7 Symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder and How to Treat Them



If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder, you may be confused about what it means and what to do about it. Here are seven of the most common symptoms of paranoid personality disorder, along with suggestions on how to treat them. If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to speak with your doctor or mental health care provider immediately.



1) What is Paranoid Personality Disorder?



Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a person having: feelings of persecution or feelings that others think poorly of them, inability to trust people, ideas that other people are lying or gossiping about them, difficulty getting close to others. These symptoms often lead to the person with paranoid personality disorder feeling extremely shy in social situations or going out into public. It can cause significant impairment in relationships as well as an individual's ability to hold down a job.


 


2) Causes of Paranoid Personality Disorder



Causes of paranoid personality disorder may be difficult to pinpoint because it can stem from either genetic or environmental factors. There are no specific causes, but studies have shown that a person who suffers from severe paranoia may be less mentally healthy than someone who is simply just suspicious.


 3) Treatment Options



Paranoid personality disorder is a serious mental illness that can cause significant disturbances in an individual's life. There are few medical treatments available, so most treatment plans should be done through psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychiatric medication, or all three. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy, will usually teach the person how to reevaluate their thoughts and see situations in a more constructive way.

 

 4) Therapy Options



The most common treatment for paranoid personality disorder is a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and medication. Different types of psychotherapy are also used to treat people with the disorder. Exposure therapy is designed to help those with the disorder confront their irrational thoughts by educating them about how common those fears are among other people. Cognitive restructuring helps change someone's way of thinking about their situation in order to reduce negative thoughts that can perpetuate paranoia.

 

5) Getting Diagnosed



Diagnosis can only be made by a psychologist or psychiatrist through a clinical interview. The clinician will ask you about your thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and relationships with others, current symptoms, family history and recent life events. Your doctor may also suggest some blood tests for any conditions that could mimic paranoid personality disorder (i.e. certain types of anxiety disorders). Treatment options for people suffering from paranoid personality disorder can vary depending on the severity of their condition.

 

6) Living with Paranoid PD



Living with a paranoid personality disorder can be difficult for those living with the person who has it. Along with the symptoms, there are treatments for paranoid personality disorder. One treatment is dialectical behavior therapy. It's important to keep in mind that this disorder is treatable, so there's no need to stress out too much about it.

Paranoid PD is more common than you might think in fact; one study found that 13% of respondents met diagnostic criteria for paranoid PD at some point in their lives!


 


7) Coping Mechanisms

Coping with paranoid personality disorder can be difficult, but there are a few strategies that may make life easier. Here are a few coping mechanisms for dealing with paranoid personality disorder: 

*Talk with others about your concerns in order to gain reassurance and make the feelings seem less overwhelming.

*Listen closely when people talk to you so that you feel like they're paying attention to what you're saying.

 *Seek out supportive friends, coworkers, or family members when you need assistance or advice.

 

 

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