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From: Roger Hill <>
Subject: [WORDS] Paranoia's antonym
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000 20:51:20 -0500


I remember hearing R. D. Laing (1927-89), psychiatric radical,
say on camera once that paranoia has no antonym.

Surely 'euphoria' is that antonym. Its primary meaning is great joy
and excitement. Its secondary meaning is from Laing's own field, from
psychiatry itself:

'An exaggerated sense of well-being in pathological cases involving
sympathetic delusions.' (Am. Heritage)

So if paranoia is an unfounded, unreal, or unjustified fear of
persecution, then euphoria, at the other end of the scale, is
an unjustified onrush of good feeling.

Norman Bates (or the Reverend Jim Jones) vs Pollyanna.

Maybe Laing was in denial.
Roger

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