am i too paranoid?

[datasymphony]

i'm not sure if paranoia is the right term to describe it, but in the past few months i've been starting to become overly suspicious of things as i go about my day. for example, if a plane is flying by and it seems lower than usual i get panicked that maybe someone is using a camera from it to spy on me. when i'm on the train i notice people looking at me and occasionally think they might be undercover police following me, and that they might be able to read my thoughts so i often switch carriages or get off the train and wait for the next one. i know that technically it's illogical (there's no reason for police or anything to be after me) but once i get it in my head i can't stop thinking 'but what if they ARE'. i do the same with people going the same way as my (i get convinced theyre following me) and the thought that my dad searches my room every time i leave the house is giving me anxiety to the point where i set things up by the door so if he goes in they'll spill and i'll know, and i searched my room for cameras once. i know its illogical and it frustrates me but i can't get the ideas from my head and they stress me out and are starting to really affect the way i go about my day (i go out a LOT less and when i do i spend a lot of time watching my own back and i viciously mistrust my closest friends) even now im writing this im second guessing myself because what if it's all real concerns of mine.

am i overreacting? is this a normal level of awareness for a person or am i being too paranoid, and is there any way i can stop or lessen it so it stops controlling my life so much?

[Zeal]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

This anxiety sounds as though it is hugely impacting your daily life, so asking for help here was a great move. Seeing your doctor (GP) for a referral to a counsellor or psychologist is a good idea. It is positive that you rationally know the thoughts you have are not reflective of reality, and that the measures you take are unnecessary. However, stopping these behaviours and being able to dismiss these thoughts is not easy. With advice from a professional, this anxiety and paranoia can be overcome.

Here are some links that you may like to save to your computer favourites to refer to:

http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=46

http://www.mindhealthconnect.org.au/

I hope you can seek help soon!

Best wishes,

Zeal