PARANOIA

Paranoia is when you think and feel like you are being threatened in some way, even if there is no evidence, or very little evidence, that you are.

Causes of Paranoia

Causes of paranoia include the following:

• Too Little Sleep
• Stress
• Drug use 
• Traumatic life events

Symptoms of paranoia 

A person who is paranoid may: 

• Be easily offended
• Find it difficult to trust others
• Not cope with any type of criticism
• Assign harmful meanings to other people’s remarks
• Be always on the defensive
• Be hostile, aggressive, and argumentative
• Not be able to compromise
• Find it difficult, if not impossible, to ‘forgive and forget’
• Assume that people are talking ill of them behind their back
• Be overly suspicious – for example, think that other people are lying or scheming to cheat them
• Not be able to confide in anyone
• Find relationships difficult 
• Consider the world to be a place of constant threat
• Feel persecuted by the world at large

What can I do to manage paranoia?

You can do the following to help you manage paranoia:

• Learn and read more about paranoia
• Stay away from drugs and alcohol
• Replace anxious thoughts with positive ones
• Learn how to relax
• Eat healthily and exercise
• Identify your triggers and try avoiding them
• Talk to a trusted friend, adult, or family 
• Seek help from a professional counselor 
• Do something fun or nice for yourself
• Spend time with people who make you feel safe and good about yourself
• Get enough sleep
• Don’t blame yourself. 
• Work on improving your self-esteem
• Do the things you love
• Minimize stress 

If you're worried about your paranoia, it's important to seek help as soon as possible.