Paranoia

Paranoia is a mental state in which you are irrationally deluded or suspicious without reason. You may believe that people are trying to harm you in some way or that something dreadful is about to happen. Anyone may be suspicious at times, or be fearful about the future, but a paranoia sufferer is not aware that their fears are groundless. In extreme forms, a paranoiac may be unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy. 

What are the symptoms of paranoia

 When you are paranoid you may feel isolated and unable to depend upon or trust anyone else. You may be suspicious of other people's actions and motivations, and believe that everyone has a hidden agenda concerning you. You may become irrationally jealous of a partner, or suspect that a relative is trying to poison you. Feelings of being watched or followed are common, and in extreme cases you may think that your thoughts are being monitored or that your home is bugged.

What causes paranoia

Paranoia is a psychiatric condition that can take many forms and is often thought to be a response to the particular life stresses of an individual. It sometimes occurs in people suffering from severe anxiety or depression, but is more frequently a feature of serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic depression). These illnesses can cause the sufferer to develop a psychosis in which they lose touch with reality – so they do not recognise that their fears are irrational.

Paranoia also often occurs as a result of drug abuse. Drugs such as amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD often cause bad trips, where users feel paranoid for a time but eventually return to a normal state of mind. However, long-term or heavy drug users may experience more serious paranoia problems that are not easily shaken off.

When is it right to seek help

The first step towards recovery is to recognise that there is a problem, and seek help. Unfortunately, paranoiacs often fail to recognise that they have a problem, let alone one that can be treated. In such a case, friends and family can help by encouraging the sufferer to seek treatment. The first point of contact is usually a GP.

They may be able to prescribe drug treatment, or refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist for more intensive treatment. Family and friends can support a paranoid person by trying to help them decide what are facts and what are paranoid assumptions. It is important to ensure that you don't say anything that might support their delusional beliefs or feed their paranoia. And because it can be very distressing living with a paranoiac, family and friends may benefit from seeking support and guidance for themselves as well as for the paranoia sufferer. 

What treatments are available for paranoia

 Paranoia is usually treated with antipsychotic drugs, which have a tranquillising effect and are used to reduce paranoid feelings. Talking treatments include counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy. If a sufferer is very distressed, they may be admitted to hospital for treatment, usually as voluntary patients, but if they are extremely disturbed, they can be admitted to hospital against their will by being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.