This word derives from two clearly demarcated Greek words. On the one hand, there would be the prefix ¨para¨, which can be translated as ¨out¨, and on the other hand we find the term nous, which acts as a synonym for mind.
The concept is used in psychiatry to name the state of mental health that is characterized by the existence of self-referring delusions.
Paranoia can become a chronic disorder, with oscillating levels of intensity. The egomaniacal, narcissistic subjects with low self-esteem are the main affected by this disorder.
Among its causes, the appearance of delusional disorder or paranoia is associated with egomaniacal people, with markedly narcissistic behaviors, who have faced situations of great frustration. Other common traits that have been observed in individuals suffering from paranoia are low self-esteem, emotional coldness, inflexibility, authoritarianism and distrust, with a propensity to resentment and depression.
Among the types of paranoia or delusional disorders according to the object of the delusions we have:
- Megalomaniacal paranoia: the individual believes he has superior talents or powers, is related to divine beings or famous or powerful people, and is in the world because he was entrusted with a high mission.
- Celotypic paranoia: the individual has a recurring suspicion that his partner is unfaithful to him.
- Persecutory delusion paranoia: the individual is obsessed with the idea that he is being persecuted, spied on, watched, and that the people around him participate in a plot against him.
- Somatic type paranoia: the individual believes that he or she suffers from a disease or has a physical defect or problem.
Some characteristics or Traits of a paranoid person we find:
- The more or less exaggerated distrust has a range between normal and pathological. We all have a certain degree without affecting sanity.
- Presence of delusions that will not necessarily sound out of touch with reality; in fact, the conjectures of the paranoid make them look so real that they may seem true.
- Hostility in the environment.
- Resentment. At the slightest sign of contempt, hostility arises from his low self-esteem.
- Rigidity and authoritarianism.
- Do not tolerate being contradicted.
- Difficulty in self-criticism.
- Emotional coldness.
- Egocentrism.
- Interpersonal problems.
- Depressive chapters (That when diminishing the paranoid ideas increase and vice versa).
- The need for an opponent.
- Two different behaviors depending on who you are with.
