Wednesday, December 10, 2008

How to Tell If Your Loved One Has Paranoid Personality Disorder

If you are in the position of being close to a person with Paranoid Personality Disorder, trying to understand his/her obnoxious and oftentimes repulsive behavior can be really challenging. Because of their self-centeredness, they are not liable to put themselves in other people's shoes. They have a one-track and one-sided mind that allows them to see and consider only their own point of view. It is this kind of attitude that makes others avoid them.

You might think that they are aware of what they are doing. But the truth is, because it is a disorder, they are oblivious to it. Pathetically, they are helpless to deal with their situation. It comes naturally to them. Being burdened with Paranoid Personality Disorder, makes them very suspicious to the point that they become self-centered and distrustful of almost everyone including their own loved ones. This condition is more common among men than in women, and it usually manifests itself during early adulthood. Thus, this period could be considered as akin to the age of anxiety for them. For you to tell if your loved one could be struck by Paranoid Personality Disorder, read on. Recognizing the symptoms early will allow a sufferer to seek help as soon as possible, giving him/her tools to cope with this distressing condition.

Ever Suspicious

A person with Paranoid Personality Disorder is unable to trust anyone. They are always on the defensive, feeling as if they are surrounded and overwhelmed by threats everywhere they go. To confirm their suspicions, they are always in search of proof, and whether or not this could be seen as one, they would only adhere to what they want to think and believe. They cannot shake off their fears regardless of evidence to disprove it. For married sufferers, this fear could develop into a senseless jealousy.

Overly Sensitive

Since people with Paranoid Personality Disorder are always on their guard, expect them to be too sensitive about things for fear of potential harm on their part. This makes them very defensive and belligerent. Even if they are the ones to blame, they could never ever accept that they are at fault. They would always react in this manner whether the flak hurled at them is big or small. On the contrary, they are overly critical of other people, and has a strong inclination to blow matters out of proportion.

Distant and Unemotional

Aside from being belligerent and staunch, sufferers are emotionally detached and distant from other people especially their loved ones. They shy away from any form of intimacy and are prone to putting up a cold, aloof front. Even if their point of view hardly makes sense, they still see themselves as correct because they uphold themselves to be logical and objective-minded individuals. Their naturally cold nature keeps them from admitting that they are in need of help. More often than not, these people are just regarded as eccentric personalities. The tendency for those who live with them is just to broaden their understanding and tolerate their annoying tendencies.



Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

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