Posted by Mistermindmasta on February 28, 2005, at 1:52:09
In reply to Re: I feel observed and always worried about people » Tepiaca, posted by ed_uk on February 27, 2005, at 8:31:46
I will agree with Ed that maybe that's more social phobia. And it doesn't even have to defined as that, really, unless it causes dysfunction in your life. For example, if you fear being judged by people when walking thru the mall to the point where you can't even go to the mall, we have a social phobia issue. On the other hand, if you wake up one morning and head straight to the mall without shower, and then proceed to wonder if people are looking at your messy hair or oily face, that's more normal. I believe it's normal to be wondering what people are thinking, or to assume what they might be thinking. Not only that, but let's say you fear conversation with strangers because you are afraid for example that they see your head shaking from the meds you take. This isn't necessarily abnormal. When I was a teenager I used to make fun of people who looked different... and if you look different because your head is shaking, you have every reason to believe that people might be thinking bad things about you. People are not perfect. But if it causes you to not want to go out in public, its social phobia. You probably need a little self confidence boosting to feel at ease and comfortable with yourself. Theoretically, Nardil will provide the extra serotonin and norepinephrine alteration to help that situation. On the other hand, if you're absolutely CERTAIN that people are judging you, that's more psychotic. It's one thing to think people MIGHT be looking at you, its another to feel like you KNOW people are looking at you. According to the research, you would probably have too much activity at your dopamine 2 receptors in the mesolimbic region of the brain that makes you exceedingly paranoid. Thus, antipsychotics would make you feel less certain that people are looking at you and you'd be able to take a more rational approach. So unless you feel like you have an unshakeable knowingness that people are starting at you, you have nothing to worry about and to me its within the realm of normal.
poster:Mistermindmasta
thread:463433
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050227/msgs/464287.html