[NotDeadYet]

So there is this one manga that I am super into and love to read, it has been my favorite for a couple of years now and I am deeply invested into some of the characters. The problem is with the recent story arc in which the main characters is found out to not be the original personality in the body and that his body is slowly being taken over by the original entity that used to live in it and soon his soul will disappear. Its quite an interesting plot device (I'm not the biggest fan of it but oh well) the problem comes in where after I read the story I was immediately thrown into a bout of fear that the same is going to happen to ME, I'm scared to read it cause of this plot device and just thinking about this scenario makes me paranoid. I want to be able to read it but I don't want to deal with the fear that comes along with it, I don't want to fear that I will lose my body to another entity and disappear. Any advice on how to deal with this?

[childofchaos831]

I don't know if it would work the same... but I have developed a habit of checking where I'm at before reading certain things or watching certain genres of movies. Knowing what my particular triggers are helped me learn what to look for before these things. If I'm not in an easily triggered state, I can go ahead and try to read or watch whatever it is, but I still watch out for any signs that I need to stop...

[RainyDay107]

Hi,

I love to read, have my favorite authors, etc....I can relate to how you're torn about what to do!

I also have had severe paranoia before and it was terrifying! I was psychotic. It was from an extreme bipolar mixed episode. Normally, I'm not particularly paranoid.

I guess I'm wondering if you're subject to paranoia from a mental illness and this plot change has triggered paranoia? Or is this your first time experiencing this? You sound lucid, to me...that's good. A lot of times we lose insight when paranoid (or that has been my experience).

It sounds like you're experiencing a lot of anxiety, too! That's understandable.

Can you tell us a bit more about you? As to paranoia tendencies or diagnoses....only if you want to share. We're all anonymous here and you might get more support, IMO.

I'd set the series "aside" for a bit. Take a break and involve yourself in a different form of entertainment that's not manga. Just for a bit. See a movie. Get outside and exercise. Reconnect with a friend. I think you might be able to think more objectively then.

Overall, I think weighing your enjoyment of this manga series versus the sudden paranoia and delusional thinking is important. Is it worth it? I stay away from a lot of violent movies due to PTSD, for example.

Are you feeling paranoid over anything else?

I think seeing a doctor may be prudent, too. A psychiatrist, perhaps, if you don't see one already.

I do NOT think your fears will come true....it's delusional paranoia thinking, IMO. However, I'm not a medical professional but I feel comfortable saying what's happening to the character will not happen to you.

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by glamslam

Hi,

I love to read, have my favorite authors, etc....I can relate to how you're torn about what to do!

I also have had severe paranoia before and it was terrifying! I was psychotic. It was from an extreme bipolar mixed episode. Normally, I'm not particularly paranoid.

I guess I'm wondering if you're subject to paranoia from a mental illness and this plot change has triggered paranoia? Or is this your first time experiencing this? You sound lucid, to me...that's good. A lot of times we lose insight when paranoid (or that has been my experience).

It sounds like you're experiencing a lot of anxiety, too! That's understandable.

Can you tell us a bit more about you? As to paranoia tendencies or diagnoses....only if you want to share. We're all anonymous here and you might get more support, IMO.

I'd set the series "aside" for a bit. Take a break and involve yourself in a different form of entertainment that's not manga. Just for a bit. See a movie. Get outside and exercise. Reconnect with a friend. I think you might be able to think more objectively then.

Overall, I think weighing your enjoyment of this manga series versus the sudden paranoia and delusional thinking is important. Is it worth it? I stay away from a lot of violent movies due to PTSD, for example.

Are you feeling paranoid over anything else?

I think seeing a doctor may be prudent, too. A psychiatrist, perhaps, if you don't see one already.

I do NOT think your fears will come true....it's delusional paranoia thinking, IMO. However, I'm not a medical professional but I feel comfortable saying what's happening to the character will not happen to you.

This episode did happen a while ago and I've just been to scared to pick it up and read it again since I know I'm prone to bouts of unreality and paranoia over certain topics, And these types of episodes do occur with other media (took me a month one time before I could shower soundly again due to one video) I don't have a diagnosis of anything just some insight to episodes that have happened in the past. This is one manga that I have wanted to finish for years now so the sudden episode did scare me since the plot did come out of no where and I wasn't exactly expecting it (obviously) I dont know if its worth it since I could barely finish the updated part of this manga due to fear. Right now my current and top fear is shadow people, theres one in the kitchen rn thats annoying me.

[Shazerac]

Hmmm....shadow people in the kitchen? If you are experiencing discomfort or paranoia from a Manga that you used to enjoy and seeing shadow people that annoy you.....Maybe it wouldn't hurt to look into this. A consultation with a doctor or therapist perhaps?

[RainyDay107]

Oh, I have "seen" shadow people and stress or bad insomnia triggers it for me.
The first time I saw them, I was terrified. Your reply .... you're going through a lot for a LONG time. It's good you can sometimes know what triggers you. Not being able to shower for a month, that serious, IMO. What happened that led you being able to shower again?

Are you able to go about your day with all of this that you're currently experiencing? No judging from me, at all. My paranoia ...being delusional and hallucinating, it lasted eight months because I trusted no one.

I finally told my psychiatrist that a secret society was following me, tracking my movements and electronic communication and they were after me. He was the sole person I trusted by this point. Ironically, he pulled me out of it and back into reality with one question! And then he prescribed a medication to treat the symptoms, which went away completely within a week.

Nowadays, I have more insight and can often tell when I'm starting to become psychotic, similar to you knowing media can be a problem.

Severe, ongoing stress in my life tends to bring my symptoms on. I've had psychosis during bipolar episodes since .... but I can recognize when I'm at risk. And I let my treatment team know and we typically can end the episode early on. I have a medication that helps - delusions and hallucinations disappear.

I realize now that shadow people aren't real. I know that I need to get myself stabilized and my boyfriend keeps an eye on me, as I disassociate often. He also has bipolar 1 with psychotic features. He gets it, so to speak.

I am concerned for you, having to deal with all that's happening in your life and it's ongoing, it seems. There's help out there for you. A good psychiatrist and therapist can work wonders. What do you think? I know it's always a personal choice and some manage fine not seeking medical care - and there are those, like me, that require ongoing treatment. It took me a few years to fully accept that. But mental illness does not define me.

A medical professional could benefit one's health and quality of life greatly---people experience unusual things like shadow people in various illnesses. We can support you and I hope you continue to let us know how things are going. We are of course not qualified to offer medical opinions/diagnoses. But there are people here (like me) that care and you're not alone. This is a safe, supportive community. Are there IRL folks that are supportive when you are going through a hard time?

Do you want the shadow person in your kitchen to go away? Do you think they are there for a specific reason or do you realize it's a hallucination?

Regardless, big hugs for you. Have you considered finding out why all these things are happened--the cause? Do you feel depressed at all?

Thinking of you. I'll keep up with your thread...

[eskielover]

Therapy might be helpful to learn skills for dealingbwithnthings like this. Definitely is hard to enjoy certain things in life when things like this happen

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by glamslam

Oh, I have "seen" shadow people and stress or bad insomnia triggers it for me.
The first time I saw them, I was terrified. Your reply .... you're going through a lot for a LONG time. It's good you can sometimes know what triggers you. Not being able to shower for a month, that serious, IMO. What happened that led you being able to shower again?

Are you able to go about your day with all of this that you're currently experiencing? No judging from me, at all. My paranoia ...being delusional and hallucinating, it lasted eight months because I trusted no one.

I finally told my psychiatrist that a secret society was following me, tracking my movements and electronic communication and they were after me. He was the sole person I trusted by this point. Ironically, he pulled me out of it and back into reality with one question! And then he prescribed a medication to treat the symptoms, which went away completely within a week.

Nowadays, I have more insight and can often tell when I'm starting to become psychotic, similar to you knowing media can be a problem.

Severe, ongoing stress in my life tends to bring my symptoms on. I've had psychosis during bipolar episodes since .... but I can recognize when I'm at risk. And I let my treatment team know and we typically can end the episode early on. I have a medication that helps - delusions and hallucinations disappear.

I realize now that shadow people aren't real. I know that I need to get myself stabilized and my boyfriend keeps an eye on me, as I disassociate often. He also has bipolar 1 with psychotic features. He gets it, so to speak.

I am concerned for you, having to deal with all that's happening in your life and it's ongoing, it seems. There's help out there for you. A good psychiatrist and therapist can work wonders. What do you think? I know it's always a personal choice and some manage fine not seeking medical care - and there are those, like me, that require ongoing treatment. It took me a few years to fully accept that. But mental illness does not define me.

A medical professional could benefit one's health and quality of life greatly---people experience unusual things like shadow people in various illnesses. We can support you and I hope you continue to let us know how things are going. We are of course not qualified to offer medical opinions/diagnoses. But there are people here (like me) that care and you're not alone. This is a safe, supportive community. Are there IRL folks that are supportive when you are going through a hard time?

Do you want the shadow person in your kitchen to go away? Do you think they are there for a specific reason or do you realize it's a hallucination?

Regardless, big hugs for you. Have you considered finding out why all these things are happened--the cause? Do you feel depressed at all?

Thinking of you. I'll keep up with your thread...

The cause of the shower issues was that I was watching a video about a ghost that kills you in the shower if you know their name and since I knew their name I thought they were going to kill me, so it took a month before I was able to fully forgets their name and since I didn't know their name I knew that they wouldn't kill me, in retrospect is was kinda dumb... I can go outside but most of the time I just want to stay in the only place I really find safe, which is under my blankets on my bed its really the only place I truly feel safe and guarded. I know nothing can hurt me there and no one can see me, even my thoughts are safe there, its hard to want to go out when I feel like I'm being monitored but its not impossible, the worst place was at the bus stop cause so many people came and went and it raised my paranoia of being monitored. I, sadly, do have some insight to know when somethings just a part of my brain but it still scares me, I know their isn't much reason for any organization to monitor me but I still fear it and it still make me want to avoid most public places even if its illogical it just makes so much sense? If that makes sense. I want the shadow people to leave and I don't want these fears, but I'm also afraid of what I am without them even if I know it would make me feel better to not have to do weird **** so my thoughts are safe and the anxiety kills me. I only trust 1 person to know about this stuff and they do kinda know about it, but I fear I will drive them away and annoy them and they will use this as a reason to leave me, I cant stand losing people, I know I'm to mush for most people so when people stay I want them to stay one has already left and I know they hate me so I do want to keep this other one. Most of the time this all just makes me want to commit suicide, I fear never changing and I fear change and I feel stuck in a limbo of this. This got ramble-ly whoops