Paranoia and Being Watched 

If you're struggling with lots of paranoia, anxiety, and obsessing around travel, checkout my travel mental health blog: www.themindfulfieldguide.com/travel-mental-health/

I basically just feel like invisible beings are watching me. I know they aren't, but the fear is still there in my mind. Wtf

I can never feel normal without having a wall behind my back at all times, I cant even make breakfast without looking behind my back every 10 seconds

I believe my life is the truman show sometimes sometimes I get real paranoid

I felt like my friends had cameras in my house and when I would do something wierd or when I was showering I thought they were watching me

I feel like people can read my mind sometimes. It makes me very uneasy and uncomfortable.. I will think about things and feel embarrassed so I get scatter-brained trying to think of anything else. And if they make any contact with me or move in anyway or change their speech or tone I will freak out so much. I also struggle with paranoia and anxiety (just from what info I have gathered about what Im feeling). I just feel like I am being watched at all times. And I kinda feel like it stems from my sleep paralysis episodes because I hallucinate. I saw a figure and now I cant unsee it and I feel watched. I will not change with the lights on and I go into the bathroom to do it. I talk as if I have to justify what I am doing because I feel that someone must be watching. I get scared when I do anything odd when I am alone because I feel judged. Its hard for me to act normal. I wish I could seek help but Im in highschool and the counselor just reccomends you to a professional but I dont have the right insurance. Kinda stuck..

I feel like someone is spying on me and sometimes I explain whatever I'm doing out loud so that whoever is "watching me" doesn't think I'm weird.

I think I'm being watched by people who I know and it's like I can't see them, like I try to go in the shower and I feel uncomfortable as if invisible people are watching me do publicly embarrassing things Sorry if it isn't the right thing to say for some people

I feel paranoid. I always feel like im being watched, this has to do with my authoritarian parents and ever-looming co-workers who criticize every little mistake

When I'm staying up at night (every night) and it's dark in the room, I would always look at the open door and look away, and then look back again. Because I imagine a dark figure standing there looking at me, ready to kill me if I make just one sound. I can't just close the door because I'm scared of the dark too. Maybe this is a result of constant sleep deprivation? I'm not sure but it's the middle of the night and I'm creeped out...

Im a dancer and 14. Whenever i try i feel watched so eventually i stopped doing it, but when i really need to, i block my bedroom windows and my door but i still feel like invisible people are always sneaking in, watching and judging me. Idk what to do anymore.

I find being paranoid is a good thing to be in certain scenarios. You're almost always on alert and ready to haul ass or kick ass. I sleep with a machete under my bed and I have 3 locks on all doors.

I feel watched evertime im alone in the house or when i go too refeel my water bottle or go to the bathroom and i would always freak out hoping it was all in my mind somtimes i would even hear what sounds like a door opening or things falling

I feel like randomly when I’m alone, my friends are watching me, no matter what I do or where they are. They could be across the world but I still feel like they’re watching me

I have it, Im only 12 and everytime its dark outside I always feel like im being watched...I just CANT get it out of my head...

I've had so many ocd thoughts through out my life ...it's ridiculous...some I'm able to get over ...but some I haven't .. Until another ocd takes control ...it's like a never ending cycle

I've had mild paranoia but extreme anxiety and fearful thoughts. What I do is, I force myself to live a normal life and I try to observe my fears and compulsions. Sometimes it's hard but usually it works. Also CBT and meditation helped a lot.

when i go out and I see people that are looking suspicious I panick then my paranoia kicks in I start freaking out especially when people stare like in big groups and they start talking about me

For me I don't know why it almost comforts me if I'm crying and looking out the window, thinking someones out there symathysing with me. Personally I think it's a way to cope with the fact that everyone actually did leave and haven't looked back. Idk if that makes sense.

I've had different paranoia compulsions throughout my life and I haven't heard many people talk about them. Thanks for speaking up! This is an extremely useful video. :)

I feel like a child who is going to be in trouble for everything

I have a family member really suffering with this at the moment. You have created a great resource, everyone can learn something valuable, I did :)

I love the last technique about imagining your worst fear but deciding to live by your values anyway and carrying on and then you’d feel better. I will try this technique. Wow thanks so much for this video. You’ve got a new subscriber

When I was young I'd always think all my friends made a machine to watch the things is do and felt super uncomfortable so I stayed in bed all day.

I can never use the bathroom at night, because i always have to watch behind my back

I’m paranoid that I’m im surveillance and that people thinking I’m a bad person especially when I’m out in public places and I blame myself for it because I have social anxiety so I feel tensed most of the time. This made me feel so depressed but your video helped me realise that I’m not alone with these thoughts and that I can change and realise it’s all irrational. thank you

I think like you do! But I think of your thoughts just as scenarios in my mind, I don’t feel paranoid about them, I just feel weird for thinking them.

Omg this speaks so much, I always feel like someone is watching or following me. It’s a crazy strong feeling. I was like is this normal omg 😱 I try to just pretend and not let it bother me. I’m just so used to the feeling now I been dealing with this for years. Thank you for making me understand it all ☺️

keep it up man :) it's really good for attacking this OCD, and how to deal with recovery as well

This solid advice made my day

I feel like I'm being watched 24/7 and I'm afraid to get dressed and to have showers ect. And I don't know how to deal with it but the only thing that helps is if I'm with a pet like my cat or dog and I feel like safe I fell like I can't talk about it because I feel like if they stalker realised I known they where watching they would kill me. I feel like people what what through my walls and just stalking me

Hey you did a great job explaining this.

I feel like demons are watching me while I sleep and feel like the demons are going to pull me 🥴

There is a corner in my room that I always have to look at when I’m sleeping because it feels like someone is watching me. I’ve needed to fall asleep to movies the past few nights because every noise seems off to me

I luckly over came my other fears of bugs and contamination😁 but OMG what you have been doing is exactly what I do everyday and I havent realized it until watching you now! its like my ocd jump skiped these other fears to that fear😣 im overcoming this too now then😁 thanks for you video😚

I have struggled so much with opening up to people because I felt like I was being judged but that fear of being judged started to turn into me being paranoid about someone watching me and judging me secretly and then, even though I knew it was impossible, I started thinking "what if someone could hear my thoughts?" And I've been struggling with these thoughts that originally just started as social anxiety but now have evolved into thinking someone is somehow watching me at all times. Everytime I change clothes by myself I cover up or even change in the dark just incase even though no one is there. Every time I think about an intrusive thoughts i get paranoid that someone can hear my thoughts. It's gotten so bad this past year I don't know what to do.

Thank you so much Very helpful and I related alot. Especially the water thing

I've always been pretty paranoid, but it's mostly from watching too much CSI, Law & Order, or paranormal vlogs on RU-vid....

I always get paranoid in public one stall bathrooms that there could be cameras it’s so severe that before I go use it I’m looking under the sink in the vents in corners of the ceiling inside the styrofoam ceiling tiles I even got freaked out by a motion detector that turns on the light it’s so depressing feeling like I’m being watched even after checking each crevice of a room.

You describe me 100 %. Thank you

I feel like someone or some type of energy is in my room with me and I can't see it and it terrifies me because I get panick attacks easily and I can't explain it

After watching this video Im realizing im probably not "paranoid" 😬good luck bro.

Thanks for the video Mark. This is my go to video when my ocd and paranoia are ridiculously intense. I have the same issue as you mention in this video and I like the idea of my brain barking. I am going to try the cognitive diffusion technique. Kind regards :)

1 year ago i went to my relatives place. They were very strict and yah they use to judge each and every step of mine I used to do in their house. Though i was behaving normally and was completely doing fine, talking to them, i stayed there for 5 days. Actually they were very disciplined and they followed a regular schedule everyday. Waking up in the morning and getting fresh, bathing all such stuffs in chronological order everyday. As i was in their house i did the same. But deep down inside i felt they didn't think of me as a responsible person or as if I am careless. They even asked me why i didn't get any one of my books to study. They were obviously richer and had a better standard of living. After coming back to my house, I was okay. But as days went of, i felt like they still have eyes on me and whatever i am doing in my own home in my room, they are watching me and judging me. Basically i feel like each act of mine is being judged. Right from waking up till going to sleep. Earlier I thought it was because i visited them recently. But it's been 1 year now, and i still feel the same. I have also developed this habit of imagining fake scenarios and talking to myself, like arguing with someone, fighting and all. I don't know what am i going through. Sometimes i just feel lost. I don't want to feel this thing anymore. I want to stop this. I know no one's watching me but i feel so each seconds of my day.

This video saved my life

Dang. Feels good to know someone understands.

I just love you😭❤️

This is how I feel... I’m about to watch this 😭

I have a paranoia that I'm going to be killed. I've come to the same conclusion that if today is my last day I want to be my best self until the moment comes. It helps.

Thank you this is so helpful

Thank you!

I feel like a group of people are watching me but not in a scary way. But its still scary and makes me cry

growing up it was a fact to me that all the kids in my kindergarden class and my teachers were sitting behind a screen somewhere watching and listening to me through my favourite stuffed animals camera eyes. I would then go to school and be acting as if they already knew things about me from watching me

I'm literally so scared of going out, I don't like getting out of my house, I always think people is taking pictures me, laughing at me, talking about me, if I see someone with their phone out I immediately think they're taking pictures of me and then I keep thinking about it for the whole day, I get so scared and anxious, I don't know if that's paranoia or not:(

I feel constantly followed watched, day or night. All. The. Time. And maybe a side note but also I constantly feel like my life is going to end and take whatever "precautions" I find necessary at the time to avoid said attack or accident or whatever. i.e: I live in a rural area pretty low traffic with decent travel from where I park to the front door (my "parking spot" is near the front of the drive way toward the road and I try my best to get on the porch ASAP every time in case an out of control car somehow manages through my yard and careening into me...so safe to say I should be safe of most all situations that "may or may not" arise

Thank you

What he is saying is true about people.

Really helpful thank you 🙏

I always feel like there’s multiple people watching me at once. And everywhere I go. Even when I’m with somebody else I’m still paranoid of being watched wherever I go

I always felt like I'm being watched.. Not by a human being and hearing voices like I keep thinking my mom is calling me but she's not... Cweepy @o@

These are sensible security measures to take if you're in the UK.

I know this is a very late comment but sometimes when I'm in a room I feel like I have to look behind me constantly or whenever I'm alone or in a dark place I feel like something is looking at me and I feel like I'll die if I don't run immediately. Also I have anxiety so I don't know if that's a factor or not but I would imagine it would be

I get extremely paranoid. I live alone, and I get paranoid my neighbors are listening to me through my walls. When I go outside, I get paranoid people are listening for me or watching me. I’m trying to get over this hump. It’s been like ten years now I’ve been going through this

When I speak about theories my eyes start watering and I can't control it

When i sleep i feel like im being watched

I appreciate you identifying these behaviors as compulsions. My OCD has gone untreated for several years and while it normally would be more pure-obsessive I’ve now begun to develop compulsions. But I never identified them as compulsions, just paranoid thoughts. I feel a wave of relief knowing that I’m not going insane but sad my symptoms have returned! Time to start hunting for a therapist…

I lived in a split-level house growing up and when a kid, I would always look behind me when climbing the stairs. I did that for years.

Very helpful, thank you. Do you think we are born this way? I can remember being paranoid about the way I looked as far back as first grade. Perhaps the collective consciousness or some trauma I can't remember?

I'm really scared... I'm pretty sure there's some weird ghost people in my room. They're watching me and as soon as I go to sleep, they'll creep up on me... It's bugging me and I want to go to sleep.

I feel like this when i’m in a crowd of people...Especially in parking lots. Empty or not parking lots sort of freak me out. I don’t quite know why. It’s like when I get into my car and drive off even the people who are near by minding their own business walking down the street they look so innocent like they are trying too hard to be inconspicuous. Never felt this way when i’m alone.

Am I the only one who got more paranoid watching this video😟

I feel like my dad's mannequin and stuffed animals are watching me i know its stupid but it scares me

I had this problem when I was a kid! Now it's not that bad

Sometimes I can have a day where it seems everyone is staring at me.

I'd always think someone is watching me when I would shower and it freaked me out. Like when I'm naked. I got over that. I also can't stay up late because if I do any sound would make me think that someone is trying to come inside the house. So I'd just sleep quickly just to end my suffering. I still struggle with the latter. I used to also think people would plot to harm me or rob me or anything bad. I didn't enjoy my life whatsoever. I was constantly scared and paranoid. I don't know what happened that made me have confidence and stop caring what other people thought of me. But it did and it helped a lot.

I feel like that in my social anxiety/phobia

Whenever I’m walking up or down my stairs in a dark hallway I feel like I’m being watched and sometimes it gets to the point where it hurts

My feeling of being watched is deferent I’m a truck driver when I go to crowd truck stops to park the rig because we are required to back it up I feel like everyone in the truck watching and telling oh look at that driver he don’t know how park it but actually I do I just get nervous from that feelings

i love dancing but stopped cus a always thought someone is watching me, my doctor said it was just anxiety.

SOME people are actually watching me, and it driven me to be paranoid that everyone is watching me

Hey, Mark. Keep up the great work! I want to start therapy for my OCD and anxiety issues and I would like to know: how do I find a ACT/ ERP therapist here, in Brazil, where I live?

I sometimes feel someone is watching or is hiding somewhere in my house and I also feel someone is going to kidnap me

Thank you for your insight. My mom has extreme paranoia but does not know it or want to believe it. How did you come to recognize that you were having paranoid thoughts?

wow. I thought I was the only one having those thoughts. I have very much paranoia about there being cameras in my apartment or in stuff I buy like toys, mirrors, lamps all kinds of different things. I also am paranoid about people poising me as you mentioned and I feel so silly for being so paranoid about it, but its hard to control it, which im learning is the wrong apporach. I also have paranoia in a lot of other areas some more intense than others. I've been to therapy, but that wasn't helpful at all so im trying to manage it myself. My brain is at times so freaking irrational and that takes up 98% of my whole body and consciousness - the remaining 2% is the rational side of my brain telling me that obviously people are NOT out to get you, poising you, harm you or anything. All I wonder is why it stared.... and what normally causes it.

I can’t wear headphones Bc I can’t here and I think someone is watching

I think I have schizophrenia because my greatest fears are people with large eyes staring back at me. Sometimes they don’t have eyes and that is sometimes scarier. I also have a fear of the TVs that are turned off because I visualize stuff staring back at me, the same goes with windows at night. My whole life, I have covered my face in the dark because I’m scared of what could be out there even if there isn’t anything there. On a couple of occasions, I look out of my window for curiosity (during the daytime) and I saw a large black figure staring at me while walking towards the road. I still “see” it about once or twice a year.

I'm starting to get thoughts that this guy i like is watching me. Like a day ago i kept having this thought they were watching me when im at home. It got worse when i was listening to a song on youtube at home, and then i heard them singing that same song the next day. And i keep trying to tell myself that it's not proof of anything, but that does'nt last long. Sometimes i even get the urge to find what their watching me from. I never do because i know they aren't actually there, but i still fear about it.

I'm aware that this video is six years old. LMAOO. However, I've been experiencing this sensation of fictional or real people reacting to my humor and weirdness in my class for a few months now. I'm not kidding when I say it's getting annoying. I haven't even been able to workout because I keep getting the creepy impression that imaginary characters are staring at me and laughing for no apparent reason. Even when I eat in the morning, I can't help but feel as though the same made-up characters are staring at me. And the only time I can divert my attention from this is when I am speaking with friends at school; otherwise, it occurs constantly.

I've had these thoughts from situations I'm in, was working for someone in the mafia then when I quit I felt they were following me by tracking my phone, not sure if it was true but I did see them a few places in a huge city was it coincidental? Not sure, even people I explain it to can tell me what the truth is, there's a few more details, but it tells me there's a fine line between sanity and insanity

I hate this feeling, I feel like there's always just one person spying all the time. I wish I could make it dissapear.

Hi Mark. I have severe paranoia. I always think people are watching everything i do. I tell my closest friends about my problem. I now don't talk that much at school also i am just in highschool. I observe EVERY word someone tells me just to make sure they are not watching me. What should I do?

I know people aren't watching me, but I worry that people are obsessing over me to the point I might as well be thinking they're watching me.

I’ve been paranoid for a couple days now and I’m scaring myself because I feel like someone is watching me out of my window and I feel like someone is going to break in a do things to me. I honestly was crying.

I'm so glad that there's no fear about this subject . I really don't care what people think of me they have no idea what I go through. I don't judge but if someone judges me I don't care . but your right about not drinking out of something if you've taken your eye off it even for a second . thank you Mark .

I always timing myself when climbing stairs and if I don't get to the top before five seconds is up, I'm scared something is going to pull be back down the stairs.

Watching this because I cant sleep because I feel like someone is waiting to kill me and my door dosent lock

For me I probably imagined it but I hear tapping and feel a intense feeling of someone watching me I think i actually need help about imaginary tapping

I always feel like there's a camera in my room, i don't know why, i just always feel like my parents put a camera in my room to watch me so that i do what they told me and not disobey them, but that just makes me paranoid.

I have paranoia and social anxiety, I'm just 13, I haven't told my parents about my paranoia and anxiety, and I'm always so so scared of judgement and people watching me. Any advice? Please..

Sometimes i keep looking at my phone screen for a long time coz im afraid that if i look away i will find Something creepy watching me