We all hold beliefs which help shape us as individuals, and how we respond to the world around us.  These beliefs are personal to us. Paranoia is believing and feeling that you are under threat even though there is no (or very little) external evidence that you are. Paranoid thoughts are sometimes described as delusions, even though they are very real to the person experiencing them. There are lots of different kinds of threat you might be scared and worried about, for example the fear of something bad happening or that someone wants to do you harm. Fears normally contain certain elements: a type of threat, a reason, and a perpetrator, who might be a neighbour, stranger, work colleague or family member. Or, it could be a government organisation or spirit. Sometimes the identity of the person that you believe is trying to cause you harm is unknown.