"Not paranoid, it's perfectly logical"?

[Pizzabeak]

Can a few people here possibly provide real life examples of being paranoid, and explain why such an event would make you think more about it?

I have a few examples, the main reason for making this thread is to share them, but I'd like to see if anyone else has this 'issue' as well.

 

[Trebuchet]

Well, I had a bad cold one time and took too much pseudo-ephedrine (the standard dose, but I don't tolerate it well). I can only call the result paranoia, though I am not a psychologist to actually diagnose that.

I became terrified that someone would come in my house, where I was alone, and get me. I was locking doors and windows, closing blinds, and hiding under the blankets on my bed. I don't live in a dangerous neighborhood, and there was no logical reason for this fear. All that time, I figured it was a side-effect of the decongestant, and indeed, it wore off after an hour or so.

I don't know if that is the kind of story you are looking for, but it was quite striking. Obviously, I avoid pseudo-ephedrine now.

 

[ObliviousGenius]

No, I am far too carefree, to get paranoid about anything. If there is a situation where a normal person would get paranoid, I immediately skip that phase and go into problem solving/damage control mode. Paranoia never even registers because subconsciously I understand that it's pointless to "cry over spilled milk"

 

[Pizzabeak]

Maybe paranoia is the wrong definition for the phenomena I was referring to then.

EDIT: I think it's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia

& for ya info, I pretty much laughed out loud at those two posts ^^. However that may make you feel.

 

[Pizzabeak]

Damn, no? Should I just provide examples?

 

[lucky12]

I've been thinking like this, I'm not paranoid though. I just kind of wonder.

I draw experiences like Trebuchets, these experiences become amplified from imbalance of foreign substances in my body. Especially alcohol, caffeine, and.. yeah idk.

I saw the number 12 at least 100 times this weekend. That's closely related to the gambling example. No I wasn't looking for it, I just happened to look here there and find it.

I see it as the pre-defined path, a coincidental occurrence of events that inspires a person. It's purpose is sometimes to be "solved". Maybe the inspiration is just something created to mask the fact that this person is seeking out these "coincidences". Like paranoia too, you are scared because you choose to see the dark side of the street filled with axe murderers.

 

[Pizzabeak]

What I always came to was something like, "I'm believer now, after witnessing something like this for the umpteenth time.", if that makes sense. I've had the 'maybe i'm creating this myself' thought too though.

Pre-determined path, check. I feel like there's more to it though.

And yes, marijuana will cause a bombardment of 'synchronicity', although I'm not as much of a smoker as I once was, I seem to not 'need' weed for these things anymore... (?)

 

[lucky12]

Yeah, there is more to it.

 

[Pizzabeak]

you chose your name after it

 

[kantor1003]

I have perhaps experienced what I interpret to be real paranoia on one or two occasions, both of which where due to the aftereffects of a particular substance. The one occasion included me laying restless in my bed, unable to sleep, being certain that there was an unidentifiable, evil natured spirit (something I don't believe in usually) in my room wanting to hurt me. I was drenched in sweat and was moments away from screaming for help. The only reason why I didn't is that I knew that this must be due to aftereffects and that my parents would have begun to wonder about my doings if they heard me, someone whom they see as a hard sceptic, scream from the bottom of my lungs for help from my bedroom. I have also, in a similar state, experienced auditory hallucinations of a car driving in and parking in my garage, and I was certain that the cops where coming to get me (classic), and I looked, scared shitless, out of the window to see whether they had already arrived at the front door.
In a normal state I can't say I've experienced anything as such even though my thoughts and analysis of past and/or future events can result in almost similar unpleasantries.

 

[MsAnthropy_Indefatigably]

No, this thread did NOT just throw away my response!?!?!?! Ugghhh!!!!!

I just wanted to let you know I responded, but it disappeared, so now I'm not writing it again...

 

[cheese]

^That's so....suspicious.

 

[Otherside]

One example might be reading too much meaning into coincidences, and believing that they were related to you. A misperception of reality in such a way would cause the feeling of paranoia because you would not be able to solve the puzzle that doesn't exist. That's one very unpleasant form of paranoia.

Paranoia is really defined as a misperception of reality anyway.

 

[Pizzabeak]

One example might be reading too much meaning into coincidences, and believing that they were related to you. A misperception of reality in such a way would cause the feeling of paranoia because you would not be able to solve the puzzle that doesn't exist. That's one very unpleasant form of paranoia.

Paranoia is really defined as a misperception of reality anyway.

Pretty much nailed it on the head... But I still (would like to) believe there is a difference between 'synchronicity' and meaningless coincidences. It's an interesting subject to think about, if anything.

 

[Mello]

One time, I was so high that I thought I was going to die. Everything around me was actually part of my imagination. No one has ever died from smoking weed, but I thought I would die that time. And I was somehow tricked into smoking it.

You can reach 'logical' conclusions about irrational things.

 

[GYX_Kid]

If we connect things that seem to be related, with things that seem scary and plausible due to our lack of real understanding- paranoia. Ti-Ne seems like a good candidate for that. Just like Ni-Te is a good candidate for delusion from too much comfort in assurance with their view of reality.

 

[BigApplePi]

If we connect things that seem to be related, with things that seem scary and plausible due to our lack of real understanding- paranoia. Ti-Ne seems like a good candidate for that. Just like Ni-Te is a good candidate for delusion from too much comfort in assurance with their view of reality.

For an INTP, next in line from Ti-Ne is Si. If one has suppressed or forgotten a bad sensual experience (experienced emotionally if that makes any sense) and it comes up again, the Si will be misinterpreted as a conditioned response. Could we call that paranoid?

 

[Pizzabeak]

One time, I was so high that I thought I was going to die. Everything around me was actually part of my imagination. No one has ever died from smoking weed, but I thought I would die that time. And I was somehow tricked into smoking it.

You can reach 'logical' conclusions about irrational things.

Goddammit

 

[tepellian]

^ 42 posts, must have stopped there for a reason. >_>

Just kidding.

I don't tend to get influenced by substances enough for true instances of this, where I come to believe what I am thinking about, but I often entertain the possibility of the patterns I've found in reality being meaningful in this way. There are kind of too many to name.

 

[P.H.]

For an INTP, next in line from Ti-Ne is Si. If one has suppressed or forgotten a bad sensual experience (experienced emotionally if that makes any sense) and it comes up again, the Si will be misinterpreted as a conditioned response. Could we call that paranoid?

Interesting thought, I guess we could. I'm not sure about surpressed, although you could consider that as active paranoia opposed to passive, forgotten paranoia. I don't think all paranoia is caused by this though. There's also substance abuse and chemical imbalance, but thinking from a cognitive point of view this really does make sense.

--

I've only ever gotten paranoid from substances. Since then I'm more agitated than usual and I consciously avoid that stuff, but paranoia, nope.

 

[Otherside]

Pretty much nailed it on the head... But I still (would like to) believe there is a difference between 'synchronicity' and meaningless coincidences. It's an interesting subject to think about, if anything.

If this becomes an issue that causes you to have problems with everyday life, feel free to PM me. I've been through it, and it can be devastating to one's life if left unchecked.

 

[Otherside]

There's a great movie, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", that deals with paranoia/psychosis. There are a lot of good scene excerpts on Youtube. "A Beautiful Mind" is another. Thoughts like these creep up on you and eventually overwhelm. It doesn't happen overnight, but if it goes on for a couple of months. it's cause for concern.

 

[Pizzabeak]

It's not that much of an issue, it's actually fun and interesting. Just somewhat creepy sometimes, because if another person is involved it's like the only way they could possibly say or do some stuff is if they know about you or are intentionally just messin' with you, for like fun or something.

 

[Otherside]

It's not that much of an issue, it's actually fun and interesting. Just somewhat creepy sometimes, because if another person is involved it's like the only way they could possibly say or do some stuff is if they know about you or are intentionally just messin' with you, for like fun or something.

Mind games happen between people, no doubt. Doing it to someone to the extent that it causes a person to feel that they are unsafe or in danger is referred to as "gaslighting". It's essentially a form of bullying.

Most of the time, it's all in a person's head. If you were to write down every "clue" and your interpretation of it's "meaning", then read it back a month later, you would probably find it all to be irrational.

 

[Otherside]

Mind games happen between people, no doubt. Doing it to someone to the extent that it causes a person to feel that they are unsafe or in danger is referred to as "gaslighting". It's essentially a form of bullying.

Most of the time, it's all in a person's head. If you were to write down every "clue" and your interpretation of it's "meaning", then read it back a month later, you would probably find it all to be irrational.

It happens in interpersonal relationships more often than people probably realize:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/power-in-relationships/200905/are-you-being-gaslighted

However if you're tying things together like "this person has this avitar that relates to my work, and they posted something that reminds me of something my boss said", and the thoughts go on and on like that, it's better that you realize now that you're slipping out of reality. A full psychosis will psychologically change you. Some studies indicate that actual physical changes to the brain occur when one has a psychotic episode.

I think this is something that might be more likely to occur with introverted intuitives that spend too much time in their head anyway.

Whatever your situation, good luck and get help if you ever feel you need it.

 

[Pizzabeak]

The thing is, shamans supposedly use this stuff all the time ('coincidences' or, more accurately, synchronicity). Once you 'have it', it's bloody difficult to get rid of. Agreed, it probably is 'all in your head' & subjective but it 'works' for some reason.
Sometimes, looking back at the 'examples' I have, yes they are 'wrong' sometimes, but sometimes there are success stories (pretty sure there's a Carl Sagan baloney detection kit somewhere in there).. But yeah. I dunno

@lucky12

 

[lucky12]

I'm lucky 12 because of my bday btw Not cause I see twelve everywhere.

It is difficult to get rid of, especially on drugs. Shamans do enjoy substance abuse in some cases.

If anything I enjoy my paranoia, gives me something to laugh about and explore a little. When I play pool I'm extremely superstitious and it seems to pay off.

 

[Otherside]

My background and education are in the physical sciences, so I tend to dismiss Shamanism and other supernatural concepts. To each his own though.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Two types of paranoia:

1. Fear of unknown, external possibilities within reality. Identifying too much with external reality. "What if a meteor strikes my car as I'm driving down the road?"

2. Fear spawned from disconnection with reality. "Where/what am I?" "What is my relation to the world?"

I'd associate type 1 with Ne and type 2 with Ni.

I've always experienced some degree of type 1, as far as I can recall, which was my experience upon writing this response. I've only very recently experienced type 2.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Spoiler

Two types of paranoia:

1. Fear of unknown, external possibilities within reality. Identifying too much with external reality. "What if a meteor strikes my car as I'm driving down the road?"

2. Fear spawned from disconnection with reality. "Where/what am I?" "What is my relation to the world?"

I'd associate type 1 with Ne and type 2 with Ni.

I've always experienced some degree of type 1, as far as I can recall, which was my experience upon writing this response. I've only very recently experienced type 2.

I experience both.
1 in day-to-day life, mainly because human interactions are hard to predict.
2 when i am alone and think about myself and my relationship to the world, sometimes "inspired" by the scenarios of 1.

But, i have filled out a questionnaire, and according to that, i'm only mildly paranoid.

 

[own8ge]

The following is not fiction.

I am in a public place, there are a lot of people and there is no quick escape home. I'm in a shopping mall. As I am walking towards the shop I'm planning to go to, I shat in my pants. Diarrhea just spills out, covering my legs and everything. You could see it through my pants. People behind me are laughing. They are either filming it or taking pictures. I am vigorously scanning the environment, and the reactions on people their faces. I walk into the shop, trying to find paths that leave me isolated from having people near, or behind me. I am infront of the thing I want to buy, but I don't dare to hit the counter. I escape the shop. Once outside I walk from place to place, trying to find a safe spot. I can't find one. I return to the shop. This time I do dare to hit the counter, but I'm panicking. Once awkwardly bought, I walk to a supermarket because I have to buy stuff there too... I walk rather fast, feeling humiliated and laughed at. Strangers are talking behind my back. And the shopping mall is very busy. People are everywhere. While walking fast, I try to maintain confidence and avoid confrontation. I keep scanning people for danger and humiliation. I finally get to the supermarket. The staff is pointing at me. I'm their number 1 conversation for certainty. I buy some stuff and get home as quick as possible. It's a nightmare. Once home, I sit relaxed. I didn't shit in my pants or nothing. It was all just the paranoia. Such events happen to me often.

 

[nearfantastica]

All paranoia (I believe anxiety is a more relevant term) I experience is probably a cause of my Ne, as I saw someone mention above. All it takes is for you to hear one suspicious sound, think one negative thought in relation to the world around you at any given moment, and suddenly more possibilities than you know what to deal with pop up in your head, impossible to dismiss. That's what happens to me, at least...

For example, I'll be walking down the street in broad daylight, and some tall man will pass me. All's well until the "what if?" questions start coming. What if he's that one delusional guy that snaps despite there being witnesses everywhere? This goes on until I'm internally tormented, really.

Another example that comes to mind. I walk past this one house relatively close to mine twice a day - but that's all fine and dandy, because I walk past a lot of houses twice a day. This one is different because no matter the time, whether I'm off schedule by an hour or two, there is a man sitting on his front porch. He doesn't appear to be smoking, and rarely has company. He just sits there. I guess it's his right and all, but it really messes with me. The theories come and then there's no going back. I'll remain uneasy walking past that house until I cease to.

Now that I've written this I feel somewhat insane...

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

I walk past this one house relatively close to mine twice a day - but that's all fine and dandy, because I walk past a lot of houses twice a day. This one is different because no matter the time, whether I'm off schedule by an hour or two, there is a man sitting on his front porch. He doesn't appear to be smoking, and rarely has company. He just sits there. I guess it's his right and all, but it really messes with me. The theories come and then there's no going back. I'll remain uneasy walking past that house until I cease to.

If you can: ask him why he is sitting there all alone and have a little chit-chat.

Spoiler

I couldn't.
So i would add one piece to the puzzle each day.
Until it's clear as daylight:
He want's to murder me and harvest my brain!

 

[Pizzabeak]

"I wish I had time to come up with retarded conspiracy theories about everything in the same way people on youtube do."

"By retarded I meant that it has no basis in reality and he is extrapolating from nothing of actual significance. I think it's kind of sad sometimes because on some level it does take some effort to come up with these insane connections, some mad sort of creativity that could serve a better purpose if used in another way."

"Yeah, I think it would be hard for logic alone to work, I think if any deprogramming would work it would have to start from another angle, like convincing them using their own holy book."

 

[Pizzabeak]

Should I post a potential sexual harassment containing example illustrating one of the things that can happen? Just one of many... Cases in which timing plays an interesting role that is, not sexual harassment escapades.
Then one must sort of ask why something was done in the manner in which it was, as it seems to play a role. The varieties seems slightly different but to fall under the same category. Hopefully even taking a few statistical considerations into account... I'd wonder what the frequency would allow as far as attributation. Hardly any effort is needed is sometimes, sometimes there's hardly any even control involved. Well once it sets in perhaps, but I suppose one always has the choice to try and avoid situations. What does it try to add up to? Seems possible due to the existence of certain other things?

 

[Variform]

Maybe paranoia is the wrong definition for the phenomena I was referring to then.

EDIT: I think it's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia

& for ya info, I pretty much laughed out loud at those two posts ^^. However that may make you feel.

Please hover over the '2' at the end of the definition. I don't like it.

This definition sucks.

 

[Variform]

Damn, no? Should I just provide examples?

First we need to establish if it is really possible to see patterns in random data and assume these patterns mean nothing.

By default, it seems to me, if one sees a pattern in data, there is a significance. Why would you not see a patterns from other bits of data in the same dataset, yet discern any particular pattern?

If it is random, then why would not the brain or the subconscious resist finding a pattern? Why would we assume that out of a dataset we would choose elements to form a pattern if these elements had no collective significance?

We may project something onto that patterm giving it meaning. But how is that different than what we do constantly, recognize patterns?

Does randomness not become reversed to its opposite when we perceive the data?

 

[Grayman]

Can a few people here possibly provide real life examples of being paranoid, and explain why such an event would make you think more about it?

I have a few examples, the main reason for making this thread is to share them, but I'd like to see if anyone else has this 'issue' as well.

I get paranoid when I drink a lot of energy drink or take certain pain medication. It is really just a product of anxiety that overrides my logical control.

 

[scorpiomover]

Pretty much nailed it on the head... But I still (would like to) believe there is a difference between 'synchronicity' and meaningless coincidences. It's an interesting subject to think about, if anything.

There is. Meaningless coincidences occur everywhere. The brain has to screen them out, or people would be doing lethal things all the time, under the misguided belief that a coincidence that allowed the person to do the lethal thing and still survived, showed that that thing is safe to do.

When people believe in meaningless coincidences, we know that it's because they have reasons to ignore the sensible thing, and consequently are risking their life. They want to believe in the coincidence. They NEED to believe in the coincidence. If they didn't, they wouldn't take the risk. So, we can already see that when this occurs, the subject would have to show an uncontrollable urge towards aberrant behaviour that justifies an aberrant belief that makes them feel good, in a way, that if that belief were removed, then in all others they would be OK, but in that person, even the mere suggestion makes them act like they'd have a nervous breakdown if they even considered the option.

Likewise, there are reasonable correlations and reasonable causations, that some people claim are meaningless, when the data is overwhelming. Those people are taking the same stance as the first group, only there, they are claiming a positive assertion, that a correlation exists where none does, while here, they are claiming a negative assertion, that a correlation does not exist where it does. Other than that, the delusion is the same.

When someone is interested in synchronicity, then they're not too bothered in meaningless coincidences. There has to be more to the syncrhonicity that a possibility. It has to have enough probability to be as likely as something else that you personally accept exists. For the person to not be suffering a delusion, then it has to be something that they could handle not being true. That means that if you could convince them that the thing isn't true, they'd APPEAR to have a meltdown. But the next day, they'd be getting on with their own lives. Like if you convinced an ENTP that all of logic and science was wrong, and the next day, he's off exploring something else. Then you know that when he thinks about such an issue, he can handle it being untrue, and so has the capacity to be objective.

 

[Variform]

I have perhaps experienced what I interpret to be real paranoia on one or two occasions, both of which where due to the aftereffects of a particular substance. The one occasion included me laying restless in my bed, unable to sleep, being certain that there was an unidentifiable, evil natured spirit (something I don't believe in usually) in my room wanting to hurt me.

I had that too. Was your body disabled? If so, it is sleep paralysis. It is frightening. But you are dreaming while conscious, it is a little hickup in your sleep pattern.

In my case I felt an evil presence behind me like in or on the wall, I imagined it was a yellowish spot. And by sheer strength of will I as able to move, thereby waking my brain up from REM and it was gone.
------------

My paranoia revolves around the Panopticum effect that is affecting our societies more and more. Everywhere there are CCTV camera's, sometimes equipped with microphones. Everybody is using camera's in phones. Governments and corporations take the human right of privacy away. And most people seem not to care.

I am a privacy fighter. I have paranoia and it is hardly paranoia when it is all real, what the NSA does, what other intelligence agencies do. I do not have social media and I feel more and more reluctant to openly speak my mind. Privacy is eroding fast and this WILL lead to violence in the future, because we live in increasingly dictatorial states.

But dictatorship mixed with the right to vote and this new totalitarianism has no ancient Greek name, like democracy. It is a mix of different things, made possible by ICT.

Sorry I am not coherent enough. But yes, I am quite paranoid and I think most people are not paranoid enough.