Paranoia - What causes it?

DX'd - Sz/SzA
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Does anyone have any ideas on what causes paranoia? Has your doctor and/or therapist shared any information on this issue with you?

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I don’t really know. But I’ve done a lot of research and it could be because of increased levels of dopamine, I think? Not really sure.

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probably a psychological feeling of hostile environment.

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I was pretty much pooped on a lot as a child, foster home to foster home to children homes. I gained trust and attachment issues. I find my paranoia is centred around organisations especially my mental health support team and doctors.

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It is a form of psychosis. It is caused by increased levels of dopamine just like any other form of positive symptoms.

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Thanks all! Do people find that their levels of paranoia fluctuate a lot?

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Yes, mine did. When my pdoc put me on three AP’s, my paranoia disappeared.

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I’m happy to hear that! Awesome!

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Thanks, @Tomasina.

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They told me sometimes they can’t get rid of all symptoms

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Thanks for sharing this!!! :neutral_face:

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My pdoc told me that he was going to “get me well” when I was at my absolute worst. Too bad he’s retiring this week.

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from all types of delusions, paranoia is less common in me. I have many odd delusions, plus reference, grandeur, control etc but not much paranoia. I usually feel safe.

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I’m happy you usually feel safe; that’s so important. Paranoia is exhausting.

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The cause of paranoia can be due psychiatric illness, medical factors, or even high levels of stress. The theory behind the causes of schizophrenia are not, unfortunately, completely understood. It’s a brain disease which affects 1% of the population and can be hereditary. It is felt to have to do with an excess of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a part of the brain called the limbic system. The human brain is considered to be one the most complicated and mysterious structure known in the universe.

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Why do you all think that paranoia is a psychiatric problem related to some dopamine level or other things like that. Could it be rather a psychological problem? If you have some serious trauma in your childhood, is it possible that you build a mechanism to protect yourself from some inner pain? What if paranoia was such mechanism?

Maybe I’m wrong I’m just thinking…

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IMHO, paranoia could well have biological and/or psychological causes - idk

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Not sure, but it may have something to due with a person’s upbringing.

I have paranoia, and my father used to physically and emotionally abuse me on a daily basis when I was growing up. So I know it’s a delusion of persecution, but maybe more of a personality disorder for me.

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for me – massive delusions snowball into intense paranoia and hallucinations go with it are rediculously spot on… so i would say it is more of an effect than anything else…
not sure if that helps but …

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feels like it happens when i’m also mentally exhausted, the two go hand in hand