Does paranoia make us more prepared?

[Perrone]

There was a post a few days ago about how being paranoid doesn't mean the bad guys won't come after you, which makes complete sense, but it got me thinking.

I know there are others out there like me. Every small sound wakes you up. Every creak makes you get out of bed and check.

The wind made my windows rattle on and off last night and kept waking me up freaking out while my wife was sound asleep.

I don't look at my paranoia as a bad thing or a problem. I see it as I'm just always alert and ready for the worst in most situations.

What does every one else think.

(By the way, Happy Thanksgiving)

 

[KillShot]

There was a post a few days ago about how being paranoid doesn't mean the bad guys won't come after you, which makes complete sense, but it got me thinking.

I know there are others out there like me. Every small sound wakes you up. Every creak makes you get out of bed and check.

The wind made my windows rattle on and off last night and kept waking me up freaking out while my wife was sound asleep.

I don't look at my paranoia as a bad thing or a problem. I see it as I'm just always alert and ready for the worst in most situations.

What does every one else think.

(By the way, Happy Thanksgiving)

I'm the same way you are but I'm a pretty sound sleeper, unfortunately. I've always been very observant and aware of my surroundings. Anytime I'm in a restaurant or a crowded area, I want to be as close to the back wall as possible so I can keep an eye on everything that's going on. I don't believe the "boogie man" is out to get me, but I don't trust anyone until they give me a reason as to why I should.

As I've told others, many people have been a victim of circumstance because they weren't paying attention to their surroundings and what's going on around them. I'm not going to let the same be said of me. While it's impossible to be prepared for every possible situation that could arise, being somewhat prepared and self aware is better than becoming a statistic.

 

[druryj]

There was a post a few days ago about how being paranoid doesn't mean the bad guys won't come after you, which makes complete sense, but it got me thinking.

I know there are others out there like me. Every small sound wakes you up. Every creak makes you get out of bed and check.

The wind made my windows rattle on and off last night and kept waking me up freaking out while my wife was sound asleep.

I don't look at my paranoia as a bad thing or a problem. I see it as I'm just always alert and ready for the worst in most situations.

What does every one else think.

(By the way, Happy Thanksgiving)

What do I think? I think you're paranoid. I also think training makes one more prepared than paranoia...try toning "paranoia" down to "awareness" and see how that works for ya. (Welcome back).

 

[finnimus]

There's a line between paranoia and a heightened state of awareness. I believe paranoia is detrimental b/c it leads one to think everything is a threat and makes it more difficult to discern real threats from false ones. "Everything is out to get me." Howevever, a heightened state of awareness allows one to quickly sort through possible threats and only be concerned with one real threats or ones that have the potential to be a threat. "Something might be out to get me."

 

[Perrone]

There's a line between paranoia and a heightened state of awareness. I believe paranoia is detrimental b/c it leads one to think everything is a threat and makes it more difficult to discern real threats from false ones. "Everything is out to get me." Howevever, a heightened state of awareness allows one to quickly sort through possible threats and only be concerned with one real threats or ones that have the potential to be a threat. "Something might be out to get me."

That makes sense. Maybe it's not paranoia then..

 

[landman873]

I know whats around me and always looking and everything. AS for the night other than a train running through my house i don't wake up for anything. I will be the one killed in my sleep.

 

[RaysZ71]

Im not paranoid, just more aware of stuff, have been, ever since 9/11. Paranoia is not good, specially if you are CCW.

 

[english kanigit]

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that somebody isn't out to get you.

Ek

 

[DFralish]

That makes sense. Maybe it's not paranoia then..

Mebbee, mebbee not!

 

[nofearfactor]

I dont smoke cigarettes and never have,neither does anybody in my family, but my dad did when I was growing up and my nose is so sensitive to the smell that I can literally smell someone smoking a cigarette outside my house from inside my house. Im also sensitive to any burning smells as Im super paranoid about any type of burning smells and the possibility of a fire starting some where in the house. I dont have many fears but having a fire break out in my house then would be number one if I had one. Fire extinguishers are all thru the house and smoke alarms are in all rooms. The wife burns a candle back in her bedroom and the minute she lights it Im knocking on her door asking if shes burning something. I make all of our friends and family or all of my musician friends who come to my studio to work step outside to smoke a cig and I can still smell it inside so I know this for a fact. I also know if I ever smell a cigarette late at night when no one is here then there is someone some where outside my house that aint supposed to be there. Crooks who smoke and decide to sneak up on me outside my house have just given themselves away as far as Im concerned.

A few nights ago I was up late like usual working on something out in my shop/studio/rehearsal space and smelled cigarette smoke just outside my shops front door that leads to the driveway. It was about 4am and that didnt seem right. We're in a small nothing ever happens town 20 miles east of a large city. Our neighborhood is super quiet late at night,borderline creepy its so quiet, and no one is hardly ever up late at night but me. Im the neighborhood vampire. I grabbed Mr .45 sitting near me and went thru the house going out my back door ala Edgar Allen Poes "Tell Tale Heart" style and creeping around in the dark in my back yard. Ive gone out to walk the parameters of my yard late at night a million times not knowing who is out there waiting on me to come out until I got my eyes adjusted to the dark. Came to the side door and no one there. Im sniffing around for the cig smoker cause I still smelled the cig smoke,went around the side of the yard to the gate,slowly opened it,made my way on the edge of the front yard between my house and my neighbors house so I didnt trip my driveways sensitive motion lights. My studios front door is just nearby. Get to the curb,and theres this dude sitting on the curb on my side of the street smoking a cig. The neighbors who live next door are partyers kind of but theyre good people who all work hard and we've always been social and friendly and their front door was open with just the TV on in their living room.

I said hey and he said whats up,hehe and he sees the pistol butt poking out of my pocket and asks what was up with that and I said I smelled smoke and went to look around my yard to see who was there. He said oops, his aunt,my neighbor,who he was visiting for the weekend, told him not to smoke on her porch so he went to sit on the curb. I said cool not a problem and to have a nice smoke and we said goodnights. He probably thought his aunt was living next door to a nutbird gun freak. His aunt the next day would confirm that probably. If so,I hope every one who lives in houses near my house feels safe and not threatened that Im the crazy up late at night neighbor who watches over things while theyre all sleeping.
Me paranoid? Yep.