From the New England Journal of Medicine.

San Francisco CA

Description

“Belief in or fear of irrational conspiracies is a side effect of paranoia and delusional disorders. Certain personality traits are common in people who lend credence to conspiracy theories.” “People who live in an elevated state of stress or anxiety are prone to adopt and believe conspiracies as truth.” The article was explaining how belief in conspiracies is a side effect of a greater psychosis. People who suffer from mild paranoia to full blown schizophrenia are susceptible to dramatic theories that are untrue. The article further indicated that people who live in perpetual stress or anxiety are more susceptible to believing outlandish conspiracy theories. Human beings are not designed to live in perpetual stress. Stress is a survival mechanism which humans and animals use for short periods of time to avoid danger. In this day and age many people live in a constant heightened state of stress. This wreaks havoc on our psyche. The body produces certain chemicals during times of stress like escaping an angry bear. Our bodies are not equipped to process or convert these chemicals to more inert substances perpetually. Adrenaline for example is toxic to the human body. If our brains “dose” us with adrenaline often, it changes our chemical make up and alters our thoughts and our personalities. In short, if you find yourself falling for conspiracy theories, you need to take that as a warning. You need to re-evaluate your life and your stress. You may need some therapy to help you readjust to the normal world. A stress free life is the key to mental and physical health.