How To Stop Being Paranoid In The Face Of So Much Emotional Manipulation?
It’s impossible to ignore the media that feeds paranoia. Heightened anxieties over terrorism and immigration reform have reopened racial and religious wounds and created tension between opposing views. Political parties and ideologies are deeply split, with accusations on all sides of every issue and screams of corruption.
The media has always been used to sway opinions through exciting the emotions. The greatest difference is that instant global communications has enabled an extremely diverse media with diverse opinions. The conspiracy theories, the organized movements, the real and imagined activities of the rich and famous are more in your face.
Don’t let the media wars push your buttons. Take a hiatus from them now and then so you can sort out the emotional language from your own belief system and understand the facts. Keep in mind it’s the objective of the media to sway you, but that persuasion shouldn’t play on your fears.
Baseline Definition
If you’re actively seeking help, you probably don’t have a paranoid personality disorder, just a lot of confusion over current events and their relationship to you. A paranoid person will not view his or her behavior as abnormal and will probably not look for help. In fact, there will probably be an underlying suspicion of counselors.
If you do feel heightened anxiety, and are having a hard time putting it aside, talk to someone about it before it begins affecting your daily life. People with developing anxiety disorders often feel “something isn’t right” or that they are in constant danger. It can be debilitating in your ability to associate with others and to your general happiness and well-being. You can always get help by qualified professionals who care. BetterHelp.com is always standing by to help you find peace.
Reality-Checking
One of the techniques you might learn in therapy is how to check the reality of your suspicions. While there are many things you can’t check, this technique can come in handy in other circumstances. Taking a rational approach to your fears can help you feel more in control of your life. Yet, it can be hard to know what’s reasonable when you’re overwhelmed with anxiety. A counselor can help you assess your suspicions to make an educated guess about whether you have anything to be concerned about. Don’t worry! Your therapist will listen to you and assess your thoughts fairly. Then, they’ll guide you to a better understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Reducing Anxiety
Taking steps to reduce your anxiety can make you feel better almost immediately. It can also cut down on the time you spend worrying about your suspicions. Some of the techniques your counselor might teach you are mindfulness, meditation, guided imagery, and belly breathing. You’ll discover that you can find more peace when you practice letting your suspicions float out of your mind as quickly as they came in.
If you’re concerned that ignoring your fears will make you more vulnerable, you can put them off with a promise to yourself to get back to them later. What you might find is that they don’t return immediately. In fact, the more you practice this technique, the sooner you might find them not returning at all.
