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.
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.










Comments
Post a Comment