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Paranoia on the rise?
Psychologist Daniel Freeman at Kings College London, has said from a study he has done that Paranoia is on the rise, that 1in 4 people have Paranoid thoughts, here and in Europe, My question is have you noticed either in your self or your family that this is so, I have noticed that people I know seem more uptight and concerned.
Paranoia must be on the rise because some people actually believe that our own president is the anti-Christ ! ; ^ )
Could it be because gmail is free? However, no reason to read peoples e-mails.
IMO I do not trust any e-mail. Once you go over the Internet its not private anymore. I even hate ordering something with my credit card.
Hackers who know what they are doing can get into any account. Remember they also go by your IP# from your computer.
I watched a segment one time where an ex-con who is now out of jail and on the straight and narrow told how easy it is to get into peoples e-mails and bank accounts on the Internet. I mean he did not give total details for crooks to learn how to do it, but what he said was enough to scare you and see how easy it is.
IMO I do not trust any e-mail. Once you go over the Internet its not private anymore. I even hate ordering something with my credit card.
Hackers who know what they are doing can get into any account. Remember they also go by your IP# from your computer.
I watched a segment one time where an ex-con who is now out of jail and on the straight and narrow told how easy it is to get into peoples e-mails and bank accounts on the Internet. I mean he did not give total details for crooks to learn how to do it, but what he said was enough to scare you and see how easy it is.
The media is partially responsible for this paranoia in my opinion, but the public is also partially to blame for not sitting back and putting things into perspective before helping to perpetuate the myth that things are somehow in some worse-off state than they ever were. Since people have walked the earth, there has been crime against man...in every form, murder, rape, torture, robbery, theft, terrorism, you name it. On top of this, natural disasters have been around since the earth has been around. It just so happens that there are a lot more of us now to get in the way of them and take notice. I don't sweat any of it, and instead learn about it so that I may be prepared in the event of a disaster, and I try to avoid crime as best anyone can. People need to stop worrying so hard on these things and instead concentrate on how to better their lives by just living them.
Don't own a cellphone for that reason and people who misuse cellphones to tell the whole world their personal business are obnoxious. No rational person minds when people who are suspect or of concern knowing that those people's phones or e-mail will be monitored for national security reasons. I do mind that my alternate e-mail account which is gmail can and is read by the company for advertising purposes. No other e-mail provider does that. I do believe that's an invasion of privacy as it does not serve the interest of our country, just the company. I would rather assume when I send an e-mail its as confidential as a phone call and if privacy is compromised there are higher issues at stake than where I've been shopping online, if I have been, so they can target sending spam to me (look this all up it can be confirmed). I don't send anything confidential through that e-mail account but its good for people I don't know well. It doesn't make me paranoid. Its just as rude and invasive as the people who talk about graphic details of their personal life the whole bus ride home are.
Not wanting to scare anybody, but is anybody thinking about "nukes"? That would wipe us out in an instant and for the ones who would survive they'd wish they were nuked too.
That is my biggest concern about Obama. Will he be to easy on the terrorists? Just the thought that he wants to shut Gitmo down doesn't exactly give me much confidence in him when it comes to national security.
I heard on FOX I believe that Obama too, like Bush, wants to have people listen in on suspicious phone calls, I hope so. I know especially people on the Left have a big problem with that but I wonder how many of these people have no problem when everybody around them hears their cell phone conversations as in Restaurants, at doctors offices, in line at the store etc, I heard everything from making simple doctor appointments, to ordering stuff over the phone giving out their credit card # including the expiration date, I heard a woman tell somebody why she had her son in law locked up, another one why she had marital problems and more. And then lots of them yell into their cellphones like the other end is deaf, and everybody around them can hear the whole conversation, but if possible Al Queade suspects are listened into, mostly overseas calls all of a sudden some of these people have a big problem with it.
That is my biggest concern about Obama. Will he be to easy on the terrorists? Just the thought that he wants to shut Gitmo down doesn't exactly give me much confidence in him when it comes to national security.
I heard on FOX I believe that Obama too, like Bush, wants to have people listen in on suspicious phone calls, I hope so. I know especially people on the Left have a big problem with that but I wonder how many of these people have no problem when everybody around them hears their cell phone conversations as in Restaurants, at doctors offices, in line at the store etc, I heard everything from making simple doctor appointments, to ordering stuff over the phone giving out their credit card # including the expiration date, I heard a woman tell somebody why she had her son in law locked up, another one why she had marital problems and more. And then lots of them yell into their cellphones like the other end is deaf, and everybody around them can hear the whole conversation, but if possible Al Queade suspects are listened into, mostly overseas calls all of a sudden some of these people have a big problem with it.
Well I'd say the misuse of technology. We wouldn't be discussing things here and the internet wouldn't exist without an increase in technology. And if there's ever a terrorist attack in another country (sad but within possibility) and people wanted to know how relatives were there could immediately e-mail them. Or nature disasters that will happen regardless. And naturally there is a concern about government secrets but the Cuban Missile Crisis wouldn't happen now behind our backs. If I want to see any part of the world I can click on Google Earth. Anyway, one proof that there isn't that much paranoia is that I feel comfortable discussing this. In China and other countries internet chatrooms are monitored. As long as someone is acting within the law, they aren't monitored where the go online in the United States and certainly not peaceful political groups. I value those freedoms. There will always be hateful groups that want to spread their own brand of fanaticism. They've just updated technology. Then again the ability to monitor them and stop them has as well. I'd agree its of concern (as I've posted I was in N.Y.C. in 9-11 and a friend made it out alive out of Ground Zero, terrifying..) but I don't know if its technology. The terrorists were armed only with boxcutters. We as a nation were underprepared but that discussion has been done before. Complex issue without easy solutions.
The rise in technology can create a rise in paranoia and it's severity. What information is available through the internet, the news, your own cell phone that alerts you to news..
Even just 20 years ago technology was nothing as it is today. Of course there hadn't been such a horrific terrorist attack on America at that point. But there were still wars, bombs, drug problems, plane crashes. Economy risks though not quite as bas as the present time.
Just not as able to spread as they are today with all of our technology.
But even as New Yorker who was here during 9/11 and who has a husband who works in the city everyday at a job that you see accidents in the news at everyday, I'm paranoid every time he walks out the door. Especially while he's working on the memorial for 9/11 right now. And driving by on the highay as that plane landed right next to him in the Hudson...I think thank God such a skilled piolet was flying or my husband could have been taken out.
Everytime the TV does it's annual check because we live near a power plant and one of the resovoirs that supply water to NYC, having had ppolice there for years everyday.
But still, everytime the TV screen turns red and Beeps, my heart ounds a little stronger with the thought of what's happened now...
There's more threat to America, more technology to spread it around and more police you see especially if you live in NY guarding places that are high risk.
Even to hear what my husband has to go through everyday just to get clearance to go into work for the 9/11 memorial. Background checks, police station stops...even things I'm not allowed to talk about or say. And the fact that I'm not allowed to talk about certain things makes us(my family and I and husband) feel more paranoid.
This certainly isn't the same world anymore. But I do believe technology has really helpped in creating alot more paranoia, fear and anxiety about the world we live in.
Even just 20 years ago technology was nothing as it is today. Of course there hadn't been such a horrific terrorist attack on America at that point. But there were still wars, bombs, drug problems, plane crashes. Economy risks though not quite as bas as the present time.
Just not as able to spread as they are today with all of our technology.
But even as New Yorker who was here during 9/11 and who has a husband who works in the city everyday at a job that you see accidents in the news at everyday, I'm paranoid every time he walks out the door. Especially while he's working on the memorial for 9/11 right now. And driving by on the highay as that plane landed right next to him in the Hudson...I think thank God such a skilled piolet was flying or my husband could have been taken out.
Everytime the TV does it's annual check because we live near a power plant and one of the resovoirs that supply water to NYC, having had ppolice there for years everyday.
But still, everytime the TV screen turns red and Beeps, my heart ounds a little stronger with the thought of what's happened now...
There's more threat to America, more technology to spread it around and more police you see especially if you live in NY guarding places that are high risk.
Even to hear what my husband has to go through everyday just to get clearance to go into work for the 9/11 memorial. Background checks, police station stops...even things I'm not allowed to talk about or say. And the fact that I'm not allowed to talk about certain things makes us(my family and I and husband) feel more paranoid.
This certainly isn't the same world anymore. But I do believe technology has really helpped in creating alot more paranoia, fear and anxiety about the world we live in.
Ritalin, Ecstasy, LSD, Cocaine, Crack can cause paranoia. Maybe we are all more drugged out than we used to be...combined with our lifestyles less face-to-face, more isolated face-to-screen - and suddenly the media bombardment becomes our reality. We see evil people and beautiful people in meaningless sequence. Wasn`t there a movie called Brazil long ago. I get the creepy feeling it is reality or am I just paranoid. Heck, I don`t know anymore...
Paranoia??? I know there are times that I start to get some feelings of paranoia. I try to then turn my thoughts on to positive things, My Lord for strength, reviewing the list of friends and family that can reinforce the fact I am ok. On a general note, why wouldn't feeling paranoid be normal. So many people have no support systems., vaulues, or standards. Society ofeten feeds the idea of keeping up with the Jones', the stylish costly, clothing; and the never ending competetion for being the pretty, thin girl, or lady and the handsome , strong man. I know it is better then 20 years ago but it still exists and these attitudes create alot of paranoina, insecurities, and sometimes even the inability to lead a self sufficient life. One of my favorate quotation is "These fears begin to eat away at the foundations we are building." The 12 x 12 Book by Alcoholics Anoymouness. How many times do we take 2 steps forward only to fall back 1 step because of our fears.?
Yes. You have a point. You can't bury your head in the sand with what's going on. Makes sense. I just feel that rather than get paranoid and be inactive Americans should unite if we are going to pull through this reccession. I remember on the day of 9-11 itself which certainly made everyone in N.Y.C. paranoid and rightfully so, I was working part time and we had the option to leave work. I stayed and called all the people I was working with as well as family and friends including people I hardly knew to see if they were okay and if not followed up when I got home. Another time a few years ago there was a blackout in N.Y.C. but unlike the 1977 blackout where there were riots, people acted rational and because the electricity was down and food would spoil, everyone on my block and many neighborhoods had a huge barbecue and people were listening to music and neighbors went outside because the air conditioning was down and spoke to each other and people where I live are usually isolated. Sometimes adversity brings out the best in people. I've known people who fought in World War II and were friends from when they were in the army and had nothing otherwise in common except for what they had survived and defending our country. Its at these times people need to put aside personal divisiveness and think of others. That's the only way to pull through.
Bravo MJ
How can one NOT be paranoid if they watch the news and listen to the media? Even the business news is depressing...
That's the sensationalist media for you. If its on tv turn it off for a while and relax and enjoy life. Worrying about it won't make it any better. The media thrives on scare stories. I've gotten used to that and after a while it stopped working. I think a good quote that applies is "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and remember F.D.R. said that in the middle of the depression and pending World War II. Still good advice. I'm concerned by the state of the world but not frightened. I refuse to live in fear. Call me a spoilsport lol.
No its going to get worse sorry to feed this,the world is in a very unstable pattern anything can happen. Now I am going to think up a thread to cheer us all up it must be all the Doom and Gloom on TV that made me put this thread up here......
Margy, I was born with anxiety, and paranoia!! I worry about everything! Now, with the world the way it is now, I have more to worry about-getting a job after I graduate, the economy, and terrorism. ={ I wish, at least, for the world to be stable. Some stability would be nice. Will that ever happen?????
Yeah, what ever happened to good news? You know there's gotta be good news out there! They just don't seem to hit the papers or news as much. I mean, who doesn't like to hear the fuzzy stories of the firefighter who saves the little kitten from a burning building? Or about the generosity of people helping others out? How come that hardly ever hits the news? When you constantly have doom and gloom all the time in the news, of course it's going to make people paranoid, fearful, stressed, etc. Sometimes I have to step back from watching the news and read my Chicken Soup For The Soul books, lol.
I agree with what you said. It gets really old.........
Paranoia in what form? Paranoia as a symptom of schizoaffective disorder is something I experienced before recovery and something I don't experience at all now. Many people here in the mental health recovery process experience it. Now if you mean paranoia on a societal sense sure. After 9-11 everyone in N.Y.C. was terrified we'd get hit again but that was a very real world fear. That's not paranoid. Then after the passing of the Patriot Act, which although neccessary, things may have gone a bit overboard because many Americans felt they could be investigated even if they were completely innocent especially if they were of the wrong ethnic background which was the worst because the people who came here from Afghanistan as immigrants were actually fleeing persecution from the Taliban. In the N.Y.C. subways they started a campaign "see something, say something" and a package left on the train could lead to a full investigation sometimes with bomb sniffing dogs. I witnessed that once. And there was an ad saying "1,440 people saw something and said something" which is great except they didn't say how many of those reports prevented an actual terrorist act. In the meantime, very real crimes like gang violence were on the rise. Yes of course the reccession contributes to it because people don't know when they will lose their hard earned income and savings. But none of this is paranoia. These are real world fears. The question is what can be done about them.
i think one of the worst that has happened to us is the 24 hour news cycle..i mena 24 hours of none stop bad news 7 days a week. i really beleive that has had a very negative impact on society as a whole
Havent seen that one ,,,is it good , I think he means really paranoid, most of us are concerned but I guess hes going by the medical term which it more extreme than most of us,I do believe that panic and anxiety will be more prevelant as it gets worse, and possibly cause a lot of depression,may be time to take a course in Psychology going to be work there for sure.
Speaking of movies that could add to the paranoia.......the movie Taken is pretty realistic!!!
Parnoia on the rise hummmm lets think about the adverage 5 oclock news,,,,bomb kills 20 in Iraq.....serial murder still on the lose in Somewhere city,,,missing toddlers remains found....80 year old woman survives rape....my God....then lets think of the movies that are out scary, murder etc...how could anyone in their right mind NOT be more parinoid,,,,Im ver paranoid walking through a dark parking lot alone at night....Id be stupid not to be women need to be on their toes and alert,,,cause the rapist is looking for the ones who arent....I am aware of my surroundings....and in rasing children isnt it lovely that I feel mine need to know if anyone ever pulls a knife or gun on you scream and run away fight,,,because if they take you from point A to point B you will be tortured and then killed...Yes I am Parinoid.
Margy,
You bet there are lots of paranoid people out there. I am paranoid myself; but not to the extreme.............but it's coming..I'm getting there...lol
You bet there are lots of paranoid people out there. I am paranoid myself; but not to the extreme.............but it's coming..I'm getting there...lol
i think you are right people are just plain scared...all over the world economics are bad and there is unrest in many places in our world today..war breaking out everywhere heck down in Mexico there are drug lords chasing the law out of whole towns and taking the town over.. people being kidnappped all over the world people are just plain scared
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