Is it normal to think you are hearing people say bad things about you?

67% Normal
5 Comments

Hello I'll try keep this short.
Sometimes when I leave a room full of people, family or friends I'm somewhat unsure about, I make myself completely uncomfortable by thinking they are talking about me behind my back. I think they think ill of me. When I've been high (on marijuana) it was 10x worse though... instead of thinking they were talking about me I could actually hear them...like I could hear them saying horrible things about me even though I know they really weren't... they were saying things like "why did you bring her here, she is so fucked up, I'm so uncomfortable being around her, I wish she would just leave, she's weird", "she always gets like this when she's with us, I'm pretty sure she's fucking mental, I really shouldn't have invited her it was a huge mistake, she shouldn't even be here", and I hear them all agreeing that they think I'm really fucked in the head. But it only has ever been that extreme when I was high. I tried to make my brain stop because I knew they really couldn't be talking like that, and that it was probably just something else being said, and my brain was just filling in their muffled voices with the subconscious things I think of myself? I'm not entirely sure. I have anxiety, has anyone else experienced this? is it normal for someone with anxiety to have these thoughts or symptoms? Most of the time it's just me thinking people don't like me and I never hear voices, just when I've been high, and I've left a room, and I could hear my friends muffled voices from the other room, that's when my brain filled in the muffled noise with horrible things about me... that's the only time I've had experiences like that. I guess something in marijuana must trigger something within me and pull that subconscious self hate to the surface. Its a pretty horrible experience when that happens, I tend to just completley stay away from weed because I can't smoke it without feeling like I need to get away from everyone and have horrible pannick attacks. Anyway... anyone else experience anything similar?

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67% Normal
Based on 9 votes (6 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • whatsnormalanywayyaknow
    5 years ago

    You're not alone, I experience this pretty often. I'm already prone to paranoid thoughts (especially that people are talking about me or that someone I care about is upset with me). I'm also a regular cannabis user and I've also noticed that sometimes my paranoia becomes delusional. I really believe it in the moment and will even convince myself that I heard words that were never spoken and later I can't be sure of what happened. I have, on more than one occasion, followed up on these incidents and learned that I was wrong and that I had created the situation in my head.
    Honestly, I think it's a good idea to continue to avoid weed if this is a very common side effect for you. It's extremely unpleasant in my experience and ruins the entire high anyway, so if it happened every time or nearly every time I used cannabis then I would avoid it too.

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  • lordofopinions
    5 years ago

    It sounds like a low self esteem problem coupled with paranoia. Seek help.

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  • NickyNeopolitan
    5 years ago

    OMG I CAN
    C O M P L E T L E Y
    RELATE!
    I thought I was the only one! I want to smoke but I feel like everyone around me is making fun of me or texting each other around me saying things! Or if they laugh and I dont get it I think its about me. I really hate it and thats why i dont smoke anymore. But the crazy thing is i use to smoke everyday all day and had no problems with this. I dont know why or how this started happening but it does. Smoking just makes me uncomfortable around people and I'd rather just be alone 🤔

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  • Alichael
    5 years ago

    You need more self confidence, you sound too paranoid. However, I can't say that I'm sure no one is actually talking about you, because I'm not there, plus there are people who do gossip and talk about others. But they're the stupid ones since they must have nothing better to do than to gossip. What you need to do is develope more confidence and not worry what others think. You can't change others, you can only change yourself. Even if it means therapy and medication if your paranoia is really getting out of hand.

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  • Boojum
    5 years ago

    That must be very unpleasant. I'm not a doctor, but what you describe sounds to me like substance-induced psychosis.

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/conditions/substancemedication-induced-psychotic-disorder

    Psychosis is a term used when someone has sensory experiences of things that do not exist and/or beliefs with no basis in reality. During a psychotic episode, an individual may experience hallucinations and/or delusions, and see or hear things that don't exist.

    It's been many decades since I smoked pot, and when I did, it just tended to send me to sleep. I understand that the stuff that's available these days is incredibly potent, and it's not unknown for it to be laced with other crap.

    In any case, I think you're wise to just avoid it if it makes you feel horrible. You'd probably also be wise to seek help with your anxiety. The truth is that most people are far more concerned about themselves than they are about you.

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