What is
paranoia?
He was always complaining or grumbling about something. Nobody could
really comprehend his disorganized thought process. His real name was unknown but we call him Kawasaki.
He was the dumpster diver of the neighborhood. He was always disheveled consumed
with a negative odor. This was my first experience of the mentally ill, then,
growing up in the 70s in Surulere, Lagos. Today, as a mental health
practitioner I now know he had a major symptom of paranoia as part of his
diagnosis – if he had one. This is a thought process that causes one to have an irrational suspicion
or mistrust of others. This word unfortunately has been misused, abused, a butt
of jokes, and a source of slight. People with paranoia may feel like they’re
being persecuted or that someone is out to get them. They may feel the threat
of physical harm even if they aren’t in danger. People with dementia sometimes
have paranoia, and it also can occur in people who abuse drugs. It can also be
a symptom of a mental illness.
What is
the cause?
The cause is unknown. This has confounded experts and
different people will have different explanations for their own experiences. Paranoia
could probably manifest itself through having confusing or unsettling
experiences or feelings that cannot be explained away; been anxious or worried
and the expectation of criticism or rejection from others; an uncritical
thought process now allowing for flexibility; been isolated; and having
experienced trauma. The use of drugs can cause paranoid behavior. It may be also
a combination of factors, including genetics, stress and brain chemistry. The
following are well known causes.
Little or
no sleep: Having a
single restless night is not an issue. But however going without sleep, for a week or more can start to take its toll. There was a time when
people thought that sleep was simply a time when the body and brain “shut off”
for a few hours each night to rest in preparation for the next day. But now
scientists understand that neither the body nor the brain “shut down” when we
sleep; in fact, they are often working even harder than they do during the day,
breathing, undergoing processes to restore cells, process information, and
improve health. It means not all the
body “shuts down.” When one goes without sleep for long periods, you could even start to see and hear things that
aren’t there (hallucinations). For adults the recommended span is 7 to 9 hours of sleep a
night to stay alert and mentally healthy.
Stress: As a physical,
mental, factor that causes bodily or mental tension, it can manifest via external
or internal. If there is no outlet and pressure builds up one could start to
feel more suspicious of other people. And it doesn’t have to be something
negative like illness or job loss. Even a happy occasion, like a wedding, can
create paranoid thoughts along with the joy.
To help ease the tension; you can 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: A typical example
Schizophrenia, can make it hard to tell what’s real and what’s imagined. This disorder can cause negative thoughts
about people that just aren’t true, like “They don’t like me,” “They’re making
fun of me,” or even “They’re plotting against me.” In some cases, no amount of
evidence will convince you otherwise. Most of the time, one simply cannot tell
when thoughts have become paranoid. Friends, loved ones, or medical
professionals often have to point it out and try to help you get treatment. Again,
a word of caution, the fact that thought don’t make sense could be a sign of
good mental health. But if these paranoid feelings happen all the time or start
to disrupt home or work life, it might be time to talk to a mental health
professional.
Drug Use: If paranoid
thoughts are making you anxious or if you have minor symptoms of depression,
drugs can make them much worse. In some people, they can trigger a psychiatric
disorder with true clinical paranoia as a symptom.
Memory Loss: Alzheimer’s disease and other forms
of dementia, which are more likely as one ages, can change the brain in
ways that make you more suspicious of others. You might notice that a loved one
with dementia starts to hide things like jewelry or money, or becomes convinced
that people have bad intentions toward them. This is part of the disease.
Everyone
experiences paranoid thoughts at some point in their life, which for most people
passes. The symptoms of paranoia are severe and can include:
• Being defensive, hostile, and
aggressive
• Being easily offended
• Believing you are always right and
having trouble relaxing or letting your guard down
• Not being able to compromise, forgive,
or accept criticism
• Not being able to trust or confide in
other people
• Reading hidden meanings into people’s
normal behaviors.
The doctor
will perform a medical exam and take a complete medical history to help rule
out a physical or medical reason for symptoms, such as dementia. If the
paranoia is part of a psychiatric issue, there will be a referral to a
psychiatrist or a psychologist. These professionals will then perform an
evaluation with clinical psychological tests to help determine mental status. Other
conditions that can occur in people with paranoia are: bipolar disorder; anxiety
and depression
Treatment
depends on the cause and severity of symptoms and may include medication and
psychotherapy. Psychotherapy aims to help people with paranoia: accept their
vulnerability; increase their self-esteem; develop trust in others; learn to
express and handle their emotions in a positive manner
REFERENCES
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