Reassuring a Loved One Diagnosed With Paranoid Personality Disorder

Key Takeaways:

• Paranoid Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterised by extreme and long-term distrust of others.
• Individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder might not feel the need to seek professional help.
• Focus on their feelings and reassure them without endorsing their fears.

Paranoid Personality Disorder is a mental health condition that is characterised by extreme and long-term distrust of others, without any specific reason. People with Paranoid Personality Disorder may be on edge and wary of others around them, believing that others want to harm or demean them in some way. As with most personality disorders, individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder might not feel the need to seek professional help, as they might think that their symptoms are not a sign of any condition. 

Living with Paranoid Personality Disorder can be challenging, not just for the individual, but also for their loved ones. A formal diagnosis can help individuals understand the need for professional treatment, but it is still crucial to reassure them. 

Also read: The Role of Therapy in Managing Personality Disorders

Understand how you can help your loved one

Individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder are not delusional, they do not make up their thoughts and beliefs. Rather, their extreme suspicion and wariness make them view the world differently. By addressing these mistaken beliefs, it is possible to help individuals cope with their unhealthy patterns of thought and behaviour.

Hence, when you want to help a loved one with Paranoid Personality Disorder, it is crucial to encourage their treatment. Psychological therapies, such as cognitive behaviour therapy, can help address mistaken beliefs and negative thoughts and help individuals understand the root cause of their behaviour.

When trying to reassure and support someone with Paranoid Personality Disorder, knowing what to do can be challenging thanks to their highly suspicious nature. But, it is possible to support them.

Learn more about Paranoid Personality Disorder

Before reassuring your loved one, it is vital to learn more about this mental health condition and how it may affect an individual. Understanding the signs, symptoms, and available treatment options, like cognitive behavioural therapy, can help you guide your loved one and be empathetic to their journey.

Also read: Building A Healthy Self-Esteem

Don't dismiss their fear

It can be tempting to dismiss your loved one's fears and suspicions as unfounded and untrue. However, these feelings are not unfounded to them. Thus, you need to learn how to reassure them without minimising or dismissing their feelings.

Focus on their feelings

When reassuring your loved one, it is important to focus on how they are feeling, even if you don't want to focus on the reason they are feeling this way. Acknowledging and talking about their feelings make them feel heard and can help reduce their distress. By focusing on their feelings, instead of why they are feeling this way, you can reassure them without endorsing their fears.

Be clear with your communication

One way to ensure that your loved one is less wary of you is to be clear when you communicate with them. Use simple language and express what you mean as clearly as possible. If they still misunderstand you, try to offer them an explanation without getting defensive.

Support them in seeking help

Individuals with personality disorders do not see anything wrong with their thoughts or behaviour. Hence, they do not seek professional help for their condition. Besides, the stigma around mental health conditions can also make them reluctant to seek help.

Although you cannot force someone to seek help for their mental health concerns, you can encourage and support them in their journey. Talk to them about effective treatment methods and reassure them that it is okay to seek help when needed.

Also read: 4 Communication Styles to Avoid In Your Relationships

Personality disorders can be challenging to deal with, especially when an individual does not want to seek help. However, it is important to remember that better mental health is a journey, and it may take longer for some people to accept help than others. Staying supportive of your loved one can go a long way in encouraging them to seek help.

Sources:

1. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/paranoia/for-friends-and-family/
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9784-paranoid-personality-disorder
3. https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/paranoid-personality-disorder-and-relationships-moving-past-fear-together/