What does paranoia mean? What are the symptoms of paranoia

Paranoia is a mental disorder characterized by long-term, irrational suspicion and paranoid ideation, mainly manifested as extreme distrust and excessive defense of others' motives. The typical symptoms of paranoia include delusions of persecution, delusions of relationships, delusions of jealousy, delusions of litigation, delusions of exaggeration, etc.

1. Patients with paranoid delusions

firmly believe that they are being persecuted or plotted against by others, and even without objective evidence, they persist in this belief. Common manifestations include suspicion of being tracked, monitored, poisoned, or defamed, which may be accompanied by repeated reporting to the police, changing residence, and other behaviors. These delusions often lead to patients being isolated from society, seriously affecting their normal life.

2. Relationship delusion

Patients subjectively associate unrelated events in the environment with themselves, such as believing that TV program content is hinting at them or that conversations with passersby are discussing themselves. This symptom often leads to patients interpreting others' words and actions excessively, and even developing aggressive defensive behaviors.

3. Jealousy delusions [SEP]: Patients who suspect their partners of infidelity without reason may exhibit symptoms such as repeatedly checking their partner's communication records, tracking and monitoring, or developing pathological interpretations of normal social interactions. This kind of delusion often leads to the breakdown of intimate relationships, and patients usually refuse to accept any rebuttal evidence.

4. Litigation delusions

Patients persist in being treated unfairly for a long time and repeatedly appeal or complain through legal channels. Common manifestations include constantly writing letters to government departments, frequently changing lawyers, and collecting a large amount of evidence materials that are considered advantageous but have no substantive significance.

5. Exaggerated delusions

Patients may firmly believe that they possess special talents, identities, or missions, such as believing that they are descendants of important historical figures or tasked with saving the world. These delusions may be accompanied by abnormal behaviors such as squandering money and taking risks. Paranoia patients often lack self-awareness and refuse to admit their illness, which poses significant challenges to treatment. It is recommended that family members maintain patient communication and avoid directly denying the patient's delusional content. They can try to guide them to pay attention to real life. Daily attention should be paid to creating a stable and safe environment for patients and reducing situational stimuli that may trigger delusions. If the symptoms seriously affect social function, it is necessary to seek professional help from a psychiatrist in a timely manner and improve the symptoms through a combination of medication and psychological therapy. Regular sleep, moderate exercise, and social support can also help alleviate the progression of the disease.