Are You Paranoid or Just Hypervigilant?
Channel: Prof. Sam Vaknin
Date: 2023-11-09

There is a difference between paranoid ideation, hypervigilance, and conspiracism. 

Hypervigilance is a common post-trauma (adverse life experiences) response. 

Paranoid ideation is a fantasy defense. It is totally invented, conjured from thin air, fiction. It is counterfactual (defies the facts) or confabulatory (not based on any facts whatsoever, unreal). Paranoia is 100% imagination. It does not rely on a single fact.

Conspiracism is the tendency to find patterns in FACTS and interpret them. The interpretation is often WRONG - but it is always POSSIBLE.

Conspiracism involves creativity and imagination. 

Attempts to make sense of new or unusual environmental cues (such as other people’s behaviors).

Mental health is indicated by keeping it in proportion and perspective and being able to laugh at yourself. Self-deprecation is a sign of strength.

Ask yourself: How LIKELY is it? It is POSSIBLE. But is it likely? No, it isn’t likely. Immediately rule out ALL unlikely scenarios. Instantly and totally. Tell yourself: It is unlikely So, I will just ignore it and behave as if it is impossible!
In your mind, use this equation: Unlikely=impossible.

Don’t ask yourself how YOU feel about it (“do I feel that it is likely?”) Ask yourself: IS IT likely? Would others find this likely?

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