Advising in the Sun on Sunday on how to avoid falling into the paranoia trap, Dr Gail Kinman, Professor of Occupational Health Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire, explains that paranoia tends to be self-perpetuating and can eventually lead to a loss of perspective. “When we feel paranoid, jittery, anxious and suspicious, we lack perspective and stop seeing things clearly” says Dr Kinman.

People who worry about workplace rejection or sabotage can often end up bringing the undesired circumstances upon themselves. Why? “If you’re feeling isolated, you are likely to try to avoid social interaction with the person who makes you feel this way” says Dr Kinman, who is also Director of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire. “People are suspicious of those who don’t talk to them, so they may actually start excluding you.”

Other types of social paranoia include FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – and social networking sites do not help with this type of anxiety: a recent study of Facebook users found that our happiness decreases the longer we spend on the site. As Dr Kinman explains, “It’s tempting to look at posts and ask: ‘Are they having more fun than me?’ We can also be left feeling paranoid when there’s a gap between what we think they have – baby/marriage/dream job – and what we have.”

According to Dr Kinman when you’re feeling negative, seeing other people’s happiness can make you even more gloomy. “Avoid social media when feeling bored, lonely or depressed, as it may well put you in a paranoid state and make you feel even lower. Instead, realise that those who declare their undying love for friends on social media or who seem to be having the perfect life may be doing it to seek attention – it may not represent the truth.”