Is paranioia contagious?

Question

My best friend has been having paranoid delusions and I have been trying to give her advice. But sometimes I start felling the same way she does so I step back and tell myself to stop and be rational. But how do I tell her it is all in her head? She thinks everyone is hiding information from her.

Answer 1

It is arguable that to a degree, yes, it is contangious.

In literal terms, no. It's not an infectious disease that can be contracted through contact. However, if you are a very empathic personality type, you can most certainly 'tune in' to someone else's feelings and take them on as your own. It's why people like being around happy people.... because it's 'infectious.' It's why we avoid being around people that are constantly glum... Because they 'bring us down.' Mass-Hysteria is a group of people sharing a paranoid, hysterical experience.

If you are going to try and counsel your friend, make sure you have your shields up so to speak, and completely, emotionally detach yourself and observe as if through a microscope and offer your observations. But most of us can't do that very easily, and that's why people spend years studying medicine to develop the tools and develop trusting relationships with patients without actually becoming emotionally committed to them. Perhaps your friend is best off getting this sort of help, or more importantly perhaps you are best off if you are affected by her emotional state to that degree.

Answer 2

Contagious no, they can con you into thinking the same they can give you doubts about things you are normally secure about but no it is not something you will contract when they sneeze all over your face, something else thats a lot more creepy than paranoia yes but not paranoia it's self.
Everyone has their own insecurities and when we question things we may be insecure about we may begin to feel a little uneasy.
Paranoia is an impairment in the brain where it is sending false messages causing the person to become very paranoid about situations they should not normally be. This is possibly due to a chemical imbalance or another reason all we know is the brain is not sending the messages it should.
Paranoia is a more constant thing, she is worrying you you are not paranoid. Everyone gets worried, think of when we watch scary movies and afterwards everyone feels a little on edge and scared of society but it soon clears up, she is merely playing on your insecurities but no you are not paranoid.
You will get over it, she on the other hand needs medication.

Answer 3

First: Paranoia is not contagious.

Next... if you start feeling anxious and worried... paranoid? Then it's possible you're getting wrapped up in the situation. It is okay to step back from the situation a bit if you're feeling overwhelmed.

Last: Arguing with someone about their delusion is a battle not worth pursuing. As a delusion is a false belief, it involves the thought process - it can just exacerbate or make a situation worse.

All you can do is acknowledge the feelings (empathize) she/he is having, without supporting what she is saying... ie... "Sounds like you are afraid... "

I found an excellent link that explained about delusions and how to work with them... hope it helps.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Well, what is rational ?
We cant have everyone being gullible and sheeplike can we?
The world would not be as crazy and unpredictable.

If she has not been diagnosed as having a paranoid delusional disorder, then you cannot label her as such.
What is your basis of referring to her suspicions as delusional?

The older generation was full of what you may called paranoid citizens. People had gone through the war, starting new lives, suspicious of neighbors, encouraged to spy on neighbors for unusual behavior etc.

Their children have been raised in relatively safer environments, war free, and too naive that it is scary.

Keep a healthy degree of paranoia around you, it is part of self preservation. If her symptons are getting bad, see a doctor.

Answer 5

No, it's not contagious. You are only giving in to her delusions