Paranoid is a mental health disorder characterized by excessive suspicion and fear. However, with proper treatment, people with this disorder can socialize and carry out daily activities well.
Paranoid personality disorder is also known as delusional disorder. The cause of this psychological problem is not known with certainty until now. However, past trauma is thought to have influenced the formation of a paranoid condition in a person.
Recognizing Paranoid Symptoms
People with paranoid disorder always suspect that other people have ulterior motives or want to hurt them. This distrust of others can make paranoid sufferers unable to build good relationships with their environment.
In addition to always feeling suspicious, there are other symptoms shown by people with paranoid disorders, including:
- Always think that other people want to deceive them
- It is difficult to share personal information with others, for fear that the information will be used against them
- Very sensitive and doesn't take criticism well
- Quick to anger and hold grudges against others
- It's hard to understand their own problems
- Stubborn, argumentative, and always thinks he's right
How to Deal with Paranoid Conditions
If you or a family member shows the above symptoms, immediately consult a psychologist or psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment steps.
The following are some of the treatment methods that a psychologist or psychiatrist can use:
Psychotherapy
The purpose of psychotherapy is to help paranoid sufferers control their symptoms, improve social skills and build good relationships with others, and direct patients to positive behaviors. One type of psychotherapy used is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help sufferers understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behavior. This therapy can also reduce the paranoia experienced by sufferers and improve the way they interact with others.
In addition to psychotherapy, support from people around, especially family, plays a big role in helping people with paranoid personality disorder experience symptom improvement.
Administration of drugs
In certain cases, medication can also be given, especially if paranoid sufferers experience psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis. The types of drugs that a doctor may prescribe include:
Antipsychotic atypical
Atypical antipsychotics are a type of medication used to relieve symptoms of several mental disorders, including paranoid thoughts. Atypical antipsychotic drugs work by blocking the effects of serotonin, which causes paranoia.
Thus, the symptoms of paranoid disorders can be suppressed. This drug is a new type of drug that is believed to be more effective in treating paranoid disorders.
Conventional antipsychotics
The way conventional antipsychotic drugs work is more or less the same as atypical antipsychotics, which is to relieve symptoms of paranoid disorders. However, the brain chemical that conventional antipsychotics block is dopamine.
Therefore, antipsychotic drugs work to reduce the amount of dopamine in the brain or restore the balance of dopamine and other chemicals in the brain.
Paranoid personality disorder is a chronic disorder that can last a lifetime. However, with some of the above handling steps, people with paranoid disorders can carry out their daily activities well.
Therefore, if you or someone close to you shows symptoms that suggest a paranoid personality as mentioned above, try to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist for examination and treatment.