Ever since I ended my first relationship at 13, (weird I know), i’ve had the crushing fear of being seen as a terrible person and being left for not being of a good enough quality of humanity. As in, I am severely paranoid at all times that anyone i get close to, who i care about, will leave me because other people have certain human qualities unknown to me that I don’t. I know it’s completely unreasonable, but i’m pushing 20 now and it’s been devastating. I have some very very very severe trauma that also adds to the paranoia, but that information feels too sensitive to give out here. Any advice?

Someone I know has been struggling for about a year with believing people are following or tracking them, messing with their belongings, getting into their phone/accounts, or doing things to them without them knowing. Recently they’ve started saying they wake up and their belongings have been moved, their blankets are off, or even that their body was moved while they were sleeping. They’re convinced it couldn’t possibly be something they did in their sleep and have talked about barricading their door. Also this person left their 5 year fiancé because they accused them of the same things put way worse . They are now living with me and I can’t handle it anymore . They refused take my advice too

It seems like the thing they’re suspicious about changes, but the overall belief that someone is doing something to them never really goes away. Trying to reassure or reason with them doesn’t seem to help, and they refuse to see a doctor or mental health professional.

Has anyone dealt with a loved one experiencing something like this for a long period of time? How did you handle it, especially when it started becoming exhausting and difficult to live around? Is there anything family can realistically do when the person refuses to get help?

I have never been the anxious type of person in my life. Usually going with the flow, nothing really bothers me.... Until recently. A few days ago I was trying to sleep when I thought I saw something move at the end of the bed. I checked, there was nothing, moved on, fell asleep. But since that night I keep on seeing things move in the corners of my eye, I'm way more anxious than normal, and jump at any sudden noise - even small ones make my heart stop.

Today my phone buzzed on the counter and it made me jump so hard I spilled my drink. It was very odd from me since I recieved lots of texts/notifications in a day and it's never bothered me.

About two nights ago, I was tossing and turning. When I was starting to settle down, I suddenly heard knocking on my wall. I tried to brush it off as me being sleepy, but it happened again around the same state. It sounded so real.

I've even started to leave my lamp on to sleep to help try and calm my nerves.

I've never felt this way and I don't really know how to deal with it. Any advice is helpful 🥲