Do people tell you you're paranoid?

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Everybody I know says I'm paranoid. I think I'm just not as careless as everyone else. If I am paranoid, would this just be a symptom of the OCD part of AS?

I do worry a bit about little things, especially the way people act around me, but I don't think I'm as "paranoid" as they say I am. People will say things like, "Oh, don't worry about other people; they aren't against you." Honestly, I don't think I'm paranoid. People really are mistreating/avoiding me.

I use to be paranoid but nobody told me that I was. I told them on occasion. They usually had no comment.

Yes, and usually when they're in the middle of taking advantage of me.

EXACTLY!

People at my college all use me for math help and will never hang out with me. When I tell them I'm aware of what they're doing, they all say, "Oh, you're paranoid!"

Yes, I've been told I'm paranoid. My wife tells me that most of all. My friends call it my "healthy paranoia".

I don't think it is literal paranoia. I am just not very trusting. It is probably part of the syndrome--I do not synchronize to other people's emotions, and I do not project my own feelings on others. Every time someone does something I don't expect (say, makes a left-hand turn from the right hand lane, or blows up at me because I did them a favor), then I am that much more suspicious that anyone else MIGHT do the same thing.

I think frequently I'm right. One of my biggest suspicions involves public bureaucrats and low-ranking hirelings who are paid to obey. Say we have some business to take care of...my wife will trust them to do their job and I won't. OK, so the package doesn't arrive, the check isn't deposited, the call never shows up, the reservation was never made, the application was never submitted, whatever, and then I say "SEE, I TOLD YOU SO", and she says "OH RELAX, WE'LL JUST CALL AND TELL THEM ....". Well, since I don't have a history of good rapport with strangers, it's never JUST a phone call.

>>When I tell them I'm aware of what they're doing, they all say, "Oh, you're paranoid!"

Never confront them that directly. For one thing, if you admit that you think they're using you without reciprocating friendship, then they'll look down on you. In your sweetest voice, tell them you don't think you'll have time to help with their homework, and then tell them you've been feeling bad about not spending enough time with your friends.

yep.

Yeah, but i was stoned.

I used to be told I was quite paranoid, not so much anymore these days, I feel I have a more level head now.

I'm trying my best to keep my paranoia at bay.

Ditto.

I have a very hard time trusting people. So many times I have been used by others and not even known until someone told me or until they stole directly from me, that I think I have built up an invisible barrier that no one can have access passed anymore.

I am often saying people are watching or looking at me also, I think this is down to me not trusting people too. As I think that people who look at me, obviously think I am weak and want to use me.

I know I'm moderately paranoid. When people laugh or talk within my earshot, I know it's about me. Of course, I intellectually know that it's likely not about me, and I tell myself this, usually as soon as I eavesdrop a bit of conversation that clearly has nothing to do with me.

The result is pretty much just a bit of wasted time. Not so bad. It's more of an annoyance than anything serious.

My paranoia is all about trust as well. My behaviourist friend aked me why I have trouble trusting people, or have feelings of being judged. I said I do not know, but I if I knew, I would not be paranoid. Being a paranoid obsessive, now that is a different thing altogether.

Woodsman summed it up for me. I am workign on it, I cyclical cyle mine. Really at times I am way out in left field, she says to me, the universe does not revolve aroudn you and she is right. We need to temper the accusations with a grain of salt. (truth) Aspies/HFA can be manipulated as we know so beware of users. /my .02 cents - have a great Holiday Season Folken.

Yeah... and I am.

I used to be told a lot that I was paranoid, back in the days when I didn't know that you're supposed to hide certain thoughts and not express them to people. Nowadays I hide those thoughts and I NEVER get told I'm paranoid.

I generally don't wait for people to tell me I'm paranoid; I tell them first. This both (hopefully) helps them better understand why I do or say or think certain things, and also lets them know that, yeah, I'm aware I'm paranoid, and it's not really a problem. And I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I consider my paranoia to be a gift, for I channel it to preparedness, alertness, and a heightened awareness of things.

It strikes me as possible that there is some correlation between AS and paranoia, for I paranoia is mentioned often by folks on the Wrong Planet. BUT, I also suspect that the various schizophrenias and AS/autism (both spectrums) are often confused for one another, even when there is official diagnosis involved. I know at least one person on the WP who was diagnosed with AS but turned out to be more schizophrenic; and I know a few people who were diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia, which was later changed to a diagnosis of AS.

It's all very convoluted; but paranoia seems to be part of the picture often enough for me to call, "Apparent pattern!"

Good fortune,

- Icarus is pretty sure everyone on this thread wants to kill him... (<- I jest.)