Got grip?

"Get a Grip", a short story by Paul Parks, was recently mentioned on one of the listservs to which I subscribe. Its central premise (which I will not reveal here -- go read the story!) is quite similar to that of a movie which was produced shortly after the book was published, and no doubt has been used by other writers as well.

I find myself wondering how universal that particular feeling/suspicion is. Anybody else ever wondered whether their life was like that of Parks' protagonist?