Most people have felt worried or afraid that another person may have ulterior motives before. If you’ve been betrayed by someone close to you or experienced trauma, you may be wary of something similar happening again. Suspicion is a feeling that tells you to tread carefully and protect yourself from potential harm. When the feeling is intense and unshakable, it’s called paranoia. In these cases, the fears and dangers are usually imagined or not based in truth.

Passing fears and suspicions are a part of life. When these turn into erroneous beliefs that get in the way of your social and emotional well-being, they become symptoms of paranoia. There are many reasons people develop paranoia. With effective treatment, most people can manage their symptoms enough to maintain peace of mind and supportive relationships.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what paranoia is and how to tell if you or a loved one should seek treatment.

What is paranoia?

Paranoia is a deeply held belief that someone has plans to hurt or exploit you in some way or that something bad is going to happen. It may be a response to bad experiences you’ve had in the past. If you’ve had recent trauma or you’re under a lot of stress, that can intensify feelings of paranoia. Environmental stressors such as chronic stress, social isolation, or socioeconomic hardships may contribute to the development or exacerbation of paranoid thoughts, especially in vulnerable individuals. 

In some cases, paranoia may be a delusion related to a mental health condition. That means you’ve lost touch with reality, and it’s considered a type of psychosis. Hallucinations are also symptoms of psychosis. Sometimes a paranoid delusion happens without any other symptoms, as in delusional disorder. If it’s part of a larger pattern, it could be a sign of various conditions like paranoid personality disorder or schizophrenia. Severe cases of depression can have features of psychosis, and it can also be a symptom of a manic episode in people with bipolar disorder. 

What symptoms are associated with paranoia?

Paranoia goes beyond an inkling that someone might wish you harm. It usually causes significant distress, and you may be unable to get your mind off the thought. If someone presents proof that a paranoid person’s suspicions aren’t true, they will have a hard time accepting it and moving on. They may argue, become defensive or have a hard time forgiving others. 

The following are some of the most common symptoms associated with paranoia:

• Difficulty trusting others
• Constant suspicion or belief that others are out to get you
• Fear of being exploited or tricked
• Fixed beliefs that may be irrational but difficult or impossible to change
• Feelings of fear, anger and betrayal 
• Hypervigilance 
• Defensiveness or arguing
• Difficulty with forgiveness
• Preoccupation with hidden motives
• Being unable to relax
• Self-isolation

What happens when people don’t receive treatment for paranoia?

The distress of paranoia may cause people to avoid certain situations or isolate themselves. In extreme cases, it can ruin relationships and result in job loss. Anxiety and depression may set in when paranoia goes untreated for an extended period.

There is hope of trusting again and recovering from paranoia

It can be hard to watch a loved one suffer from paranoia. Those who experience it may not entirely trust their loved ones or mental health care providers enough to reach out for help. It takes a leap of faith, but there are ways to know that you’ll be in good hands. You should look for licensed clinicians with a track record of helping other people recover from paranoia. Recovery is a process, and with timely and appropriate treatment, you can manage symptoms of paranoia and work toward a more fulfilling life.

No one wants their treatment to focus on their diagnosis with no regard for their individual point of view. At Lightfully, we treat the whole person first. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) ensures that each of our clients receives treatment that’s responsive to their experience and their life goals. We combine evidence-based therapies with medication management as well as group and family therapies to create holistic treatment plans. We help you build a strong foundation for long-term mental wellness.

Do you have questions about treatment for conditions that involve paranoia? Contact us or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. Let’s take the next steps together.