The type of threat or harm

These kinds of anxieties naturally make it very difficult for us to enjoy the occasion. And amidst all the stress, amidst all the troubling little details of the evening – the comment overheard, the glance from a colleague – is the sense that it’s so hard to be sure whether what we’ve noticed is really going on or not. This feeling of uncertainty

Lack of sleep is another common trigger. Keith’s nightmarish journeys to work were frequently preceded by sleepless nights, for instance; and we’re all familiar with the very strange feelings that sleeplessness can cause.

2 Let go of the suspicious thought

But sometimes it’s not the fact that we’ve done something wrong that provokes persecutory thoughts – it’s simply the feeling that we’re in a situation in which we might be accused of doing wrong. This can lead to a powerful sense of vulnerability. And of course it’s not just any type of vulnerability: it’s specifically vulnerability to accusation,

Cut out caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the evening

Suspicious thoughts are common, understandable responses to challenging situations.

Get the light right

A word about sleeping pills and other remedies