Ep 28: The Post Pandemic Narcissist | Unmasking Paranoid Personality

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) reveal the complex, dangerous, and often misdiagnosed Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). We discuss the rising prevalence of PPD in the post-pandemic world, the clinical challenges in identifying and treating these individuals, and the critical differences between Paranoid Personalities and narcissism. We believe you’re seeing more of these types in your circles as well, and we want you to be equipped with knowledge so you can best protect yourself! Thus, we unpack not only the DSM-5-TR characteristics of Paranoid Personality Disorder, but we also reveal our clinical experience with these types. We include common themes such as: lack of trust, severe gastrointestinal issues, sadomasochism, medical self-sabotage, shedding identities, and the paranoid character’s unique relationship with aggression towards the same-sex. We reveal why we think this type is popping up even more in our circles, what the pandemic had to do with it, and how you can identify these types to keep yourself safe!

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro & Dangers of the Paranoid Personality
• 04:10 Clinical Observations & Post-Pandemic Trends
• 08:20 Defining Paranoid Personality Disorder
• 16:35 Warning Signs of PPD Beyond the DSM
• 27:00 Comparing Paranoid Personality and Narcissism
• 29:25 Why the Post-Pandemic Narcissist?