Is anyone else quite paranoid?

[Turkey584]

I am quite a paranoid person, I think it comes from low self esteem and anxiety. I will always assume people don't really like me and care too much about it.
If I walk past a group of people and they laugh, I will assume it's about me even though it's likely not.
I hate being looked at, I don't have a unique kind of look but I hate when (some) other women look you up and down to see what you're wearing, are you slim/pretty etc.
I know I'm really not special and most people are worried about themselves.
I find I assume the worst of people and think they have bad intentions, assume friends talk about me behind my back.
It comes from being bullied and an abusive relationship I think.
I worked at a 6th form college until recently as a sort of intervention tutor.
One day one of my students walked past me with 2 girls. He called my name so I turned round and said hi and smiled. He then asked me what time he was supposed to meet me and I told him then left.
As I walked off one of the girls went "I think you've got a there Cody."
I didn't hear what she said but then the boy Cody laughed.
I mean really who cares what some 18 year olds say and think but this boy was quite polite and hard working in my classes and I was a bit disappointed that they would laugh at me, I'd understand if they were 11.
Anyway I just want to stop being so paranoid, assuming the worst and being filled with anxiety all the time.
Can therapy improve this? I don't know what else to do. Other people have noticed it too, and I just want to be more relaxed and happy in general. Does anybody else feel like this?

Sorry it was meant to say she said "I think you've got an (insert word) there" to my student, I didn't hear what the word was though.

Also I left a room once and walked out to a group of year 13 girls who burst out laughing. I assume it was at me, and again they're just 18 what do they know, but I don't get what's so odd about me that people have to laugh.

Yes, therapy would improve this, if you can access it.

I think there have been numerous posts on MN by people who do feel like this. It's good that you recognise that people are likely not talking about you.

I can honestly say I could not care less if other people are slim/pretty/ whatever. I have so many other worries.

Oh teens are idiots and will laugh at anything, even a passing dog. But they may have been laughing at something else. They tend to be very giggly.

I suppose it's not as simple as:

1. Very few people are thinking about you.
2. Who cares what 18 year olds flippantly say on a random Tuesday anyway?

probably not, which is why OP should go to therapy. Nothing anyone says here will reassure her.