Description

This episode of the "Mind the Kids" podcast, titled "Anxiety and Paranoia: What Lies Beneath?", features hosts Dr. Jane Gilmour and Prof. Umar Toseeb in conversation with Dr. Jessica Kingston. The discussion unpacks the complexities of paranoia and social anxiety during adolescence, examining how these experiences manifest, their definitions, and what they mean for child development and emotional well-being. The episode explores the prevalence of paranoid thoughts among young people, the difference between typical worries and clinical concerns, and the impact of lived experiences on the development of paranoid beliefs. Listeners will gain insights into the adaptive aspects of paranoia, the importance of mental health literacy, and why adolescence is such a critical time for developing social relationships. The conversation also highlights the need for parents and educators to recognize signs of distress, normalize intense emotions, and support youth as they navigate mental health challenges. This episode draws on the latest psychological research and offers practical coping strategies for families and professionals supporting adolescent mental health.

Learning Objectives

1. Social anxiety can sometimes be an adaptive response.

2. Paranoia may reflect normal human experiences and healthy levels of paranoia can exist.

3. Cognitive behavioral frameworks are effective for addressing paranoia.

4. Understanding the teenage brain is crucial in mental health and asking about past experiences is vital in treatment.

5. Paranoid thoughts often co-occur with other mental health issues.

6. Integrating discussions of thought disorders in youth mental health is necessary.

Paper Link

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12280