Dr. Brandy Lee, a New York-based forensic psychiatrist, says "the pandemic has brought a lot of insecurity and stress."
John Hopkins defines paranoia as "a response to perceived threats that are heavily influenced by anxiety and fear, which exist throughout a continuation of normal experience, based on reality to the delusional beliefs we believe."
Symptoms of paranoia range from very subtle to completely overwhelming and may exist with or without other mental states. People do not need to have diagnosable mental health disorders to have paranoid thoughts or feelings.
Pandemics, social isolation, economic problems, social unrest, and everything else have caused many of us to have more extreme behaviors and concerns, including paranoia.
A significant segment of the world's population is being conditioned to avoid reality.
"When one lives in delusion, detached from reality, one becomes paranoid in itself because facts and evidence constantly 'attack' his false beliefs," says Lee.
The good news is that it is possible to fight paranoia, at least one that is not diagnosed by medicine or related to other mental health issues.
"Human beings are resilient and capable of dealing with major disasters if we are in them together and have consistent guidance, as well as psychological and social support."
You can start by accepting paranoid thoughts and then work on creating healthy daily routines. Set small, achievable goals like walking every day or spending an hour talking to someone about your feelings. Sleep, diet and social interaction are all important factors that nurture good mental health.
If you observe a relative experiencing paranoid thoughts, be careful about how you approach them. Try to avoid the "finger pointing" approach and show that you understand them, increasing the likelihood that they will accept your help.
However, it can be difficult to avoid paranoid thoughts about ourselves or others. In a paranoid state, someone is not capable of reasoning or looking for evidence. The best approach is to work on changing the circumstances that put that person in a paranoid state. Of course, we cannot eradicate the pandemic as if by magic, but we can work to create distance between influences that seem to exacerbate paranoia.
In the long run, we can work on "regulating the socio-economic conditions that led to psychological vulnerability in the first place - which may include economic, racial and gender inequality."
If the paranoia reaches a level where you think you or a relative may be a danger to themselves or others, seek professional help immediately.
Source: CNN
