Funny, but some of us think ‘straight’ and others don’t. When we ‘don’t think straight’ it can usually be recognised from the way we speak and the way we write if we chose to put out thoughts down on paper. When someone around us ‘doesn’t think straight’ (crooked thinking) it gets us worried.

We sometimes come across people who express ‘bizarre’ opinions about ordinary every day things of life. We recognise that the opinions they express have no basis in reality. We tend to ‘fear for them’ when we realise how firmly held these beliefs are and, worse still, that they are held on inadequate grounds. Our panic gets close to desperation as the full extent of the problem unravels and we find that these beliefs are not affected by rational arguments or plain straight-forward facts. Another name for ‘crooked thinking’ is ‘delusion’. The main thing about ‘crooked thinking’ (delusion) is that the belief or opinion is not arrived at through normal processes of logical thinking and is held with such conviction that it cannot be altered by evidence to the contrary.

In someone who does not ‘think straight’, this crooked form of thinking can affect almost everything they think about and can take several forms. The commonest form of ‘crooked thinking’ is when the person believes they are being persecuted. This is also called ‘paranoia’. We would then describe the person as being ‘paranoid’.

The word paranoia is derived from the Greek word ‘para’ (beside) and ‘nous’ (mind). It was used in ancient Greek literature to mean ‘out of mind’ i.e. of ‘unsound mind or insane’. In today’s world, ‘paranoia’ is only used when someone ‘does not think straight’. It is not used in a way that means someone is insane.

The paranoid person

The paranoid person may believe that someone, or some organization, or some force or power is trying to harm them in some way, to damage their reputation, to cause them bodily injury, to drive them mad, or to bring about death.

A paranoid person (someone who suffers with paranoia) may also firmly believe that their neighbours hate them and are plotting to kill them. This may cause them to take all kinds of steps to ‘protect’ themselves from this impending ‘evil’ their neighbours are planning against them.

The symptoms may take many forms, ranging from the direct belief that people are hunting them down to complex and bizarre plots with all kinds of science fiction elaboration.

Paranoid personality

In this pleasant world of ours we do meet people who we think are unduly sensitive to real or imagined humiliations or setbacks. They are unduly suspicious and tend to misinterpret the actions of others a hostile or contemptuous. They feel everyone looks down on them, marginalises or slights them and they are consumed with the desire to assert their personal rights. They frequently accuse people of being disrespectful and not according them their due importance. They may even become aggressive about it.

Such people can be described as having a ‘paranoid personality’.

Paranoid personality includes a wide range of types. At one end is the excessively sensitive youth who shrinks from social encounters and thinks that everyone disapproves of him. At the other end is the assertive and challenging man who flares up at the least provocation. Many grades lie between these two extremes.

Other forms of crooked thinking??? No!!!

Another form of ‘crooked thinking’ can occur when an affected person has inflated beliefs about themselves (also called ‘delusions of grandeur’) They may believe that they are of noble birth and have a right to the most exalted position in their country.

The firmly held belief may be that they are god, and that everyone on earth owes them worship and gratitude. They may even believe falsely or on inadequate grounds that they are being victimized, or exalted, or deceived, or loved by a famous person.

In each case they perceive the relationship between themselves and other people in an abnormally distorted way.

Crooked thinking can also manifest itself in the form of unfounded jealousy where a man can accuse his wife of having an affair with someone else without any evidence to support the claim. The crooked thinking could relate to love, litigation or religion.

The common theme running through these examples is an abnormal distortion of beliefs or attitudes concerning relationships between oneself and other people.

So, what can we do to help?

If we believe someone we know is exhibiting the symptoms of paranoia, we should first of all approach them with care and love and try talking things over with them.

Wise counsel would be to pray before embarking on such a venture. If our’ friendly’ chat does not yield fruit then it would be advisable to approach them from a different angle which would involve suggesting that they seek professional help from their GP or practice nurse. Chances are that they may view you with suspicion and misinterpret your motives.

The danger here is that the person may become a danger to themselves and to other people because of their ‘crooked thinking’ and abnormal beliefs. If we believe that to be the case then we owe them a duty to alert the relevant people that will provide help. In extreme cases it may be the police.

The most difficult part for the ‘friend’ or observer is knowing when to decide that the paranoid person is in danger enough to themselves and others to perform that civic duty of care which says ,’Love thy neighbour as thyself’ and seek for help for them.

When the paranoia renders people a danger to themselves they need professional help, however they can get it. Sometimes the person may need to be forcefully detained in hospital for treatment. This may become necessary if the ‘crooked thinking’ is causing aggressive behaviour or social difficulties. If voluntary admission is refused, compulsory admission is often justified to protect the patient or other people, although this is likely to add to the person’s resentment.

Treatment usually involves non-medicinal (psychological) treatment and medicinal treatment.

Psychological treatment can be difficult as the person may be suspicious and distrustful, and also may believe that the treatment is intended to harm them. Considerable tact and skill are needed to persuade patients with paranoid symptoms to accept treatment.

People with ‘crooked thinking’ (paranoid delusions) can be helped by prayerful psychological support, encouragement and assurance. A strong and helpful social network is beneficial. On going friendly social support and prayer is necessary.

The bible offers a lot of tips on how to administer psychological treatment.

Treatment by medication may be become necessary if psychological treatment alone fails. This can only be done by qualified professionals.