Paranoia? Anxiety disorder? or normal?

Question

I'm against all that junk people my age do(i'm 17), how they say they have some sort of mental disease just so they can get attention. but I have concerns about myself.

All my life, i've been extremely shy. For the last few years it's gotten worse. Now I have anxiety about everything involving social situations. I don't go in places because i'm afraid to see people I know or I'm worried about what people I don't know think of me. When i'm by myself and I can hear people laughing and talking I always think it's about me. For example, one day in Kmart, two women I saw were giggling and I had this intense feeling (like someone heavy was standing on my shoulders) it was about me and I panicked. I quickly went over to an unoccupied aisle and realized my heart was practically beating out of my chest. This happens on the bus, in class, on the street and when i'm with my friends. It also happens with my parents, when their outside talking I always think it's about me and something i've done. I think all this is because I constantly hide things about me. Especially to my parents and I'm always afraid they've found out something. Also when i'm in public places, people that I don't know walk by and if they kinda look like someone I know it automatically freaks me out and I see the person I know for a second. This is horrible being afraid of nothing all the time.

Answer 1

DONT WORRY IM 17 AND THIS HAPPENS TO ME TOO!!!

I ALWAYS THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME, AND THAT PEOPLE HATE ME, AND YA IM INSECURE AND I GET DEPRESSED.

BUT THEN I TRY TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM OTHERS' POINTS OF VEIWS.....LIKE IF I WAS SOMEONE ELSE JUDGING ME....THEY'D KNOW I HAVE A BOYFRIEND, PROBABLY THINK IM PRETTTY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, MAYBE THEY'D SAY IM RESERVED AND REALLY QUIET!, ....IDK WHAT ELSE.....BUT NONE OF THAT STUFF IS REALLY ANYTHING TO GET WORKED UP ABOUT.

AND I ALSO WONDER why I FEEL THIS WAY.  AND I THINK MY ANXIETY COMES FROM ME FEELING INSECURE IN MYSELF.  I DONT HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS...I HAVE A FEW BUT NOT ENOUGH.  AND I ALSO DONT DO MUCH....NO JOB...NO ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS....IM MOSTLY AT HOME OR THE BOOK STORE.

AND ALL THOSE THINGS (IN MY MIND) ARE SIGNS OF BEING A FAILURE OR LOSER.  SO I TRY TO EITHER CHANGE THAT ABOUT ME, OR I LEARN THAT THOSE THINGS DONT DEFINE ME AND THAT ITS OKAY.......BUT ITS HARD TO BE OKAY WITH IT SO I MOSTLY TRY TO CHANGE........ITS JUST HARD AND SCARY.

I HOPE I HELPED YOU....AT THE LEAST....NOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE....AND IM 17 ALSO.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Your not alone.

I'd suggest telling your parents about it.

If that doens't work, try to figure out ways to push yourself, or ways to calm yourself down.

Sometimes way to much caffine works for me, but most of the time it doesn't.

Answer 4

HEY. I'm 16 and i have doctor diognosed Anxiety and panic disorder. I can relate! i know how it feels. it suck. like you always have to know whats going on and fear of going out. There is nothing wring with you. what helkps me is my meds, but sometimes when i start feeling like that  i walk away, go to someone who i trust or have comfort in, like my boyfriend and close my eyes and breath. deep steady breaths help alot. keep you form paniking. Email me if you need more advice or recommendation im here to help!

Answer 5

normal part of growing up. trust me Im 27 and I had the exact same problems when I was your age and now I feel fine. just let go and stop caring about what other people think. remember that you dont know them they dont know you and you will never see them again. there opinion of you means nothing if they saw you at all! jjust get ut there with other people and these feeling will go away in time.

Answer 6

you may have anxiety disorder but talk to your doctor to be sure

Answer 7

that sounds a lot like me.

i'm 17 as well, i actually see a therapist but i may stop soon.  they said i have an anxiety disorder.

if it's getting in the way of you enjoying life, i'd suggest you talk to someone.

Answer 8

Hello.  I personally suffer from the same attacks, only my symptoms are different.  I believe you could chalk it up to social anxiety disorder or perhaps a bit of schizoid personality disorder, both have many similar traits.  I'm terribly sorry that you're besieged by these kinds of emotions.  I've actually grown pretty accustomed to my own, but it has made it all but impossible for me to venture outside my home, I am mostly a shut in.  If you think you can, I would say talk to someone about it and see if there's not something that can be done to help you out.  I certainly hope you get better and are able to live life to the fullest.

Answer 9

It sounds like you are just overly self-conscious.  Social anxiety is not uncommon either.  You are probably normal, kids just like to pick on other kids that they think are different.  If you put yourself out there more, perhaps join a sports team or school band or something, you will get over your fears.

Answer 10

anxiety = i suffer from it too!  

Answer 11

You could call it paranoia because your fears are completely unjustified. It can cause anxiety. Do you really think that all these people are watching you, scrutinizing you, laughing about you, or talking about you, like your parents? It just isn't so. People are too concerned about themselves to be concentrating on you. You have absolutely nothing to fear. I was like you a long time ago. Then I just decided that I was going to be bold and outgoing. I found out that what all I had feared for so long just didn't exist. I learned to be myself and not care what people think. I'm probably the craziest guy you would ever see in a big store. I'll talk and joke with anyone and do stupid things to make people laugh. I've learned not to care and still be a nice guy. It's fun.

All of your fears are in your head alone, so get out and LIVE. You'll love it.

Answer 12

There is medical help for anxiety. Have you talked to your parents about your feelings? Don't do anything that you don't want your parents to find out about. That will give you much needed peace of mind. Anxiety can be treated and people get better all the time with help. Panic attacks feel like what you described. My sister used to have the same problem so she got some medication and now she doesn't need it. She is doing much better. Get help soon, and take care.

Answer 13

Well, this is a  question that you would probably want to have answered by someone more professional than an answerer on Yahoo! Answers, but I believe that some of what you have described is normal and some may be more serious.  At 17, most people are insecure and anxious about what other people think of them.  When people around you giggle in a certain way, it is not abnormal to initially wonder if they are laughing about you, even though the vast majority of the time they are not.  Most teenagers also have anxieties about their parents; that's just natural.  However, the intensity of your feelings and your reactions to them make it seem as though you may have some type of anxiety disorder.  While you should definitely see someone about this, it does NOT make you abnormal.  There are MANY people with MANY types of minor and major disorders involving feelings of social anxiety and nervousness.  Fortunately, this means that there ARE treatments that can make your issues less of a problem.  You will be fine; just don't be afraid to talk to a professional. I'm sure your school guidance counselor could at least refer you to someone.

Good luck.

Answer 14

thats so much of what i do.

i hope i don't have an anxiety disorder :(

Answer 15

To get profession advice I recommend you go to your doctor no one on yahoo is able to answer nor diagnose you & remember dont be shy to speak to you doctor he/she has been though medical school and face many different situations, be honest and straught forward with your doctor & take care.

Answer 16

I am like this too sometimes. I was always really shy and still am. It's all in your head though. Nobody cares what you are doing and nobody is looking at you. Even if they are talking or laughing at you for whatever reason you will probably never see them again so who cares? Shy people too, we notice things because we ARE looking and not talking, working, thinking about other things. People are usually way too self involved to care what others are doing unless it it directly in thier line of view. So don't be so afriad. If you think you need help, then get it, otherwise maybe you are just not used to being around people. What helped me was just to sit and 'people watch' and just learn to be comfortable with people around you. You don't have to talk to anyone, just sit and watch and listen and learn.  

Answer 17

You should definitely talk to a doctor about this. There are a lot of good medicines for anxiety (especially social anxiety) and cognitive-behavioral therapy is an excellent option as well. I would recommend doing both, not just talking to a doctor about medicine. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is incredibly effective and can help you with this issue. The good news is anxiety is a very treatable problem.