Paranoid Personality Disorder

 

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental illness associated with paranoid delusions and persistent, persuasive, and mistrust of others.

They are easily insulted and their surroundings validate their fears.

They involve a pattern of disruptive behaviour and functioning.

They may appear secretive, aggressive, distant, and unemotional.

They are observers always looking out for danger.

 

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Causes:

The exact causes of PPD are not known but there has been seen a possible genetic link between Paranoid personality disorder and schizophrenia.

People with Schizophrenia interpret reality abnormally. There is also been a link to the trauma faced in childhood.

 

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Symptoms:

PPD interferes in everyday life, it makes it hard for people to interact, have relationships at school or work.

They are always suspicious of everyone around them.

1. Constant feeling of being lied to, deceived, or exploited by people.

2. Finds everyone untrusty and unworthy

3. They will never confide in anyone because of the confidence of being lied to.

4. Hold grudges

5. Outburst of anger

6. Will be jealous and suspicious of their intimate partner without cause of being unfaithful.

7. Overly sensitive

8. Find it hard to relax.

9. Tries to decode and read hidden meaning in events.

 

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Treatments: 

It is generally treated by psychotherapy. Psychotherapy reduces symptoms and helps one cope up with the day to day activities. People with PPD usually don’t seek treatment because of their condition as they don’t trust anybody.

 

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Psychotherapy 

Cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the effective therapies. It helps one adjust their disruptive behaviours and distorted thoughts. Helps the patient understand their thoughts and behaviours. They learn how to identify and change distorted thought processes. By challenging Maldative thoughts and working to change disruptive and harmful behaviour, One learns to trust be less suspicious of others which can improve build relationships.

 

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Medications

Medications alone are usually not used in PPD  but if the symptoms are severe and associated with different conditions such as depression or anxiety, one will be prescribed Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications.

 

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Facts: 

1. PPD is classified as an eccentric personality disorder

2. Men are more diagnosed with PPD than women.

3. Prevalence- 0.5 – 2.5% in general population

4. First apparent in childhood and adolescence

5. Having PPD is a predictor of general disability.

6. It correlates significantly with violence.

 

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Co-occurring diseases are:

1. Schizophrenia – It is a disorder where you look at reality abnormally.

2. Anxiety disorders –  It is characterized by a feeling of worry which interferes in day to day life.

3. Panic disorders- It is an anxiety disorder where one has sudden attacks of pain or fear.

4. Agoraphobia – It is a fear of places

5. Post-traumatic disorder – Failure to recover from a horrific event

6. Alcohol Abuse disorder – Uncontrolled drinking

 

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How PPD affects relationship? 

PPD affects relationships very drastically as constantly being mistrusted, abused, and lack of insensitivity. People with PPD have a feeling that they are always right even if there is evidence present. Dealing with people with PPD might get hard due to the circumstances, but it is their condition. Intimate relationships might find it harder because of constant mistrust and they can not socialize and end up feeling lonely.  Its seen that trust does not deepen over time, it only gets more suspicious.

 

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How to cope up with your loved one having PPD? 

One’s paranoid behaviour stems from their fears.

1. Recognise their pain-  You do not have to agree with their beliefs and thoughts, but you can comfort them, and understand where these beliefs are stemming from, make them feel secure. This reduces anger outbursts.

2. Set boundaries: Set clear boundaries, no matter how much pain one must be in that does not make it okay to take it out on you.

3. simplify how you communicate- User simple words and if your loved one starts to interpret you wrongly, correct and make them understand immediately.

4. Encourage exercise- Exercising helps release a hormone called endorphins which relieves one’s tension and helps them boost their mood.

5. Promote relaxing – encourage a regular relaxation practice like mediation and yoga

 

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How to cope with PPD?  

1. Endulge in cognitive behaviour therapy

2.  Regular exercise

3. Try to build trust and empathy for others

4. limit feelings of paranoia

5. Improve self-esteem

 

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Conclusion

If you are someone with Paranoid personality disorder, you are not alone in this and it is okay. To stay under the pressure of being constantly hurt is not easy. Fear takes over you and it is very disturbing but you can control all these feelings by cognitive behaviour. You will have more control over your life. Simple steps can make your life easier, push yourself every day, and challenge those maladaptive thoughts. You got this!