Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts, 2nd Edition: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques

by Daniel Freeman, Jason Freeman, Philippa A. Garety

'This is the definitive practical guide from the leaders in the field on a hugely important topic. Written in an engaging, easy-to-understand style, the book tells how new research on paranoia is revealing how best to overcome it. The first edition helped many thousands of sufferers and the second edition promises even more.' Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford, co-author of Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World'The authors of this excellent and timely book have played a major role in developing our understanding of how suspicious thoughts arise and, crucially, how we can learn to cope with them.' Nicholas Tarier, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Manchester UniversityLearn how to overcome your feelings of paranoia Do you feel as if others are out to get you? Research shows that 20-30 percent of people in the UK frequently have paranoid or suspicious thoughts about other people. These feelings can make life a misery. In this fully revised and expanded new edition, the authors explain how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques can be used to treat this disorder by changing unhelpful patterns of behaviour and thought. Overcoming self-help guides use clinically proven CBT techniques to treat long-standing and disabling conditions, both psychological and physical. Many guides in the Overcoming series are recommended under the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Daniel Freeman is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Medical Research Council (MRC) Senior Clinical Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University. One of the United Kingdom's leading clinical psychologists, he is a Fellow of University College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Reviews

[Anoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming paranoid and suspicious thoughts

Quote "Because these thoughts and feelings are talked about more openly, the stigma attached to them has begun to lessen. No one who is troubled by suspicious thoughts need feel ashamed or embarrassed: most of us, at some point in our lives, will experience them"

Suspicious thoughts are a normal part of life. It's after all our mind's way of making sense of the experiences we're having. All of us get them at one point or another in our lives. Example: "Were they laughing at me?" "Am I being watched?" "Is someone following me?"
Are regular thoughts to many of us. But what happens when these thoughts becomes persistent? When they won't go away and refuse to let us love or trust other people or feel safe? When we think everyone is up to get us? No one likes us? What then? And why are we having these thoughts to begin with?

In this brilliant book the first half the authors will explain to us in details 1- What suspicious thoughts mean 2-3- When do we experience them and how most people react to them 4-5- Understanding why they occur and persist and cause distress.
In the second half is "the beginning of change" in which the doctors will help the readers through their paranoia and suspicious thoughts by way of CBT "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" these exercises vary, they meant to help us understand ourselves better, spend less time preoccupied with our fears and worries, help us sleep better and, boost self-confidence, which all are _believe it or not_ connected.
*This book was backed by research.
P.s. If you decide to read this book, get a notebook, you'll need it 🤍

[Simon Purdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I imagine this book is ideal for people in a position to sit back and assess. Not for when you're drowning in the swamp that is this issue.

[Dr. Angelina Thomas Villikudathil (Ph.D.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book. Its a great accomplishment for me. Worth Rs 750 which was a bit expensive for me. But considering a book from 2 NHS psychologists and a writer, lots of nuggests of wisdom were found in this book. This book is well written and well arranged with the contents. There are 10 practical steps that one can take to overcome suspicious thoughts. The first two steps are designed to help you develop a detailed understanding of how and when your suspicious thoughts affect you. To gain this understanding you need to become a detached observer of your anxieties. we have a much better chance of succeeding with these steps if we can support them with the right kind of attitude and behaviours. There was an eight week graph to follow up on track paranoid thoughts. In reducing worry. There is a mindset we need to accept uncertainty and tips to stop worrying. For sleeping better, there is imagery rehearsal to overcome nightmares. This technique I learned from this book. Boosting self-confidence. There is a technique called visualising positively, which I learned from this book chapter 10 of this book is for people who seriously suffer from paranoid thoughts very frequently. Overall, this book is for people who want to help themselves understand and overcome paranoid and suspicious thoughts. This is also for carers And loved ones who want to help each other to provide the best support system for them. I am using this book in my recovery journey for mental health which I have researched and found out this book. This is a must read for everyone suffering with mental health challenges.

[Toshiki Kono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!

It is useful for many people who have paranoid thought. It is great accomplishment, because it is practical, and scientific book.

[Yz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Marc ZEIMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been written somewhere ‘Paranoia is the 21st Century fear”, and in the same line of thinking it has been asserted that everyone is prone to develop paranoid and suspicious thoughts at one point or another.
This is a timely book on the subject. It has been set up to be used as a self-help guide, and for some content as a Teach Yourself resource.
The structure reminds of the medical clinical process approach. First the syndrome is described, the aetiology is discussed, the diagnosis highlighted before in part II measures, techniques and models are presented to approach the behavioural patterns (to overcome). Basically every aspect of the subject is highlighted, including an element of the pharmacological treatments. The listing of helpful addresses of organizations is largely focused on the UK, and the US, with a brief look at a European association as well.
A very readable book, meant in the first place for use with the interested lay person, it avoids difficult to understand medicalized language. The objective is laid out to be a training book to support personal efforts deployed in the task of ‘overcoming’ haunting thoughts. This pedagogic publication is written and presented in the 2nd edition already by renowned academic psychiatrist researchers and practitioner, a.o. CBT, from the UK. The message detailed in this resource is clear, the value of it will depend on the consequential as well as committed implementation of the training scheme offered by the expert authors.

[smilljns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok book. With a simple and down to earth style, this is a book that can teach you how to become aware of patterns, reasons and triggers, how to change them and what to do to create the right conditions to overcome paranoid thoughts. You can find some CBT and REBT exercises, alongside with simplified explanations of the mind stuff. I got a few take aways to put down in personal notes and I liked the connection the authors make between paranoia and self confidence, plus tips to grow self esteem. I would recommend this book for its simplicity and lack of pretentiousness. Main takeaway: paranoia is not only typical of mental illness, it's something that, from time to time, everyone experiences. This book is not targeted for a restricted group of people experiencing psychosis; instead, it aims to reach everyone going through a stressful time and doubting reality a little.

[Andrew W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Very good book, would recommend to others. Has helped me a lot. Best book regarding this subject which I have read