paranoiacs
Always watching, worried
Paranoiacs are people suffering from paranoia—the irrational belief that others are persecuting or plotting against them.
The term applies both clinically and loosely: The paranoiacs in the ward refused medication or Internet paranoiacs see government surveillance everywhere.
The singular is paranoiac, which also functions as an adjective.
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- thought disorderDisrupted patterns of reasoning
- delusional disorderPsychiatric condition featuring persistent false beliefs
antipsychotics · psychiatry · diagnosis · treatment · therapy · hospitalization · medication · symptoms
Sense of unease about motives
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
cynicism · disbelief · incredulity · questioning · accusation · defensiveness · guarded · vigilant
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- plotsSecret plans or storylines
- schemesCrafty organized plans
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
magical thinking · grandiosity · wiretapping · bugging · shadowing · tracking · monitoring · infiltration
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
agitation · distress · panic · unease · apprehension · isolation · withdrawal · defensiveness
Practice of hiding information
- isolationComplete separation from others
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- checkingAct of verification
- scanningSystematic visual examination
hiding · hoarding · recording · documenting · confrontation · accusation · interrogation · obsessing
psychosis
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- thought disorderDisrupted patterns of reasoning
delusional disorder · antipsychotics · psychiatry · diagnosis · treatment · therapy · hospitalization · medication · symptoms · episodes
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
skepticism · cynicism · disbelief · incredulity · questioning · accusation · defensiveness · guarded · vigilant · wary
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- plotsSecret plans or storylines
- schemesCrafty organized plans
surveillance · magical thinking · grandiosity · wiretapping · bugging · shadowing · tracking · monitoring · infiltration · coverup
fear
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
hypervigilance · agitation · distress · panic · unease · apprehension · isolation · withdrawal · defensiveness · hostility
secrecy
Practice of hiding information
scanning · hiding · hoarding · recording · documenting · confrontation · accusation · interrogation · obsessing · ruminating
- patientspatient, inpatients, inpatient, outpatients, outpatient