paranoia
They're watching me
Paranoia is excessive, irrational suspicion that others intend harm or are conspiring against you.
In clinical contexts, it describes a symptom of mental disorders involving persistent delusions of persecution.
More loosely, paranoia is heightened distrust or anxiety about threats: His paranoia about identity theft made him shred every receipt.
The adjective is paranoid.
Firmly held false beliefs
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- delusionalHolding false beliefs firmly
- psychoticSuffering reality-detachment
antipsychotics · thought disorder · persecutory · grandiosity · disorganized · schizoaffective · breakdown · institutionalization
Heightened threat sensitivity
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
tension · restlessness · edginess · disquiet · agitation · worry · jitters · trembling
Lack of faith
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
vigilance · scrutiny · guardedness · watchfulness · questioning · leery · cynicism · disbelief
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- Big BrotherTotalitarian surveillance authority
- IlluminatiAlleged secret elite
espionage · propaganda · whistleblower · leaks · CIA · FBI · NSA · Watergate
Persecution of supposed subversives
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- targetingSelecting as objective
- McCarthyismPolitically-motivated accusation without evidence
Inquisition · blacklisting · red-baiting · HUAC · fearmongering · denouncing · labeling · ostracism
Persistent mental attachment
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- overthinkingDwelling excessively on thoughts
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
- dwellingPlace of residence
intrusive thoughts · hyperfocus · catastrophizing · spiraling · worst-case scenario
Fear of public spaces
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
- social phobiaFear of being watched
- irrational fearAnxiety lacking rational basis
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
delusions
Firmly held false beliefs
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- delusionalHolding false beliefs firmly
psychotic · antipsychotics · thought disorder · persecutory · grandiosity · disorganized · schizoaffective · breakdown · institutionalization · psychiatric
hypervigilance
Heightened threat sensitivity
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
apprehension · tension · restlessness · edginess · disquiet · agitation · worry · jitters · trembling · sweating
mistrust
Lack of faith
skepticism · vigilance · scrutiny · guardedness · watchfulness · questioning · leery · cynicism · disbelief · circumspection
cover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- Big BrotherTotalitarian surveillance authority
Illuminati · espionage · propaganda · whistleblower · leaks · CIA · FBI · NSA · Watergate · Area 51
witch-hunt
Persecution of supposed subversives
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- targetingSelecting as objective
McCarthyism · Inquisition · blacklisting · red-baiting · HUAC · fearmongering · denouncing · labeling · ostracism · enemies list
fixation
Persistent mental attachment
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- overthinkingDwelling excessively on thoughts
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
dwelling · intrusive thoughts · hyperfocus · catastrophizing · spiraling · worst-case scenario
agoraphobia
Fear of public spaces
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
- social phobiaFear of being watched
- irrational fearAnxiety lacking rational basis
avoidance · isolation · housebound · public spaces · crowds
- thriller tropesplot twist, red herring, cliffhanger, whodunit, femme fatale
- suspiciondistrust, suspicion, mistrust, suspiciousness, doubt
- fearmongeringscaremongering, fearmongering, scare tactics, fear tactics, alarmism
- Literary Madnessmadness, insanity, hysteria, melancholia, psychosis
- Psychiatric Symptomshallucinations, delusions, psychosis, flat affect, catatonia
- delusionsdelusions of grandeur, grandeur, erotomania, persecution complex, grandiosity
paranoiatrust
Confidence in another
trustfulness · peace of mind · confidence · faith · security
paranoiamental health
Emotional and cognitive well-being
groundedness · rationality · sanity · clear-headedness · sound judgment
paranoiarecklessness
Careless disregard for danger
carelessness · naivety · obliviousness · incaution · heedlessness
- paranoid schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- paranoid thrillerSuspense genre featuring distrust
- paranoid androidMachine with persecution complex