Wonderful.Cheese Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 Is there a difference between being pessimistic and being paranoid? I need to know. I was called pessimistic and I don't think I am that way generally. I believe it is paranoia and anxiety that makes me appear to be pessimistic to this uneducated person. (Uneducated about SZ disorders and MI in general) It kills me though to know that I appear to be pessimistic to some people. How depressing. Just one step closer to the edge for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 I think paranoia is a psychotic symptom pessimism is just a character trait that you may or may not have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldo Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 I don't know much about your dx, but mild pessimism could be seen as realism. More than mild pessimism could be a symptom of depression or dysthymia. So yes, there can be a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderful.Cheese Posted August 5, 2017 Author Share Posted August 5, 2017 Maybe I really am just pessimistic and not SZA. I don't know. That just felt so hurtful to me when that person said that in the way they said it. I don't think I'm like that but what if I am. I'm not meant to be around anyone I guess. I must be very toxic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lms-Kaz Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 Everybody has their own perspective. Glass half full. Glass half empty. Beyond being consistent, there is little you can do to influence how people percieve you to be. That is their choice to make. The other side of that coin is how much you value their opinion. Because this person labeled you as being something you disagree with provoked a reaction, your image must be important to them? They mean a lot to you. Perhaps surprise them with some obvious (and honest) optimism.. Blue skies? "Wow.. this sure is some great weather we are having!" Day off from work? "Sure will be good to get caught up on things. Been looking forward to this. It's been a busy week!" Ignorant people are going to be ignorant. That is also their choice. Mental illness was at the bottom of the barrel of subjects that I wanted to research.. right up until the moment I realized I was tangled in its web. You could always fight ignorance with ignorance, know you are not pessimistic, and not worry about what others think of you. Seems rather cold, detached, and very unwelcoming. But, it's an option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grape.guice Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I get told that alot at work. Its different but it might look the same to people esp if they haven't dealt w it. I feel like paranoia is more high energy alert pessimist more low energy inviting Of Any percieved thing.. If someone calls u a pessimist maybe it's cause they are, and they see paranoia & think it's the same .... alot of times we people tend to see something resembling an aspect of ourself on someone else and start calling them all the things w are... even when they're not, u r gr8, forgive them their error, and u b ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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