Explains paranoia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.
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No one knows exactly what causes paranoia. There are lots of theories and different people will have different explanations for their own experiences. It's likely to be a combination of things.
Researchers have identified some general risk factors – these are things that could make paranoid thoughts more likely:
There are lots of more specific things that may play a role in causing paranoid thoughts. Sometimes this could be because they make you more likely to experience the risk factors above. These are some examples of things that may contribute to paranoid thoughts:
"I thought everyone was whispering behind my back and saying I was a bad mum."
This information was published in July 2020. We will revise it in 2023.
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