Understanding Paranoia in Bipolar Disorder

Understanding Paranoia in Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Mania and Hypomania Print Paranoia as a Symptom in Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 08, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 13, 2020 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights PeopleImages.com/Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Clinical Paranoia Paranoia in Bipolar Disorder Getting Help View All Paranoia can be a symptom of bipolar disorder. It also frequently occurs in other mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia. Paranoias definition can range from describing a relatively mild feeling of discomfort to an intense, extremely distressing pattern of thinking that indicates a persons mental wellbeing is at serious risk.?? You might say you feel paranoid if you are nervous or uneasy about a situation or person. many people occasionally have a passing suspicion that a specific person seems out to get them and when casually conversing, may use the term paranoid to describe these concerns. However, for people with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, the experience of paranoia can be persistent, extremely unpleasant, and even dangerous. Paranoid delusions can also be a sign of bipolar psychosis. Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder doesnt mean you will definitely experience paranoia, but its still important to know the signs as well as what to do if you experience delusional thinking.?? Clinical Paranoia A psychiatrist would use a clinical diagnosis of paranoia to describe a disordered way of thinking or an anxious state that can lead to a delusion.?? For example, a person who believes the FBI is tracking them through the fillings in his or her teeth is exhibiting clinically paranoid behavior. True paranoia is characterized by unreasonable and/or exaggerated mistrust and suspicion of others. These feelings are not based in fact and may progress to persecutory delusions; strong beliefs that are untrue, unreal, or unlikely. Paranoia is a symptom that can be part of a number of conditions, including:?? StrokeEpilepsyDementiaSchizophreniaBipolar disorderDelusional disorderBrain diseases or tumorsParanoid personality disorderCertain prescription medicationsBrain toxicity caused by drug and alcohol use or certain poisonsInfections that can affect the brain such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Paranoia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment While the symptoms have some crossover and may coexist, paranoid ideation in borderline personality disorder is not the same as paranoid delusions.?? A person experiencing paranoid ideation feels that others intend to harass or persecute them. Delusion paranoia is rooted in false beliefs with no basis in reality as opposed to perceptions of harassment. Paranoia in Bipolar Disorder If you have bipolar disorder, you may experience clinical paranoia during a manic episode.?? It can also be a sign of psychosis, a condition in which you lose contact with reality.?? Youre more likely to experience bipolar psychosis if your episodes of depression and mania are severe. Psychosis is relatively rare, affecting approximately 3% of the U.S. population.?? Aside from bipolar disorder, it also occurs in other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. Symptoms of psychosis can include: Disorganized speech and thought patternsDelusions (false/paranoid beliefs about situations or people)Hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or feeling things that arent real)Disordered thinking (thoughts jumping between unrelated topics). The exact cause of paranoia isnt clear. Research has suggested that for someone with mental illness who is predisposed to paranoia and ideas or delusions of reference, certain triggers in their life or environment could play a role in the onset of these symptoms.?? Delusions and Hallucinations in Bipolar Psychosis Potential paranoia triggers include:?? InsomniaSocial isolationStarting, stopping, or switching medicationsUsing and/or withdrawing from substances including alcohol and illicit drugsExposure to certain types of poisons and chemicals (pesticides, gasoline, paint)Stress, trauma, or a major life change (such as losing a job, the sudden death of a loved one, being the victim of a crime, or having a major health crisis)Certain medical conditions that affect the brain such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, and Huntingtons diseaseHaving a genetic predisposition for paranoia, a family history of mental illness, or experiencing trauma and/or abuse in childhood or young adulthood Older adults may also be more likely to experience delusional or paranoid thinking as a result of age-related changes to hearing, sight, and other senses. For example, research has shown that older adults may experience paranoia after losing their hearing.?? Examples of Paranoid Thoughts Paranoia manifests differently for everyone, but common themes include:You think someone might steal from, hurt, or kill you.You feel like everyone is staring at you and/or talking about you.You think people are deliberately trying to exclude you or make you feel bad.You believe the government, an organization, or an individual is spying on or following you.You interpret certain facial gestures among others (strangers or friends) as some sort of inside joke thats all about you.You think people are laughing at you or whispering about you behind your back (can be accompanied by hallucinations). Getting Help If youre experiencing paranoia, its crucial that you discuss these feelings with your  doctor or psychiatrist. If youve already been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or another mental health condition, delusional thinking and other symptoms related to paranoia may be a sign that your mental health needs to be managed in a different way. If your symptoms are getting worse or not responding to treatment, it could indicate that an episode of psychosis is imminent. Its important that you let your mental health care team know if you are having these symptoms so they can help keep you safe and ensure you get the right kind of treatment. Not only are symptoms of paranoia distressing, but they can seriously disrupt your activities at home, work, or school as well as negatively impact your social life and relationships. Finding the most effective means to manage your symptoms may take time, but dont lose hope. There are resources and support that can help you learn to better cope with paranoid thinking and other aspects of living with bipolar disorder or another mental illness.?? The Best Online Therapy Programs