By We Level Up FL Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: January 30, 2023

Paranoia Statistics

When you feel threatened, even though there is no evidence to support it, you may believe that someone is watching you or trying to harm you. Many people eventually experience it. Even if you are aware that your worries are unfounded, if they occur too frequently, they can be upsetting.

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• Take time to relax and try to forget about what’s stressing you out
• Spend time with friends
• Find something to smile and laugh about
• Get plenty of exercise
• Meditate to clear your mind

Psychiatric Disorders: Paranoia Anxiety Disorder & Mental Disorders With Paranoia

It may be difficult to trust others if you have a disease called paranoid personality disorder. It may lead to unfounded assumptions about other people, such as “They don’t like me,” “They’re making fun of me,” or even “They’re planning against me.” Sometimes, no amount of proof will persuade you to the contrary. The result may be genuine clinical paranoia. Even though you might not believe all of the irrational thoughts that cross your mind, you do.

Another severe disease, schizophrenia, can make it difficult to distinguish between the real world and the imagination. You just aren’t aware when your thoughts have turned paranoid the majority of the time. It frequently takes friends, family members, or medical experts to identify it and make an effort to get you to care.

Some people with borderline personality disorder experience paranoid thoughts and even clinical paranoia (Borderline Personality Disorder And Paranoia – Borderline Personality Disorder Paranoia) due to their rapid emotional swings, which cause them to love someone one minute and detest them the next.

The mere fact that you occasionally experience paranoia or worry about what other people think of you does not indicate that you suffer from a mental illness. Knowing that your thoughts are illogical may be a sign of excellent mental health. But if you experience these paranoid feelings frequently or they begin to interfere with your daily activities at home or at work, you might want to speak with your doctor or a mental health professional.

Drug Use: Borderline Personality Disorder Paranoia

Chemicals found in marijuana, hallucinogens like LSD and psychotropic mushrooms, and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine can temporarily paralyze some users. The paranoia also disappears when the chemicals are removed from your body. Days or weeks of heavy drinking can produce short-term paranoia as well, and over time, it can result in persistent paranoia and even hallucinations.

Drugs can make modest depressive symptoms, such as paranoid thoughts that are making you worried, considerably worse. They may cause some people to have actual clinical paranoia, a symptom of a psychiatric condition.

Alcohol might make paranoia worse. Additionally, it lessens our inhibitions, which makes it more difficult to restrain these emotions.

Mental Disorders Paranoia

Paranoia Personality Disorder

A long-term habit of mistrust and suspicion of people without good cause is a sign of paranoid personality disorder (PPD), a mental health disease (paranoia). People with PPD frequently think that others are threatening, demeaning, or harming them.

Bipolar Disorder And Paranoia (Paranoia And Bipolar Disorder)

Paranoia In Bipolar Disorder: Paranoia Bipolar Disorder

Delusional Paranoia Disorder: A persistent belief in something that isn’t genuine, real, or likely to occur is referred to as a delusion. Grandiose fantasies are possible in people. They do so because they think they are superhuman or possess unique abilities. During manic periods, bipolar disorder patients frequently have grandiose fantasies.

Bipolar Disorder Paranoia: A person with bipolar disorder may develop paranoid delusions during depressive episodes. They might think someone is trying to harm them or their possessions.

Paranoia Schizoaffective Disorder

A mental health condition known as schizoaffective disorder is characterized by a confluence of schizophrenia symptoms like hallucinations or delusions and mood disorder symptoms like depression or mania.

Paranoia Anger Disorder

Intense and illogical mistrust or suspicion, which can elicit emotions of fear, rage, and betrayal, are signs of paranoia and delusional disorders.

How is Paranoia Diagnosed?

In order to rule out a physical or medical cause for your symptoms, such as dementia, your doctor will do a physical examination and take a thorough medical history. Avoid taking a paranoia disorder test online, the real answer is always given by a specialist.

Your doctor will recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist who will conduct an evaluation and psychological tests to help them determine your mental state and whether your paranoia is a symptom of a psychiatric condition. The following conditions can also manifest in paranoid individuals:

• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression

Psychotherapy is frequently used as part of treatment for a paranoid personality disorder to aid in the development of coping mechanisms that will enhance socialization and communication. Anti-anxiety drugs are occasionally prescribed by doctors to treat paranoid personality disorder in patients who experience frequent anxiety or terror. Atypical antipsychotic drugs may also be beneficial.

People with paranoid schizophrenia typically need medication because they frequently have trouble regaining their sense of reality. Antipsychotic drugs are frequently used as the first line of treatment. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may also be recommended by your doctor.

Once your illness has stabilized, your doctor might suggest additional treatment. This can include counseling for individuals or families, as well as psychotherapy. When drug usage causes paranoia, treatment is frequently supportive until the drug effects subside. After that, your doctor would probably advise you to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program.

What Happens If Paranoia Is Left Untreated?

Though it is not a diagnosis in and of itself, paranoia is a symptom of various mental health issues.

The intensity of paranoid thoughts can range from very low to very severe, and each person will likely experience them in a unique way. Depending on how much:

• You believe the paranoid thoughts
• You think about the paranoid thoughts
• The paranoid thoughts upset you
• The paranoid thoughts interfere with your everyday life

Up to one-third of us probably suffer mild paranoia at some point in our lives. Typically, this is referred to as non-clinical paranoia. Over time, these kinds of paranoid thoughts frequently alter, so you can come to understand that they are unfounded or simply cease having those particular thoughts.

Extreme paranoia is at the other end of the scale (also called clinical paranoia or persecutory delusions). You are more likely to require treatment if your paranoia is more severe.

We Level Up Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The definition of dual diagnosis (also referred to as co-occurring disorders) can differ between institutions. However, it is generally described as the specific treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. Treating dual-diagnosis clients is a critical aspect of our inpatient treatment experience because co-occurring disorders are strongly correlated with instances of substance abuse.

Creating a treatment plan that addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and managing underlying mental health disorders is part of setting clients up for success.  A thorough mental health analysis identifies possibilities for treatment.  Meeting with mental health counselors and medical care providers means access to behavioral therapy and medication treatment. At our dual diagnosis treatment center, We Level Up can implement the highest quality of care. 

We recognize the fragile complexities of how mental and substance abuse disorders can influence others and sometimes result in a vicious cycle of addiction.  That’s why we offer specialized treatment in dual-diagnosis cases to provide the most excellent chance of true healing and long-lasting recovery.

It can be challenging to accept that you may be living with a mental illness, but once it is properly diagnosed and treated, treating the presenting case of substance abuse can be magnitudes easier. Only a properly trained medical professional can diagnose these underlying conditions.  If you believe you are suffering from a disorder alongside addiction, we urge you to seek a qualified treatment center to begin your journey to recovery. Call We Level Up today.