Occasionally once every couple months I'll have break down level paranoia where I believe even family and friends have a plot to kill me. It's not often but it's scary when it does happen. I used to abuse heavy stimulants, so I'm wondering if this is residual stimulant psychosis, ptsd, or bipolar with paranoia (I've had that thrown at me)
Do you have delusions or hallucinations or both?
Can you tell when symptoms are about to start/worsen? Is there a triggering event or environment?
Does it tend to happen around the same time of year or within the same climate?
How long do the episodes last and do they end without medical intervention?
CPTSD (Complex ptsd) has a thing called an emotional flashback. You don't get all of the hallucinations, but your emotions get locked in a mode when triggered. It can last minutes, hours, even days or weeks.
https://pete-walker.com/fAQsComplexPTSD.html
You mentioned ptsd and drug use with a recurring event and that made me think of it. If you or anyone else would like more resources or info on cptsd, please feel free to ask.
I wish you well as you navigate this.
Yeah reading more into this, this sounds like what I've been dealing with ever since the stimulant psychosis traumatized me.
I need to talk to my doc, my case manager and my therapist about this.
Good luck, comrade. From personal experience, it gets better. Try to be kind to yourself as you unpack it all.
Yes to all of these. Also usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour and I'll calm down.