Paranoid Personality Disorder also called PPD is a mental condition whereby the person suffering from it has a complete distrust of people around him. Such people are always suspicious of other people’s motive and always believe that others are planning to cause them some harm. Because of this distrust towards others they usually do not have many friends and these results in more pessimism in them. They are very difficult to live with as they are very quick in challenging loyalties and often shift blame on others. They bear grudges against people for a very long time and are very unforgiving.
There are a lot of symptoms which are characteristic of people with this disorder. However, those who exhibit any four of the symptoms listed below are diagnosed as suffering from PPD.
Distrustful – A person is unjustifiably distrustful of others, he/she doesn’t trust even his closest relations or friends and often challenges their loyalties.
He/she thinks that they have some malicious plans against him or her. He/she always feels that others are exploiting him/her and they mean to harm him/her all the time.
All the time keeps reading hidden debasing meanings of all conversations. Trying to extract negative or harmful intent out of all conversations which might just be casual remarks.
Perceives all conversations or casual personal remarks as challenge to his/her character and immediately retaliates by angry reactions. A normal person might just brush such remarks aside and may not even notice them. They also have negligible sense of humor.
Because of the distrustful character, the person does not divulge any information to others on fear that they would use it against him/her.
Unreasonably suspicious of relatives’ and friends’ loyalties. He/she always thinks that he/she will be stabbed from behind by them.
Indefatigably bear a grudge against people he/she thinks have been unfaithful and never forgives them.
Unjustified recurring suspicion regarding fidelity of one’s spouse.
These people usually lead a very lonely life as they keep aloof and are indifferent. Treating them is a very difficult task because of their inherent distrust of others. There are various theories regarding causes of this disorder. Some feel it is genetically passed on. Others feel this is learned from the environment. Usually unhealthy childhood environment or exposure to adult aggression by children can cause this problem in them when they grow into adults. They use this characteristic as a self defense mechanism and it later becomes their personality trait.
