Paranoia is a condition that is categorized into mental disorders. People dealing with paranoia are advised to create a clear line between reality and fantasy. You can also be able to help someone with this condition to manage it better. It’s imperative to behave in a compassionate manner so that the patients do not feel like they’re going crazy. Help the person facing paranoia to conquer panic. A positive thinking mentality should be advocated for.
Symptoms of Paranoia
To succeed in dealing with paranoia, one must be capable of identifying the symptoms. These are some of the main ones:
Unfounded suspicions that involves mistrust even of the closest people in their lives. These people will also believe that others are planning conspiracy theories against them.
Detachment from the rest of the family, friends and society at large. They tend to doubt the people in their lives and can raise infidelity accusations against their partners in relationships.
Diminished self image of the victims portray that they are having too many negative thoughts. This is usually accompanied by lack of confidence.
Uncooperative behavior that often leads to difficulty in working as part of a team. This consequently affects productivity at school or the workplace.
Hostility towards others even when their motives are pure. Paranoid people tend to hold grudges, hurl insults and are potentially violent. They alter perception and always assume the worst.
Being defensive without necessarily having to. They will also be argumentative even during normal conversations that don’t require debate.
Stress and depression are symptoms that you’ll also lookout for when dealing with paranoia.
Diagnosis of Paranoia
Seek medical attention as soon as you recognize the symptoms of paranoia. The condition will be managed effectively when doctors are able to diagnose it early enough. One of the ways of establishing the presence of this condition is by running physical tests. The examination also includes medical history of the patient and the causes of the particular condition as well.
When dealing with paranoia, extreme cases normally involve psychosis. In these cases, psychologists will be brought in to handle the situation. Sessions will be organized whereby the patient’s mental status will be observed.
Treatment of Paranoia
Antipsychotic medication is available to treat this condition. However, these types of medications can only be obtained by a prescription written by mental health specialists. The medication works effectively with cognitive therapy. The patient will be more capable of managing the situation when persecutory delusions are eliminated. Thinking positively will also enable the patient to enjoy stress free life once again.
Studies reveal that antipsychotic medication is more beneficial to patients with personality disorders. This is unlike paranoia, which falls under mental disorders. It is also reported that long term usage can result to severe side effects in many cases.
In general, it’s advisable to stop using the prescription medication when dealing with paranoia if there is no benefit. Bear in mind that the potential side effects are serious. Therapy is more effective when implemented during the primary stages.