PARANOIA – (noun) - a mental condition characterized by
delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance,
typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic
personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as
schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality; suspicion and
mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification.
According to Wikipedia, “Paranoia is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by
anxiety or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid
thinking typically includes persecutory, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a
perceived threat towards oneself (e.g. "Everyone is out to get me").
Paranoia is distinct from phobias, which also involve irrational fear, but
usually no blame. Making false accusations and the general distrust of others
also frequently accompany paranoia. For example, an incident most people would
view as an accident or coincidence, a paranoid person might believe was intentional.”
Does this sound like someone you know? Does that person have
one finger on a red button that says “launch?” Does this person have access to
our nation’s closest held secrets?
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