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How can I stop being paranoid?

147 Answers
Last Updated: 07/05/2020 at 5:41pm
★ This question about Anxiety was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Brenda King, PsyD

Psychologist

I treat life changes, women’s issues, and issues of aging using evidence-based treatments with healthy doses of warmth, empathy and humor to enhance healing and growth.

Top Rated Answers
Shortie
December 6th, 2015 9:28pm
Try to think rationally, question yourself. Is this a rational thought? Is it a useful thought? I could be doing something else right now, you can try and distract yourself from these thoughts. From drawing or watching a series. Anything you like!
Anonymous
December 12th, 2015 4:00am
I find that the best way to stop being paranoid is to distract myself until those feelings go away. I would do things such as draw, play the piano, listen to calming music or go on a relaxing walk. Do anything that you love and will take your mind off of things. If they still won't go away, try an activity that will require you to use your brain, so that you can focus on what you are doing instead of your thoughts.
veronicahaunani
December 13th, 2015 3:33am
Stop using any labels towards yourself that are harsh or pejorative. You do not have to claim the label of paranoia if you do not want to. Fear is natural and healthy. Feeling uncomfortable around certain situations or people is a totally acceptable reaction. We can stop paranoia through loving processing of fear.
iouty
December 16th, 2015 1:04pm
Cognitive behavioural therapy has been said to be benneficial to paranoia. Having a couple good friends who understand your condition can be very helpful too.
bootsfromkor
December 16th, 2015 4:43pm
i have been in this situation before, i have felt as if everyone is out to get me. i know how it feels and it really added onto my other issues. i consulted a clinic and got an amazing person i could talk to who taught me ways on how to calm myself down. it was the best thing i could of done, and it paid off.
Jake0952838
December 18th, 2015 1:23am
Paranoia cannot be stopped to my knowledge. Therapy may make it fade a little, but it will never go away.
Anonymous
December 18th, 2015 4:55am
Found out the cause of what is making you feel this way and then work with trained professionals to eliminate these feelings.
ImaginativeBond
December 20th, 2015 12:57pm
A pallet, for example, is warm and soft. Feeling at ease by being vunerable is the sole to security.
Anonymous
December 23rd, 2015 7:27am
I like to ask myself, the pros and cons of paranoia. I try to recognize what I am trying to protect myself from. Then, I consider whether that protection is worth the cost of paranoia.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2015 7:16pm
Try talking to someone to understand your feelings and figure out why you're paranoid then you can dustract yourself from these feelings in order to be happy.
StormyAngles18
December 25th, 2015 8:30pm
If you are feeling paranoid there are somethings you can do to help. 1) Write down triggers for your paranoia and why they may be causing you to be so paranoid 2)talk to a counlor or a close family member and see if they can help by researchings booklets and such for advise
windysmile
December 26th, 2015 3:00pm
You coul try to think you are not a mind reader: you'll never know what is in people's thoughts and often you are more worried about yourself than the other people, whos as you, are worried about themselves. Also you could have present your imagination can make you tricks, even more if you have a poor esteem, and the most of ideas you have are only ... Yours. Maybe you could try to see situations from the outside: like you were recording or filming the scene in wich you are, and then think how this really look, how this really is, judging if there is a truly reason to think you are being judging or in the center of the world or really in trouble, or is all in your mind. Expose yourself to your fears is sometimes the best way you can recognize there's is not so terrible as you thought, and with every little expose you'll feel stronger and free.
CaringJoy
December 27th, 2015 10:04pm
By facing our fears, coming to terms and confronting those things that are making us paranoid we can eventually cope and overcome them.
calmLove29
December 27th, 2015 11:56pm
have faith that everything will work out. not always how you want it to. but how its meant to
Anonymous
December 30th, 2015 6:33pm
Ask yourself some simple questions, use logic like "why is this something I'm so worried about" "how could this possibly go wrong" and then maybe you will calm down.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 12:53am
Take a step back, hypothetically of course, and think about the situation you are in. Try and find something to root yourself back into the present, and think about calming things, in the past this is something that has helped me a lot.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 7:09am
Keep yourself grounded, I know this world is very scary but keep saying things around you and use the grounding technique.
yechuri95
January 1st, 2016 6:12pm
By trusting your present and learning to be in it.trying to learn how to trust is a really good kinda answer
Anonymous
January 2nd, 2016 6:26am
Just take. A step back from what your doing and take a couple deep breaths go to a place you feel comfortable and sit down and relax
igetcha
January 6th, 2016 12:14am
Something unconventional that works for me. I think of something as ridiculous & unlikely as whatever I'm worried about but something that's obviously ridiculous. It makes the 1st thing feel a lot more ridiculous too.
Anonymous
January 6th, 2016 6:53pm
It depends on what you are paranoid about. Say it's something you had in a dream. If it involves someone you know, try to talk to them about what happened and how you feel.
Anonymous
January 6th, 2016 7:28pm
Paranoia comes from within, and I beleive it has a lot to do with self confidence. You should try loving yourself a little more, and not listening to what people say around you too much. People have opinions, and remember they are opinions and not facts.
tjb28
January 6th, 2016 8:03pm
Have you spoken to anyone else about the way you feel >think of the reason why you have this feeling,Have you had somthing bad happen lately?
Izzyschlesi
January 7th, 2016 2:27am
as ive gone through my life i have learnt that what is gonna happen is going to happen no matter what so you dont get anything by being paranoid just enjoy life to the fullest :)
caringrose23
January 7th, 2016 4:10pm
You can have more trust in people. Your friends, your family, even strangers. But that doesn't mean run off into the sunset with the first person you meet. Just try to be kind, like giving someone a compliment, make them feel better. Eventually it will come back to you.
comfortingLioness25
January 13th, 2016 4:44pm
It is important to overcome negative thoughts and overthinking and to confide in a person you trust.
ParisHereToHelp
July 30th, 2018 4:37pm
You can prevent feeling paranoid, by distracting yourself with activities that interest you and you have a true passion for. If you are feeling paranoid, it must be really difficult. You can ease yourself out of being paranoid, first bt recognising what is happening. If you ever doubt something or begin to overthink, immediately relate the recognition of this feeling to the word paranoid, before you have a chance to think further. If you continue to be paranoid, ask yourself different questions that don't relate to the topic that is making you paranoid and try to shift your focus away by changing conversation or topic.