I'm nervous about even posting anything online but I thought how worse can it get?
Here it goes...
I've been really paranoid lately. I think that I have good reason to be. It seems as if my family, counselor and some possible friends are planning something against me. I've caught one in a lie which left me feeling very betrayed already. My question now is, what am I supposed to do for support? There is NOONE else that I trust. Should I be expected to 'bottle-up' everything from now on? Or will one day just explode like so many?
As you can see, I am quite a pickle and fear the worst is to come. What should I do?

Hi Blondie

so sorry you are going through this

our schizophrenia forum isnt very active but the subforum that leads to our sister site at PC is active and you will find support there

here is the link
http://forums.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31

hope you find release there.

what would it be? and why? something illegal?

u know i know EXACTLY what u mean i do not tell en1 enthing bcuz all they do is blame me and tell me im crazy and my dad en time i am upset or yelling he threatens me to send me back to the mental hospital.

its like i cant trust en1 and its even worse to open up to en1 bcuz i just get hurt.

i dont know what u should do. but if u tell en1 u r planning on hurting urself or someone else they will put u in a mental hospital. as long as ur not feeling like that...what can they do? they cant put u in a hospital if ur not a threat to en1 or urself.

but if u r feeling like that u really should tell some1 bcuz u dont wanna hurt urself or someone else.

maybe if u dont trust ur therapist/psychiatrist u should ask for another one.

u shouldnt ever be nervous about posting something online. i mean you can tell yourself that. but that wont help. what will actually help, is actually challenging your beliefs. you have a fixated belief that you can't post online, because something bad will happen or you just can't do it, because you believe everyone to be malevolent. ask yourself, if really truly, there should be a reason for this paranoia? if you can answer that question well enough, then that should put you at at least, slightly more at ease. no one is going to hurt you for posting stuff online and you won't get in trouble either. if you believe everyone to be worser people than they actually are, chances are they will fulfill that prophecy. the world is a scary place i know, but with your paranoia getting the upper hand it is a hell of a lot scarier, even to the people around you that can get intimidated by your paranoia, and youll scare the bejeezes out of them.

Paranoia could mean a person is developing schizophrenia. But remember - paranoia can be a symptom of depression too.

It isn't actually that unusual to have paranoia with depression. If your feelings of suspicion also go along with feelings of grief, sadness, hopelessness, it's quite possible.

The best thing to do first is to understand the symptom of paranoia. My housemate had this symptom so I got to live with it every single day.

Paranoia isn't the usual feeling everyone gets due to life's ups and downs, such as job or social pressures. At least a person gets a break from that sort of feeling!

Paranoia can be overwhelming, almost constant, and it often does not lesson even if the person is reassured or comforted.

This symptom may be at its worst in the evening, or when there is an abrupt change to the person's routine. Paranoia may keep a person even from relaxing in his/her own home. When a lot of things are going on at once, paranoia may worsen. For some people, the paranoia sticks to one certain subject or idea.

If nothing seems to help much and it is constant or almost constant, it could very well be the symptom of paranoia.

Sometimes it forms gradually, other times, quite suddenly.

Another hint that it may be paranoia, is the reaction of other people. Friends and family start arguing that what the poor person is feeling can't POSSIBLY be true. And that often makes the person more upset.

Another hint that it's paranoia, it may get worse at night. Night may be a very restless, anxious time, with little sleep. It may get worse when one's routine changes or when unexpected things happen.

Another hint is that it may affect relationships. Familiar people may seem suspect. And even if the person is comforted, the paranoia just keeps coming back.

Another indication that it's paranoia, is the person MIGHT feel a surge of energy or feel powerful, along with the paranoia.

Paranoia can also make a person very reluctant to consult with a doctor or psychiatrist. The whole idea that it is a symptom might seem totally impossible to the person. Since paranoia is basically about processing our sensory information, the paranoia seems absolutely true.

Sometimes getting off by oneself seems to lessen paranoia. Staying busy sometimes helps. Other people find listening to music helps.

It just doesn't help enough! If you have this symptom paranoia, my advice is to see a doctor...paranoia is caused by how a person with certain conditions - such as depression or schizophrenia, processes information. The doctor may notice other symptoms, such as lethargy or other perceptual issues.

Paranoia can really interfere with a person's enjoyment of life. So it needs treatment. And while it's a sign of a condition that needs treatment, to me it's a good sign and paranoid schizophrenia (or paranoia with depression) is very, very treatable.