Schizotypal Forum

Hi guys,

Before introducing my question I just want to say that i have missed you guys. I think that you guys have created a really great discussion forum that offers excellent discussion and support. so thanks and for those who are comfortable with hugs - I send those to you!

So now my issue....I haven't been around for a while I know...I've been...well off the wall with paranoia so I have kept to myself. My problem is that I always feel that when people talk to me that there is some hidden message or agenda. I recognize that in some cases that this is actually legitimate - there are a lot of people who tend to avoid dirrect confrontation and instead resort to saying stuff on the sly. But my problem is - now I assume that everyone does this - that hidden adgendas are EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately I have now become known for my paranoia - made a bit of a name for myself and now many of the people around me discredit what I say. I feel like the little boy who cried wolf or something
What I wonder now is what other people who struggle with paranoia do. If you are also paranoid, how do you deal with it?

Hi tipping!

Glad to see you're back!

I used to struggle with something similar - thinking that certain people around me had hidden agendas. I'm not sure how I got rid of it, but in the process I think I regained my faith in humaity... I think the problem stems from not trusting other people, at least in my case.

I think what you have to do is always challenge your thoughts intellectually, and at some point decide whether you are going to trust this person and dismiss your paranoid toughts or go with the thoughts and dismiss what the person is saying.

Are you on meds? An AAP might take the top off the paranoia, actually that might have been what happened to me.

I wish you all the best,
Karla

Thank you for your response Karla : )

I think your suggestion was a good one: challenge it intellectually. I have been in Cognitive Therapy before and I found that a lot of the techniques that I learned there were effective including exposing and challenging the errors in my thinking. It works... but sometimes I find I get so attached to the idea that I am reluctant to let it go. This makes me curious about the meds you suggested - what are AAPs? I am not on anything now though a while ago I was on an anti-depressant which I did not particularly like.

I have common problems of ''hidden agendas'' or hidden meanings. More commonly I have paranoid fears of coming war or revolution or serious illness. My country Latvia is having such conditions ready for revolution which would led to civil war. I suspected the world financial crisis in 2006. and possible breakdown of my country. And my paranoid predictions of illnesses has also some how came true. 2 years ago I feared I might be hit by a car and that happened in the following day. I have long fear of lung problem, my father had an lung cancer and just today I found out that I have some sort or pneumonia in my lungs. I suspect the conservative forces for making things bad these days and even think they have something against me.

Schizotipping wrote:Thank you for your response Karla : )

This makes me curious about the meds you suggested - what are AAPs?

AAp is Atypical Anti Psychotic meds.

I'm currently on Abilify. It doesn't do much except clear my head and get rid of nasty thoughts/images that I used to have. It doesn't make me drowsy or anything like that. I know it sounds like a big step, going on an antipsychotic ("I'm not psychotic!"), but the truth is that you don't have to be fully psychotic to be on them. In fact, Abilify is even being used for treating hard-to-beat depression some times.

I want to know more about meds? I wonder if I can get some somehow because I can't afford another psyche eval. I got to do something

Hi schizotypes,

You really need to see a psychiatrist to get meds, and that will likely cost something, depending on where you live. I'm guessing you are from the States?

What are your symptoms that you would like to treat with meds?

Yes I am from the States, Washington DC area. I am making an appointment with the rehabilitation counselor to go get re-evaluated. I want an definitive answer. My original diagnosis said I was schizotypal. Now there is some doubt on whether it might be Asperger's syndrome. They have a lot in common but I see them as being completely different.