wrong psychological term IMHO
Paranoia is defined as a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality.
I suspect, like me, they were suffering deep anxiety that is difficult to accurately describe but not paranoia which is a term used incorrectly by the lay public