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Paranoia

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

Why do I experience paranoia? 

No one knows exactly what causes paranoia. There are lots of theories and different people will have different explanations for their own experiences. It’s likely to be a combination of things. 

Researchers have identified some general risk factors – these are things that could make paranoid thoughts more likely:

  • Having confusing or unsettling experiences or feelings that you can’t easily explain. 
  • The way you feel – if you are anxious or worried a lot or have low self-esteem and expect others to criticise or reject you. 
  • The way you think – if you tend to come to conclusions quickly, believe things very strongly and don’t easily change your mind. 
  • If you are isolated. 
  • If you have experienced trauma in the past.

There are lots of more specific things that may play a role in causing paranoid thoughts. Sometimes this could be because they make you more likely to experience the risk factors above. These are some examples of things that may contribute to paranoid thoughts:

  • Life experiences. You are more likely to experience paranoid thoughts when you are in vulnerable, isolated or stressful situations that could lead to you feeling negative about yourself. If you are bullied at work, or your home is burgled, this could give you suspicious thoughts which could develop into paranoia. 
  • Experiences in your childhood may lead you to believe that the world is unsafe or make you mistrustful and suspicious of others. These experiences may also affect your self-esteem and the way you think as an adult. For example, this could include being abused by someone in your family, or being bullied at school. 
  • External environment. Some research has suggested that paranoid thoughts are more common if you live in an urban environment or community where you feel isolated from the people around you rather than connected to them. Media reports of crime, terrorism and violence may also play a role in triggering paranoid feelings.
  • Mental health. If you experience anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, you may be more likely to experience paranoid thoughts – or be more upset by them. This may be because you are more on edge, worry a lot or are more likely to interpret things in a negative way. Paranoia is a symptom of some mental health problems. Many people experience paranoid delusions as part of an episode of psychosis.
  • Physical illness. Paranoia is sometimes a symptom of certain physical illnesses such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Hearing loss can also trigger paranoid thoughts in some people. 
  • Lack of sleep. Lack of sleep can trigger feelings of insecurity and even unsettling feelings and hallucinations. Fears and worries may develop late at night. 
  • The effects of recreational drugs and alcohol. Some types of recreational drugs may trigger paranoia, such as cocaine, cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines. This may happen particularly if you’re already feeling low, anxious or experiencing other mental health problems. However, researchers still aren’t sure whether recreational drugs directly cause paranoia, or if people who experience paranoia are also more likely to use recreational drugs. Certain steroids taken by athletes, and some insecticides, fuel and paint, have also been associated with paranoia. Drinking alcohol and smoking may also stop medication from effectively treating your symptoms. See our pages on recreational drugs and alcohol for more information. 
  • Genetics. Research has suggested that genes may affect whether you are more likely to develop paranoia – but we don’t know exactly which ones.

Postnatal psychosis and me

 “I thought everyone was whispering behind my back and saying I was a bad mum.”

What is the relationship between paranoia and anxiety? 

The relationship between paranoia and anxiety is complicated. A paranoid thought could be described as a particular type of anxious thought. Both are to do with reacting to the possibility of some kind of threat. 

Anxiety can be a cause of paranoia. Research suggests that it can affect what you are paranoid about, how long it lasts and how distressed it makes you feel. Paranoid thoughts can also make you feel anxious.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Why do I experience paranoia?

Why do I experience paranoia? 

No one knows exactly what causes paranoia. There are lots of theories and different people will have different explanations for their own experiences. It's likely to be a combination of things. 

Researchers have identified some general risk factors – these are things that could make paranoid thoughts more likely:

  • Having confusing or unsettling experiences or feelings that you can't easily explain. 
  • The way you feel – if you are anxious or worried a lot or have low self-esteem and expect others to criticise or reject you. 
  • The way you think – if you tend to come to conclusions quickly, believe things very strongly and don't easily change your mind. 
  • If you are isolated. 
  • If you have experienced trauma in the past.

There are lots of more specific things that may play a role in causing paranoid thoughts. Sometimes this could be because they make you more likely to experience the risk factors above. These are some examples of things that may contribute to paranoid thoughts:

  • Life experiences. You are more likely to experience paranoid thoughts when you are in vulnerable, isolated or stressful situations that could lead to you feeling negative about yourself. If you are bullied at work, or your home is burgled, this could give you suspicious thoughts which could develop into paranoia. 
  • Experiences in your childhood may lead you to believe that the world is unsafe or make you mistrustful and suspicious of others. These experiences may also affect your self-esteem and the way you think as an adult. For example, this could include being abused by someone in your family, or being bullied at school. 
  • External environment. Some research has suggested that paranoid thoughts are more common if you live in an urban environment or community where you feel isolated from the people around you rather than connected to them. Media reports of crime, terrorism and violence may also play a role in triggering paranoid feelings.
  • Mental health. If you experience anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, you may be more likely to experience paranoid thoughts – or be more upset by them. This may be because you are more on edge, worry a lot or are more likely to interpret things in a negative way. Paranoia is a symptom of some mental health problems. Many people experience paranoid delusions as part of an episode of psychosis.
  • Physical illness. Paranoia is sometimes a symptom of certain physical illnesses such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Hearing loss can also trigger paranoid thoughts in some people. 
  • Lack of sleep. Lack of sleep can trigger feelings of insecurity and even unsettling feelings and hallucinations. Fears and worries may develop late at night. 
  • The effects of recreational drugs and alcohol. Some types of recreational drugs may trigger paranoia, such as cocaine, cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines. This may happen particularly if you're already feeling low, anxious or experiencing other mental health problems. However, researchers still aren't sure whether recreational drugs directly cause paranoia, or if people who experience paranoia are also more likely to use recreational drugs. Certain steroids taken by athletes, and some insecticides, fuel and paint, have also been associated with paranoia. Drinking alcohol and smoking may also stop medication from effectively treating your symptoms. See our pages on recreational drugs and alcohol for more information. 
  • Genetics. Research has suggested that genes may affect whether you are more likely to develop paranoia – but we don't know exactly which ones.

Postnatal psychosis and me

 "I thought everyone was whispering behind my back and saying I was a bad mum."

What is the relationship between paranoia and anxiety? 

The relationship between paranoia and anxiety is complicated. A paranoid thought could be described as a particular type of anxious thought. Both are to do with reacting to the possibility of some kind of threat. 

Anxiety can be a cause of paranoia. Research suggests that it can affect what you are paranoid about, how long it lasts and how distressed it makes you feel. Paranoid thoughts can also make you feel anxious.