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Paranoia and Paranoid Disorders
What
is Paranoia?
Paranoia involves feelings of persecution and an exaggerated sense of
self-importance. Paranoia occurs in many mental disorders and is rare
as an isolated mental illness. Since the delusions involve only one
area, a person with paranoia can usually work and function in everyday
life, however, their lives may be limited and isolated. There are
different types of paranoia including conjugal paranoia, erotomania,
hypochondriacal paranoia, and different types of paranoid disorders
such as paranoid personality and paranoid schizophrenia.
Symptoms of Paranoia:
Symptoms of paranoia and paranoid disorders
include intense and irrational mistrust or suspicion, which can bring
on sense of rage, hatred, and betrayal. Some people suffering from
paranoid personality may have a high capacity to annoy or enrage others
because of rigid and maladaptive behavior. Some identifiable beliefs
and actions of paranoid-related disorders include mistrust, taking
offense easily, difficulty with forgiveness, defensive attitude in
response to imagined criticism, preoccupation with hidden motives, fear
of being deceived or taken advantage of, inability to relax,
argumentative, abrupt, stubborn, self-righteous, and perfectionistic.
What Causes Paranoia?
The cause of paranoia is a breakdown of various
mental and emotional functions involving reasoning and assigned
meanings. The reasons for these breakdowns are varied and uncertain.
Some symptoms of paranoia may arise from repressed, denied or projected
feelings. Paranoid thoughts and feelings can become part of a
delusional system through an accident, a misunderstanding or minor
injustice, heightened intimacy, or increased responsibility.
Treatment of Paranoia
Treatment of paranoia is usually via behavior
therapy which is aimed at reducing sensitivity to criticism and
improving social skills. It can be difficult to treat a person with
paranoia as they may be irritable, emotionally guarded, hostile, and
unwilling; therefore, progress is slow. Therapy attempts to break the
cycle of suspicion and isolation by using relaxation and anxiety
management and by aiding the person to change certain behaviors.
For
more information or resources in North Carolina, visit www.mha-nc.org
or contact our Information & Referral Line at 1-800-897-7494 or
email at
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For all other
states, contact Mental
Health America.
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