Is everyone out to get you? Suspicious minds...

Does your boss or mother-in-law have a hidden agenda? 

It’s possible - but it’s also possible you’re being too suspicious. Dr. Joseph Shrand, author of “Outsmarting Anger,” says suspicion is a primal emotion. We need a healthy dose of it to keep us from being vulnerable and out of danger. However, some people let suspicion get the best of them. Here are some signs that instinct might be out of whack for you:

* You see hidden agendas or negative undertones in statements or body language that other people don’t seem to pick up on.

* You check up on people to see whether they are telling the truth.

* You think that other people are out to get you or cheat you.

* You find it hard to trust others with secrets.

* You stay mad at people or hold grudges. 

* You spend a lot of time worrying about what others are thinking or doing.

Being overly suspicious can have some serious consequences. Not only can it ruin relationships, it can also generate enough anxiety and anger to make you sick. That kind of stress can result in heart problems, gastrointestinal issues and even weaken your immune system. Dr. Shrand prescribes the following for suspicious types. Carry a notepad. Log your suspicions and their triggers for a week. Finding patterns and raising self-awareness can be enough to help you keep that suspicious behavior in check.