Most of the time, you simply don’t know when your thoughts have become paranoid. Schizophrenia, another serious disorder, can make it hard to tell what’s real and what’s imagined. Though you might not believe every unrealistic thought that enters your head, you believe some of them. It can cause negative thoughts about people that just aren’t true, like “They don’t like me,” “They’re making fun of me,” or even “They’re plotting against me.” In some cases, no amount of evidence will convince you otherwise. One condition, paranoid personality disorder, can make it hard to trust others.
Not being able to compromise, forgive, or accept criticism.Believing you are always right and having trouble relaxing or letting your guard down.Being defensive, hostile, and aggressive.Feelings of anxiety and panic that last a long time or get in the way of your daily life might be signs of an anxiety disorder. If your anxiety isn’t linked to anything obvious and it never seems to get better or go away, you may need to talk to a doctor about it. If you worry that your thoughts are paranoid, you probably have some anxiety rather than paranoia. Clinical paranoia happens when you’re 100% convinced of it, even when facts prove that it isn’t true. Just because you’re worried that people might be talking about you doesn’t mean you have a mental illness. Some call this paranoid, but we all have thoughts like this from time to time. You might walk into a party by yourself and think, “Everyone is wondering why I’m alone.” When in large groups of people, you may worry that others will judge the things you say or the way you dress or behave. It’s normal to be anxious sometimes, especially if you’re going through something hard like losing a job or the end of a relationship. But paranoid thoughts can also make you anxious. Anxiety can cause paranoia, affecting what you’re paranoid about and how long the feeling lasts. Paranoid ThoughtsĪ paranoid thought is a type of anxious thought. As the old saying goes, “It isn’t paranoia if they’re really out to get you.” Anxiety vs. You don’t think you’re paranoid at all because you feel sure it’s true. It’s a rare mental health condition in which you believe that others are unfair, lying, or actively trying to harm you when there’s no proof.
Even when you know that your concerns aren’t based in reality, they can be troubling if they happen too often.Ĭlinical paranoia is more severe. It happens to a lot of people at some point. Paranoia is the feeling that you’re being threatened in some way, such as people watching you or acting against you, even though there’s no proof that it’s true.