Does anxiety cause paranoia?

[Done at Fifty]

Does anyone with anxiety find that it makes them paranoid? Are you more likely to be paranoid if you're already in a highly anxious state?

I'm more anxious than usual these days, but now I fear I'm getting paranoid. The paranoia isn't hearing voices or thinking someone was in my home or anything like that. Just thinking the absolute worst possible outcome of almost every situation. Its silly how easily and quickly I go down a rabbit hole of worry and stress when nothing is ever as bad as I imagine it will be.

I'm usually a fatalistic person anyway and with each bad experience I become more aware of possible dangers as a way of defense I suppose. Still, its so bad that I fear I have a brain aging problem.

However, the paranoia may be a side-effect of the scattered thinking that comes with anxiety. For example, when I'm calm - rarely - and feel everything is great in the world, I'm not as easily shaken. When I'm already worried and feeling uptight, I imagine the worse of everything.

 

[puppy9]

Sorry to hear that. I too experience the same situation like you. I hope any members out there can help us by suggesting something to ease it.

 

[Oh_dear_how_Gastly]

The short answer to your question is: it can. Paranoia, to me, seems like a very extreme form of anxiety, if that makes sense. Is there any way you can practice recognizing when your anxiety is starting to increase? It might be helpful to try to stop and utilize your coping strategies to de-escilate the situation. I rely a lot on netflix/hulu/youtube as a distraction.

 

[pete_x]

Yes.

 

[GoodPersonEffed]

Don't know if you're seeking this, but I highly recommend The Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Workbook for help with these kinds of thought and emotion patterns.

 

[BitterlyAlive]

Absolutely. It's awful.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

Plain and simple answer, yes.

 

[mathieu]

Anxiety can absolutely make you feel the way you've described, although it's not really true paranoia.