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)
Stinulant Psychosis is traumatizing in my experience. Once the trauma gets triggered, it can throw you right back in that headspace.
I use a combination of IFS (a type of therapy) and beta blockers to work with my CPTSD, and no longer have full blown psychotic episodes unless I'm exhausted. Some of my trauma does come from stimulant abuse when I was younger.
My former psychiatrist didn't think so. He thought maybe schizoaffective or "bipolar with psychosis." But he wasn't sure.
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.
Yes to all of these. Also usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour and I'll calm down.
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.
Right now I'm just diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety. Fwiw
Sounds like paranoid schizophrenia caused potentially by stress and bipolar mania. Essentially your brain cant tell what information is important but it senses something is really important leading you to rationally try to draw connections to understand what is so important.
Most likely you need to figure out a medication combination that works w u and also keep a tab on your mental health, stress and sleep ! Stay healthy and take care of yourself!
idk duder, just wanted to comment to bump and to say that this sounds absolutely awful 😞
I had one bad mushroom trip in my early 20s during which I thought my boyfriend and friends wished me bodily harm, and I still remember it as one of the worst experiences of my life. I can't imagine going through that every couple of months, and I'm amazed that you've gotten through it this long.
Hopefully somebody has some answers for you.
Yeah it happens every few months. I used to use meth and stay up for days and I'd end up in a paranoid psychosis after like 4 days of being awake.
I would assume I probably permanently messed up my brain a bit.
Bump for visibility. I've never experienced these things irl so I can't really chime in too much.
Have you ever had an ACE (adverse childhood experience) test? If I'm remembering correctly paranoia can show up as a symptom, coupled with burnout and stress. Someone else mentioned schizophrenia, which I would guess is the most well-known cause for that level of distress. That sounds like a rough roller coaster to be stuck on though, I hope you can find a better answer and some relief.
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