The transient meaing temporary, and the stress related, well, in times of stress!, and the next bit is 2 parts - Paranoid ideation & Dissociative symptoms.

 

So, when under stress, and for short periods of time, we may either:

 

Feel that others are picking on us or are trying to cause us harm

or

Have a feeling that people or things are "unreal"or experiencing episodes of feeling "zoned out" or "numb" 

 

Some effects of dissociation may include:

 

 Being told by others that you have behaved out of character

 

 Feeling that a customary environment is unfamiliar

 

 A sense that what is happening is unreal

 

 A sense of detachment from your emotion

 

 Gaps in your memory

 

Dissacociation is often caused by anxiety/fear and is a coping/defense mechanisum to protect us from trauma/severe stress. 

 

Therapy for dissociation generally focuses on acknowledging and processing the painful emotions and focus on treating the underlying anxiety and depression that resulted from the trauma. 

 

 So what can be done to help? 

 

Although there are no medications that specifically treat dissociative disorders, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti anxiety medications or tranquilizers to help control the symptoms.

 

Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for dissociation. A therapist will work to help you understand the cause of your condition and to form new ways of coping with stressful circumstances.

 

"Grounding" is one skill that can be used to reduce dissociation. Grounding is a technique that helps keep someone in the present. It helps reorient a person to the here-and-now and in reality.

 

Here’s the Grounding 54321 “game” that you may want to try when you are feeling like you are losing touch. 

 

• Name 5 things you can see in the room with you.  

• Name 4 things you can feel (“chair on my back” or “feet on floor”)  

• Name 3 things you can hear right now (“fingers tapping on keyboard” or “tv”)  

• Name 2 things you can smell right now (or, 2 things you like the smell of)  

• Name 1 good thing about yourself

 

 

Paranoia usually involes suspicion about others' motives or intent.Paranoid thoughts often involve fear that something bad will happen and that others are responsible but it usually turns out that your belief is exaggerated or unfounded.

 

Some effects of paranoia may include:

 

Thoughts that people are bullying or spreading rumours about you.

 

Thinking that others are trying to physically injure you or even trying to kill you.

 

Suspitions that others are stealing from you, damaging your property or tricking you into giving away your money.

 

You might feel threatened by one person, a group of people, an organisation, an event or an object.

 

It can be quite challenging to get an individual who is suffering from paranoia to accept treatment. Their paranoid condition makes them distrustful of people's motivations towards them, so that even a medical doctor appears to be a suspicious party. Medications that may be offered are usually looked at with great distrust, and efforts at psychotherapy are considered "mind control" by a profoundly paranoid individual.

 

So what can be done to help?

 

Some people may benefit from the use of typical antipsychotic medications, such as chlorpromazine or haloperidol , or from the newer, atypical antipsychotic medications, such as clozapine , olanzapine , or risperidone .

 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or other forms of psychotherapy may be helpful for certain people who have paranoia. CBT attempts to make a person more aware of his or her actions and motivations, and tries to help the individual learn to more accurately interpret cues around him or her.

 

Mindfulness or meditation can help you relax when feeling stressed or worried.

 

Writing can be a great form of self help, keeping a diary of your thoughts, and what triggers the paranoid ones may help identify where these thoughts are coming from. Also rating the severity of the thoughts as well as the frequency will be helpful in finding out which are having the most detrimental effect on you.  

 

Write out a list - ‘evidence for the thought’  Vs ‘evidence against the thought’

 

 

Both of the symptoms we have looked at in this note are very complex and serious conditions and which need professional help in overcoming them, but I hope that I have given you some insight, ways to help and maybe even a little bit of hope.Hugs and coping skills to you all ~ Emma.