Often it seems that of all things the most common one that is able to unite all people in this world is any person’s fear of other person. People tend to worry about other people so regularly that it has become one of the common traits of humans. In the following sections, we will look at fears people have which do not have any evidence and can only lead to increased distress levels.
What is Paranoia?
Paranoia can also be called as fear of others, persecutory beliefs or paranoid feelings. Other names that are used include delusional thoughts and persecutory delusions. In paranoia, a person develops fear that something bad may happen and others will be responsible for it while in actuality, such thought will totally without any base and unfounded.
Such type of fears has perpetrator, threat and reasoning. The perpetrator can be anyone starting from your neighbor to colleague or any of your family members. Many times the identity of such person is not known.
The threat is believed to be financial, psychological, social or physical. The reasoning involved for such threat can be that you are simply becoming a victim, at risk because of the person you are or due to something you have done.
How to know if suspicions are true or not
The following questions may help you find out if your suspicions are correct or not:
- Will others consider my suspicion as real?
- What opinion my best friend would have?
- Did I discuss this concern with others?
- Can it be possible that I overstated this threat?
- Is there any evidence?
- Are ambiguous events are basis of these worries?
- Are these worries having feelings as their basis rather than proper evidence?
- Are there any evidences that are against these suspicions?
- Am I oversensitive?
- Do suspicions stay even when others tell that they are without any basis?
The chances that the suspicions you have are unfounded increases even further in case you feel:
- No one is sharing your suspicions.
- No evidence exists to prove your worries.
- Evidence is found against your suspicions.
- Fears remain even are after others reassure you.
- Fears are founded on feelings.
How to Overcome Paranoia
You can do several things to come out of paranoia, let us look at them here.
Healthy Living:
Troubles of paranoia are more likely when we are stressed or tired. Thus, you will have to eat healthy, take good sleep and do exercises on daily basis. Do things you like and involve your-self in positive activities.
Share with others:
If you are not talking about your paranoid thoughts with anyone else then it becomes a lot more upsetting. You will have to reveal the details to someone. By getting another person’s viewpoint about the concern, you will have a clear idea of how to solve the situation.
Manage Worries:
Paranoid thoughts create worries and people start to think about the harm others are going to inflict upon them or whether they are going mad and which is why such thoughts are coming in mind. However, the fact is that worries make us even more fearful and anxious to make a vicious circle of worries that never ends. Thus, it is important to manage your worries. One method is to keep an hour everyday to look at all the worries you have and call it the worrying period. During that time, analyze the worries you have and do your best to get solution for them.
Summary
Paranoia can become a major problem if not taken care of properly. To solve the problem you will have to talk with people you trust and take expert advice.