There are two kinds of people in this world: those who trust easily and those who don’t. Other individuals, however, are highly mistrusting and suspicious of others; even when there’s no valid reason to.
This condition is what’s referred to as paranoid personality disorder (PPD). People diagnosed with this psychological illness are convinced that others are trying to hurt, intimidate or humiliate them. The worst part is that they don’t notice their behavioral and thinking patterns are strange. In this post, I’ll be examining the signs, causes and treatment options for people with PPD.
Symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)
Persons living with PPD experience signs that disrupt their day-to-day functioning. However, the most common symptom is a constant mistrust and suspicion of those around you. Others include:
- Suspecting that you’re being lied to or cheated by others
- Strong conviction that their friends, family or life partners are disloyal and untrustworthy
- Flares up or snaps at people in response to the alleged betrayal
- Often described as envious, secretive and mean
- Too controlling in relationships to protect themselves from being “betrayed” or “exploited”
- Always looking for concealed meanings in gestures and discussions
- Struggles to relax
- Has negative perceptions of people
- Overly conscious of criticism
- Goes too far when they’re upset or judged
Causes of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)
Unfortunately, the primary cause of paranoid personality disorder isn’t known. What we do know is that both psychological and genetic factors play a part. One thing that supports the genetic association is the fact that families with a history of trauma and schizophrenia have been found to be more susceptible to PPD.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)
Diagnosis
The personality of an individual continues to reform and progress as they grow. Due to this mental health experts avoid giving a PPD diagnosis to persons aged under 18. If the health professional suspects an individual to have this condition, they ask a wide range of questions to get a sense of their:
- Past life history
- Work history
- Relationships
- Emotional regulation
- Perception of reality
Treatment
There are several treatment options for people diagnosed with paranoid personality treatment. They include:
Medication
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there’s no specific medicine ideal for treating PPD. Usually, your general physician will prescribe medication if you’re suffering from another condition in addition to the personality disorder. This can be an antidepressant, atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
Psychotherapy
With the help of a psychotherapist, you can learn to identify negative thinking patterns. This way, you’re able to differentiate perceived threats from reality. Therapy sessions will also take away unnecessary worry so that you’re not always frightened or intimidated.
Get in Touch With Your Spiritual Side
If you’re a religious person, it might help to reconnect with your spiritual side. Spirituality is when you believe in something stronger than yourself. This, in turn, can help you gain a better understanding of your condition. It also helps you find a new meaning for life and have something that you look forward to. (1 Chronicles 6:11)
