Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

This world can be a place full of risks. When you feel like people are just waiting to deceive and harm you, each passing day will only be a tiring day for you. The situation gets worse when you know that your greatest enemy is yourself. How can you take your paranoia and conquer it? How do you control how you view the world?

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Examine your Case

1. 

   Distinguish between paranoia and anxiety. Anxiety is not a paranoia, but the two conditions have some similarities. An anxiety sufferer is a person who is extremely anxious. They may think, "My parents will die in a car accident". And people with paranoia may think, "Someone will kill my parents to make me suffer." If you think you might have anxiety, you should try reading our article Coping with Anxiety.
   • There is also a difference here between anxiety about a certain event, such as pre-exam stress, and constant anxiety that lingers on you. Anxiety disorder is the most common form of mental disorder. If your anxiety seems pervasive or “persistent” and isn't just around a particular event or situation, you should see a mental health professional. You may have an anxiety disorder.
   • Anxiety is much more common than paranoia. The median age of onset of anxiety disorder is 31, although it can occur at any age. Symptoms of anxiety disease, or GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), often include a lack of relaxation, ease of startling, and difficulty concentrating among many other physical symptoms. Fortunately, this disease is highly curable.

2. 

   
   
   Consultation. It may sound unbelievable, but paranoia to some extent is quite common. Everyone has insecurities and we all know what confusion is like. About a third of the population has some kind of paranoid thoughts at some point. Before rushing to conclude that you have paranoia, gather around 4-5 friends and ask them if your inference is reasonable or, yes, an illusion. This is a good way to determine if you are truly paranoid.
   • There are five levels of paranoia. Most of us have common feelings of weakness and doubtful thoughts ("I could be killed in this dark alley!" Or "They talked badly behind me, I guess it was. "). But if you come up with mild anxiety ("They stamp their feet to piss me off"), moderate ("My phone is being monitored"), or severe ("The FBI is in en watch me ”), that's a sign you might have paranoia.
   • Watch how such thoughts affect your life. You may have a sudden, paranoid thought, but if your life hasn't been seriously affected, you probably don't have the disease.

3. 

   
   
   Determine if you are really paranoid or are just listening to your previous experience. Sometimes your friends and family members refer to your thoughts as "paranoid" when you doubt something, but it's not always bad. Sometimes life experiences have led you to see some kind of doubtful behavior. Psychological suspicion, such as thinking someone might harm you, is not necessarily paranoid. Maybe it's just that you have a hard time trusting others. This is especially common after a traumatic event or a very negative experience in your life.
   • For example, you might suspect that a new emotional object looks "unbelievably good." If your heart is broken from past relationships, you'll probably just listen to what previous experiences have taught you.
   • On the contrary, if you suspect that your new love interest is an assassin sent to kill you, you may have paranoia.
   • As another example, you might notice something that doesn't seem "plausible" in a suspicious situation or person. These reactions are not necessarily paranoid. Although you should take a close look, you don't have to immediately doubt your reactions.
   • Evaluate your reactions and doubts. You may have immediate reactions such as fear or anxiety. Calm down and try to determine where those reactions come from. Do you have any basis, such as a past experience, that can trigger those reactions?
   • Check out the truth. No, this doesn't mean investigating the circumstances of your new boyfriend or girlfriend. Take a piece of paper and sit down to write down what's going on. What the situation is, how you feel about it, how strong those feelings are, what you believe in the situation, is that belief based on facts (or vice versa), and Can you change your beliefs based on those facts.

4. 

   
   
   See if you are using alcohol, drugs, or other substances. Delusions are a side effect of substance abuse. Alcohol can cause hallucinations and delusions in heavy addicts. Stimulants, including caffeine, adderall, or ritalin, can cause paranoia and sleep disturbances. The combination of stimulants and antidepressants or over-the-counter cold and flu medicines can increase these side effects.
   • Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, PCP (angel dust), and mind-altering drugs can cause hallucinations, agitation, and paranoia.
   • Most other illegal drugs, including cocaine and meth, can also cause paranoia. Up to 84% of cocaine users suffer from cocaine-induced paranoia. Even cannabis can cause paranoia in some people.
   • Most prescription drugs will not cause paranoia if taken correctly as prescribed. However, some medications that treat Parkinson's disease by stimulating the production of dopamine can cause hallucinations and delusions. If you are taking prescription medications and think they are causing you, talk to your doctor about alternative therapy. Do not stop taking the medication without first consulting your doctor.

5. 

   Think about your situation. A traumatic event or a new loss can cause people to become paranoid. If you've just lost a loved one or been experiencing a particularly stressful situation, your mind is probably dealing with those things with paranoia.
   • If your paranoia seems to have originated from a fairly close (say within the last 6 months), it is probably not a chronic paranoia. However, you also need to pay attention. If the delusion has just occurred, it may be easier to cope.
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Part 2 of 3: Coping with Paranoid Thoughts

1. 

   Begin a journey of investigating your thoughts and feelings. Journaling will help you understand what might make you feel paranoid; This is also a great way to relieve stress. A journal can also help you identify your triggers, people, places, and situations that seem to trigger delusions in you. Start journaling by choosing a comfortable and dedicated place for about 20 minutes a day to write. Think about situations in which you are experiencing paranoia. For example:
   • When do you feel most paranoid? Night? Early morning? What happened at that time that made you feel paranoid?
   • Who are you paranoid about? Is there someone or a group of people that makes you more paranoid? Why do you think those people make you more paranoid than usual?
   • Where do you feel most paranoid when you are? Is there a place where your paranoia has culminated? What is it that makes you feel paranoid?
   • In what situations did you experience paranoia? Is it in social situations? Is there anything in your environment?
   • What memories come to mind when you go through those feelings?

2. 

   Plan to avoid or reduce your exposure to irritants. Once you have identified the situations and people appear to be contributing to your paranoia, you can plan to reduce your exposure to those triggers. While it may not be possible to avoid some people, places, and situations, such as work or school, being aware of the triggers of delusions can help you limit your exposure to these delusions. events and characters that you can avoid.
   • For example, if the path from home to school provokes paranoia, choose a different route or ask a friend to follow.

3. 

   Learn how to question your paranoid thinking. In cases where a stimulus cannot be avoided, learning to question paranoid thoughts can help you alleviate or eliminate the way you feel about people and situations. Next time you find yourself having paranoid thoughts about a person, place or situation, ask yourself the following questions:
   • What is that thought? When do I have that thought? Has anyone been there? When is that? What happen?
   • Am I thinking based on facts or based on perception? What can I say?
   • What am I taking into account or firmly believe in that thought? Are my opinions or beliefs realistic? Why and why not? If that thought is real, what does it mean?
   • How do I feel - physically or mentally?
   • What did I do / could I do to deal with the thought in a positive way?

4. 

   Distract yourself to get rid of paranoid thoughts. If you can't dispel the paranoia by checking its contents, try distracting yourself. Call a friend, go for a walk, or watch a movie. Find ways to take your mind off your paranoid thoughts so that you don't dwell on it.
   • Distraction can help you avoid brooding, a kind of obsessive thought when you chew on something like a broken tape. Meditation has been linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression.
   • However, to deal with those thoughts, a distraction alone is not enough. Distraction is a type of escape, in which you also have to take other steps to deal with your delusions.

5. 

   Avoid punishing yourself. You may feel ashamed of your thoughts, and that makes you hard on yourself. Studies have shown that this type of approach, or "punishment," is ineffective in dealing with paranoid thoughts.
   • Instead, try reevaluating (checking your thinking processes), using social control (seeking advice from others), or using a distraction described above.

6. 

   Consider if you need professional help. You can manage mild delusions on your own, but you may need professional help if your delusions are moderate to severe. If you are constantly having paranoid thoughts, consider the following questions:
   • Are you planning to act on potentially harmful thoughts?
   • Are you planning to harm yourself or others?
   • Do you have thoughts or plans with the aim of harming someone?
   • Do you hear voices urging you to harm yourself or others?
   • Do your obsessive thoughts and behaviors affect your home and work?
   • Do you always recall a traumatic experience?
     • If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you should find a mental health professional as soon as possible.
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Part 3 of 3: Understanding Delusions

1. 

   Correct definition of "paranoia". Many of us use the term "paranoia" quite arbitrarily. In fact, psychosis in psychology includes persistent feelings of abuse and exaggeration about self-importance. Other than normal suspicion, delusions were on no rational basis. Many medical conditions or mental health problems can cause paranoia but are uncommon. You cannot and should not try to diagnose yourself. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor or a mental health professional. Only a medical professional can diagnose mental illnesses.

2. 

   Look for symptoms specific to delusional personality disorder (PPD). PPD affects 0.5% to 2.5% of the population. PPDs feel so suspicious of others that they disrupt their own daily lives, such as being extremely socially isolated. Symptoms include:
   • Suspecting others on no basis, especially that they may be harmed, abused or deceived by such person.
   • Doubt the trustworthiness of others, even to friends and family
   • Difficult to trust or difficult to work with others
   • Interpret harmless events or comments as implicit or threatening
   • Bring in a grudge
   • Social alienation or hatred
   • There are sudden angry reactions

3. 

   Watch for signs of paranoid schizophrenia. People with paranoid schizophrenia often believe that someone is persecuting them or a loved one. They may also think that they are extremely important (megalomania). Only about 1% of the population suffers from schizophrenia. Other common signs of paranoid schizophrenia include:
   • Isolate or alienate from society
   • Suspect others
   • Be vigilant or cautious
   • There is envy hallucinations
   • There is an illusion of sound ("hearing things")

4. 

   Watch for signs of a hallucinogenic disorder. Psychedelic disorder is the belief in one or more specific paranoid thoughts (eg, "The FBI is on television and watching every move it makes"). It is specific and does not necessarily cover all aspects, at the same time the patient still has normal abilities without any strange behavior. This disorder is extremely rare; only about 0.02% of the population suffers from hallucinogenic disorder. Common symptoms of hallucinogenic disorders include:
   • Has a high degree of self-referencing, meaning that the patient involves themselves in everything, even if that is not true (for example, they believe that the actors in the movie are talking to them directly) .
   • Confuse
   • Depression
   • Rampage

5. 

   Think about if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Delusions can be associated with PTSD, a mental illness that develops after a person experiences a traumatic event. Trauma experiences can even cause hallucinations and delusions. If you have experienced trauma in the past such as abuse, you may develop the thought of "harm paranoia", or believe that others are intending to harm you. This belief makes you suspicious of others or worried about harm, even in situations where almost no one finds suspicious or dangerous. Unlike most other paranoid forms, this kind of fear is based on responses to trauma. A mental health professional with experience in trauma can help you overcome this PTSD and paranoia.
   • The most common treatment for PTSD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on learning how to recognize how the trauma affects your thinking and behavior. You can practice new ways of thinking about yourself and the world, and you can reduce your symptoms.
   • Other treatments include contact therapy and EMDR (eye movement anesthesia and restorative therapy).

6. 

   Consider talking to your therapist about your feelings. Without help, it can be difficult to know why you are experiencing delusions, and it can be difficult to determine the best way to deal with them. A mental health professional can help you understand and overcome this.
   • Always remember that a feeling of paranoia can be part of a mental illness and requires treatment. A therapist can help you understand what's going on and decide the best course of action.
   • It is very common to see a therapist. People often go to their doctors to feel better and improve their lives. You may feel good about yourself when you seek help: it shows you are courageous and you care about yourself.
   • Feel free to change therapists! Many feel stuck where they started. If you're serious, find another professional. Find someone who makes you feel comfortable and reliable. That is the fastest way to progress.
   • Be aware that the law requires your therapist to keep your information private. People with delusions are often afraid to share their problems, but don't forget that therapists must keep it a secret due to legal and ethical constraints. The only exceptions are when you disclose plans to harm yourself or others, involve violence or neglect, or when a court requires a doctor to release information because you are involved. come to litigation.
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Advice

• Stay away from drugs and alcohol. You may feel that these things help you. That's not right. Alcohol and drugs only make your paranoia worse.
• Learn to meditate so you can relax when you are attacked by delusional thoughts.
• Remember that people are generally good and that no one is going against you.
• Remember that no matter what happens, everything will be fine in the end.
• Focus on your breathing and think about pleasant things, happy memories. If that doesn't work, try doing the arithmetic; For example think about 13 x 4 and solve the problem.

Warning

• Do not harm others because you are suspicious of what they are doing.
• Share your thoughts and feelings with another person. If you keep your emotions secret, it will come out at some point, and restraint is bad for your health. Tell someone you trust.