Certain individuals truly believe that the world is out to get them, constantly suspecting that others are harming, deceiving, or exploiting them. Without any sufficient basis they hold suspicion towards family, friends, a store cashier, or even a stranger. They are reluctant to confide in others and often bear undue grudges over long periods of time. Due to a relentless sense of persecution, their behavior is hypervigilant and they often appear cold, distant, and controlling. This sort of profile has often been depicted in movies (i.e. Mel Gibson’s role in “Conspiracy Theory”) with someone constantly looking over their shoulder, reading into meaningless events, refusing to let go, and anger/retaliation when slighted. These characteristics are unfortunately not only a media portrayal, but are real symptoms that individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) experience on a daily basis. Roughly 3% of the American population has PPD and it can be a chronic condition. A recent article provides a detailed understanding of PPD and how you might deal with someone who is facing it. To read the full article click here.
