Do you constantly feel like someone’s watching you? Or maybe calling your name? Do you sense that danger may be upon you and it makes you intensely anxious and fearful; even if you don’t have any real evidence that it’s true?
If you tend to assume that people have negative motivations, or you find yourself obsessing over trivial things that people do, you may be paranoid.
Paranoid personality disorder is a long-term mental health condition. It involves intense feelings of mistrust, suspicion, and hostility toward people. The disorder makes you feel that people are constantly out to hurt or take advantage of you.
People with paranoid personality disorder lack trust in others, and feel a strong need be independent. They tend to be inflexible, critical, find it hard to work with others, and find it really difficult to accept criticism.
This disorder further makes you:
- Read threatening meanings in remarks.
- Hold grudges.
- Expect to be exploited by others.
- Have a poor sense of humour and self-image.
- Detached from loved ones and family.
- Preoccupied with unjustified doubts of loyalty from friends and loved ones.
What are the causes?
Research suggests that this disorder can be caused by genetics, social factors (how you interact in your early development with family and friends) and psychological factors like personality and temperament.
Luckily, paranoia is treatable; but people who have the disorder are unlikely to seek help because they don’t think they have a problem. Working with a therapist is also difficult, because the paranoid person tends to question the therapist’s motives. Since the basis of talk therapy is trust, this challenge makes paranoia particularly difficult to treat.
Can it be treated?
While there may not be an absolute cure for paranoia, treatment can help you cope with symptoms and live a happier and more productive life. Treatment will depend on the type and severity of the condition. It may include:
Psychotherapy
As with most personality disorders, supportive psychotherapy is the therapy of choice to treat paranoia. This is also known as “comfort care”. The therapist attempts to help you solve problems and find ways of living with the condition.
Medication
If the condition is more severe, you might suffer from hallucinations and delusions. Anti-psychotics, tranquillisers, anti-anxiety medication are all recommended forms of treating these, and can be prescribed by the psychiatrist.
Self-help
Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal, and reflect on them regularly to help pinpoint your triggers. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings and thoughts. Manage your stress and try relaxation techniques which can help soothe pressure and build resilience. Sleeping well will also go a long way in energising you to cope with difficult thoughts and experiences. How balanced is your diet? Your blood sugar levels can impact your mood and energy levels; so make an effort to eat healthy mood-boosting foods and make sure you exercise for optimal mental health.
All of us may have some paranoid ideas or thoughts at times. It is important, though, to know when these are due to paranoid disorder. If you’re uncertain, why not talk to one of our doctors? They would be happy to help you find the best treatment!
References:
- https://www.drugs.com/cg/paranoid-personality-disorder.html
- https://www.centeredhealth.com/the-behaviors-of-a-teenager-battling-paranoid-personality-disorder/
- https://psychcentral.com/disorders/paranoid-personality-disorder-symptoms/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addiction-in-society/200911/the-age-paranoia
- https://www.paranoidthoughts.com/medication.php
- https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/paranoia/helping-yourself/#.Wi5_-0qWZ9M