Dyspraxia and Paranoia

[Henri]

Hello everyone,

It seems to me that people with Dyspraxia tend to worry about day-to-day incidents on a far greater scale then anyone else, and sometimes, at least in my case, this leads to unnecessary stress and affects my personal relationships. I worry that, when someone says something to me that I feel isn't right, it may be a personal attack etc.

For instance, a friend called me asking whether I would like to come round. I replied that I couldn't, and that I was sorry, and I heard them say to someone in the background : "He was begging me to meet up yesterday", when I wasn't. I found this quite offensive, yet I am also aware that it may be an overreaction, and something I shouldn't need to think about as long as I did.

It's incidents like these which make me think that Dyspraxia may encourage, not directly cause, this type of thinking and the consequent stress.

Let me know your opinion.

[Icarus]

I'm definitely paranoid about almost everything, I'm not sure why though.

[Jen]

Hiya,

I do worry alot about what people say, mean think about me. Guess I am paranode, I have always thoght of it as over thinking. People say thinks to me, i don't understand them and go away and over think what they say till it ends up been very negative to me. I'm not sure if it a ADD thing as well. As I have ADD, dyspraxia and dyslexia.

[emma]

Paranoia is definetly a "symptom" of dyspraxia. I seem to spend alot of time, particuarly in work worrying about what people think and constantly apologising for things that other people probably wouldnt bother about. Can get a bit paranoid in relationships too, but luckily I have an understanding boyfriend

[Lithium_joe]

I think to provide a contrary opinion, what everyone so far has described (with the exception of Icarus - who didn't go into any detail) are issues to do with self-esteem.

Henri, it seems your offence has a genuine cause but also don't take it out of context. Explain to this friend how your schedules kept you apart when they rang and agree an alternative time.

Jen I worrying about what other people think and building up a negative picture of yourself isn't paranoia* but is about having a healthy self-esteem for who you are and what you can do.

And Emma, not to sound like I'm beating a drum here, but self-esteem issues are a recognised part of dyspraxia but paranoia if it occurs simultaneously is I would think quite rare.

* and now I'll present my reasoning:

In so far as I know, paranoia is a psychiatric disorder where feelings of persecution and manipulation by others occur in normal social situations.

It's the difference between walking into a party where you don't really know anyone - and feeling a bit cautious and exposed - which would be a matter of self-esteem and walking into a party, feeling uneasy, and thinking everyone at the party is acting this way to make you feel bad on purpose.

I think the term 'paranoia' has been diluted down in the public lexicon to mean something like 'self-doubt' in the same way thatpeople speak of depression and just mean their feeling a bit down rather than the 'can't get out of bed to face the world' kind of dread of depression. I don't think it helps in my view to confuse paranoia, with regular issues of self-esteem, about which we we can do something (and that's good news!)

And speaking as one who is a mumbler and a bumbler in work and at school; and quiet hopeless for doubting my own abilities or thinking that others already do: I recognise what you are all saying, but I think it's not paranoia which you mean.

That's my thougths, you may agree of disagree, I don't mind.

[Lithium_joe]

P.S To everyone here, I see many of you are newly arrived or just settling in, so welcome!

[Icarus]

I'm definitely paranoid about almost everything, I'm not sure why though.

I'll point at that while I am paranoid, I'm always very very relaxed. It might be my medication but I can usually just brush off my worries as being dyspraxic side-effects and leave it at that. Maybe I do that too often xD

[Remus]

Being paranoid is one of my worse symptoms, I seem to be paranoid by everthing these days whether it be people, events, anything. I hate it but what can you do?

[Creative]

Be kind to yourself. Everyone feels paranoid at times.

[djgard27]

I feel paranoid about a lot and often over exagerate things making myself anxious struggle to switch off from things better to keep active i guess and try and stay positive but its not as easy as it sounds

[cpr02]

i can be like this as well occassionaly i read too much into things - comments people make / things they do and can get worked up/ aggitated easily do you think there is a link with this and dyspraxia ?? or is everyone just like this sometimes ???

[djgard27]

I guess everyone can be like this at times but having read about it appears people with dyspraxia have worse people skills than most so we can get frustrated with people and take it out on them i had a an instance the other day where i lost control and im dissapointed in myself but life goes on

[NobodyElseWill]

okay occasionally i get up in the middle of night thinking I have mucked up something or I need to be a meeting and even if i can't find something it bugs me till I find it. Other days I go to bed like normal and then I don't get up still ten because of a bad night, even though I slept like a baby. I am always jumping to conclusions about stuff, like one time i thought i had broken the dishwasher when i hadn't.

[krackerz1590]

i get paranoid over social situations/coverstaions alot as don't understading the meaning and concept i get so confused and frustrated anxiety leads to be mistrusting if someone don't text me back reply to instant message i get upset and hurt feel like i've said something wrong to hurt or upset them i get very edgy around people find it hard to maintain balance and control on it i have to get a 'perfect answer' yet paranoia makes feel like it is right and makes self-doubt have low self-esteem even depressed over why you end up in such a MH cycle of events over something little small can't work it out but believe it right and strong and you're weak and wrong so hard to get away from the reality it reassures you in makes you think going crazy mad insane etc so hard to explain to people put into exact words and feelings!!! i get that people out to get me hurt me or talk about me behind my back or laugh about me difficulties

[hollypop18]

Im so glad i found this topic,i was starting to worry that it was only me. I think if I wasnt paranoid life would be so much easier. Its bizzare i can cope with the other symptoms of dyspraxia but paranoia is on which I can cope with at all.