In this article, we explore what paranoia is, examples of paranoia, its causes and its relation to mental health conditions. We will also look at the effects of paranoia alongside ways to support a loved one suffering from the condition.
What is paranoia?
According to Mind, “Paranoia is when you feel like you’re being deliberately harmed in some way, but there’s no evidence, or very little evidence, that you are.”
It can be normal to experience feelings of suspicions about harm from others, but it’s likely a paranoid thought if it aligns with the below:
- No one else shares the suspicious thought
- There’s no evidence for the suspicious thought
- There’s evidence against the suspicious thought
- You still have suspicious thoughts despite reassurance from others
- Your suspicions are based on events that can be misinterpreted
Examples of paranoia
The experience of paranoia will differ, below are common examples of paranoia:
- You feel you are being talked about, laughed at or judged behind your back
- You feel other people are trying to make you look bad or exclude you
- You feel that you may be at risk of being physically hurt or killed
- You may feel as though people are using hints and double meanings to secretly threaten you or make you feel bad
- You may think other people are trying to upset or annoy you
- You may think people are trying to take your money or possessions
- You feel as though your actions or thoughts are being interfered with by others
- You feel as though you are being watched by people or organisations, either in person or online
If you are suffering from paranoia, you might have these thoughts frequently, or you might have them occasionally, such as when you’re under stress.
Having paranoia might cause you to be quite distressed, or it may not bother you at all but if you feel as though they are affecting your life, it could be due to an underlying mental health issue.
Causes of paranoia
The cause of paranoia is not known but it is believed to be a mix of different issues, such as the below:
- A difficult experience in childhood, such as abuse or bullying
- Low self-esteem
- Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety
- Living in an environment where you may feel isolated from others
- Suffering from physical illness, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Not getting enough sleep
- Recreational drugs and alcohol
- Engaging with media reports that can include crime, terrorism and violence
The link between paranoia and mental health
Although paranoia isn’t a mental health condition, it can be a symptom of one.
Many people will feel paranoid at some point in their lives – it is considered a problem when it affects a person’s daily life.
Paranoia may be a symptom of psychosis, which can also be due to the below mental health conditions:
- Schizophrenia – this is a mental health issue related to psychosis
- Schizoaffective disorder – this is a mental health problem where a person may experience psychosis, alongside mood-related symptoms
- Bipolar disorder – a person with bipolar disorder may experience psychosis, usually during manic episodes
- Postnatal psychosis – this is a specific type of psychosis that develops after a person gives birth
- Personality disorder – this is a condition that can affect how you think, feel, behave or relate to others
- Anxiety – this is a condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues
The effects of paranoia
Your paranoid thoughts may make you do, or feel certain things and this can often make you feel better in the moment but in the long term, they may make the paranoia worse:
- Safety behaviours – these are things a person may do to aid their paranoid thoughts, to make them feel safer. An example of this could be avoiding people, places and situations. This will make a person feel safe at first, but the more they do them, the harder the cycle is to break.
- Pushing your loved ones away – if a person feels threatened, they may respond by pushing away those around them. This, in turn, may make people treat you differently which can further justify your feelings of being threatened.
Combined, a person may feel that no one understands how they feel and that they have no one to rely on. Paranoia can be lonely and frightening, which may leave a person with low confidence.
A person with paranoia may also be worried or feel anxious about the same issues consistently. The more this cycle continues, the more they are likely to feel paranoid thoughts.
How to support a loved one with paranoia
Having a friend, family member or loved one struggling with paranoid thoughts can feel daunting but there are a few things you can do to support them on their journey to recovery:
- Consider their beliefs – you may not think their thoughts are accurate, but they come from real feelings. Try to understand where their beliefs come from, it will help you both.
- Help them understand their fears – their thoughts and feelings are 100% real to them so try to understand where they are coming from and the feelings behind the paranoia.
- Be their rock – your loved one may be struggling to trust those around them so be consistent in your support and be there for them when they need you.
- Help them seek support – a person with paranoia will need help from a GP, or specialist mental health provider, so try to encourage them to seek help from a medical professional.
Further Information
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post.
For more information, Mind, a mental health charity, has further advice on their website.
Other organisations that offer support to individuals can be found here, Rethink Mental Illness and The Mental Health Foundation.
For more information on mental health, read our blog here.
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References:
https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/mental-health/what-is-paranoia/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/psychosis/about-psychosis/
Image by Mario Heller on Unsplash.
