When you feel paranoid, you feel as though your person, property, or knowledge is at risk or in danger, without having any objective evidence that says that’s true. Paranoia can happen to anyone at any time, but when you can distinguish that your feelings aren’t based in reality, it can be disconcerting to continue encountering them.
When paranoia is frequent and unrelenting, it can be classified as clinical paranoia and likely cannot detach those feelings from reality. While it can be similar to anxiety on the outside, they are two different conditions. Take a closer look at the concept and research behind paranoia available here.
How Is Paranoia Different From Anxiety?
Many people associate the feelings of being judged by the public after tripping or having a pimple on their face, for example, as paranoia. Still, these are everyday anxious thoughts we all have from time to time. This doesn’t mean you are mentally ill.
Paranoia and anxiety can often be confused because they tend to feed off of each other or can be caused by one another as well. When you are clinically paranoid, your thoughts do not seem irrational. Instead, they seem 100% based on truth, and no one can convince you otherwise. If you’re someone who worries that your thoughts are paranoid, you may just be experiencing a form of anxiety.
What Are The Symptoms Of Paranoia?
The symptoms of clinical paranoia are much more severe than mild anxiety, including:
- Hostility or aggression
- Trouble letting your guard down
- Believing you are always correct
- An inability to trust others
- Being unable to accept criticism or forgive others
- Believing there to be double meanings to the words and behaviors of others
- Getting easily offended
Where Does Paranoia Come From?
Paranoia can be a symptom or side effect of various origins, including:
Psychiatric Disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder: a disorder in which those who live with it suffer an unwavering mistrust of those around them, even if there’s no evidence to support that anyone is out to get them.
Schizophrenia: When someone experiences hallucinations, delusions, or even paranoia that distorts their perception of reality.
Borderline Personality Disorder: A disorder characterized by unstable relationships where the people who live with it deal with severe mood swings that impact normal daily function.
Substance Use
For the most part, the paranoia caused by hallucinogens or stimulants such as LSD, psychotic mushrooms, or methamphetamine is temporary, usually only lasting until the effects of the drugs wear off. However, if you start using drugs while already having milder symptoms of paranoia or depression, these can aggravate the symptoms even further.
Memory Loss
Memory loss, specifically through dementia or Alzheimer’s, can cause physiological changes in the brain that trigger some forms of paranoia. For instance, you may notice a family member hiding money or believing that you will hurt them. This kind of paranoia is quite typical for these illnesses.
Not Enough Sleep
When we mention lack of sleep, we’re not just talking about a single night you spent tossing and turning. Paranoia tends to happen when there’s a consistent lack of sleep that causes impairment in cognitive function, making it more challenging to keep up in social interaction leading to misunderstandings. This can make it seem like people are out to get you when they’re not.
How Do You Treat Paranoia?
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, is an excellent way to examine the roots of your thoughts and actions and provide you with different possible interpretations of what they mean. This greater understanding can help decrease worry and anxiety associated with paranoia.
Medication
Medication is typically used for individuals diagnosed with a mental illness such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder. Antipsychotics, for example, can help alleviate the symptoms of paranoia. Antidepressants or mild tranquilizers have been shown to be helpful as well.
Creative Therapy
Art or music therapy gives you a safe space to express your emotions in a therapeutic environment. Therapies like these are a wonderful supplemental treatment for paranoia, especially if you’re having trouble talking about your feelings in conventional therapy settings.
