it enables me to get by and endure but not get better